With the 2016-17 season now officially coming to a close, the time for the NBA’s annual Las Vegas Summer League has arrived. Before superstars such as Stephen Curry, James Harden and Damian Lillard were superstars, they were donning a summer jersey with their respective franchise in one of the league’s ran by the NBA.
The league is a golden opportunity for undrafted players to prove their worth, overseas players to solidify their names in the states, and for top picks to show fans of the franchise what they can bring to the table.
There will be a record 24 teams participating in Las Vegas this summer, meaning we’ll likely see more young talent and top draft picks than ever before. The 11-day league kicks off on Saturday, July 7 at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. All 67 games will be presented by ESPN across their many different channels and apps, with the championship contest set to transpire on Monday, July 17.
The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, owners of the No. 1 and No. 2 selections in the 2017 NBA Draft, are scheduled to face off on Saturday, July 8 at 8:30 p.m. ET. Should the teams choose to keep their picks entering the draft, this will be the first chance for NBA fans to see the top two selections face off in the league.
The full Las Vegas Summer League schedule, announced by the NBA this past week, can be viewed here.
The games, as in years past, will be played at the Cox Pavilion and Thomas & Mack Center.
