Top picks Zaccharie Risacher (left) and Alex Sarr lead a talented rookie group who will make their Summer League debuts.
The 2024 NBA Draft is in the books and the initial wave of free agency deals have been reported, which means it is time to look ahead to some on-court summer hoops.
A trio of competitions — the California Classic Summer League, the Salt Lake City Summer League and NBA 2K25 Summer League — will run over the next two-plus weeks starting in San Francisco, Sacramento and Salt Lake City before culminating with all 30 teams in Las Vegas for the 20th year of summer hoops there.
Why is Summer League important?
- Rookies: It’s the first look at players from the 2024 Draft class in competition with their new squads.
- Sophomores: Second-year players showcase their talents while working on their game and development.
- Undrafted: Players looking to parlay a great summer showing into a training camp invite to compete for a roster spot or two-way deal.
Below is a breakdown of key details for all three Summer Leagues, including dates, schedule, teams and players to watch.
California Classic Summer League
- Dates: July 6-7, 9-10
- Locations: San Francisco (Chase Center) and Sacramento (Golden 1 Center)
- Teams (in San Francisco): Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings 2
- Teams (in Sacramento): Sacramento Kings 1, San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, Chinese National Team
The sixth annual California Classic Summer adds a new twist as the Kings and Warriors will co-host the event with the 12-game schedule split between Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center (July 6-7, 9) and San Francisco’s Chase Center (July 6-7, 10).
Schedule
- Saturday, July 6 (San Francisco): Lakers-Kings 2 (4:30 ET, ESPN); Heat-Warriors (6:30 ET, ESPN)
- Saturday, July 6 (Sacramento): Hornets-Spurs (8:30 ET, NBA TV); China-Kings 1 (10:30 ET, NBA TV)
- Sunday, July 7 (San Francisco): Heat-Kings 2 (4:30 ET, NBA TV); Lakers-Warriors (6:30 ET, NBA TV)
- Sunday, July 7 (Sacramento): China-Hornets (8 ET, ESPN2); Spurs-Kings 1 (10 ET, ESPN2)
- Tuesday, July 9 (Sacramento): Spurs-China (8 ET, NBA TV); Hornets-Kings 1 (10 ET, NBA TV)
- Wednesday, July 10 (San Francisco): Heat-Lakers (7 ET, ESPN2); Kings 2-Warriors (10 ET, NBA TV)
How to watch: All games will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 and NBA TV.
Format: Similar to the other summer leagues, the California Classic will feature 10-minute quarters, limited timeouts and modified rules, including increased personal and team foul limits.
Ticket Information (Sacramento): Single-day passes start at $29 & three-day passes start at $66 and include access to both games each day. Purchase tickets online
Ticket Information (San Francisco): Single-day passes start at $30 & three-day passes start at $95 and include access to both games each day. Purchase tickets online
2024 Draft picks to watch: Three lottery picks from the 2024 Draft — San Antonio’s Stephon Castle (taken No. 4 overall), Charlotte’s Tidjane Salaun (No. 6) and Sacramento’s Devin Carter (No. 13) — will likely see their first NBA action at the California Classic.
The opening game of the California Classic features the Lakers and Kings on ESPN, which could mark the debut of Lakers second-round pick Bronny James (55th).
Notable rookies to watch for:
Salt Lake City Summer League
- Dates: July 8-10
- Location: Salt Lake City (Delta Center)
- Teams: Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz
This marks the ninth consecutive year of the Salt Lake City Summer League. This year’s event features Utah, Memphis, Oklahoma City and Philadelphia, the same four teams that participated the past two years.
Schedule
- Monday, July 8: Thunder-76ers (7 ET, ESPN), Grizzlies-Jazz (9 ET, ESPN)
- Tuesday, July 9: Grizzlies-76ers (7 ET, ESPN), Thunder-Jazz (9 ET, ESPN2)
- Wednesday, July 10: Grizzlies-Thunder (7 ET, NBA TV), 76ers-Jazz (9 ET, ESPN2)
How to watch: All games will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 and NBA TV.
Format: The Salt Lake City Summer League features a three-day, round-robin showcase with each team in action each day and a winner crowned on the event’s final day.
Ticket information: Single-day tickets start at $16, giving access to both games played that day. Purchase tickets online
2024 Draft picks to watch: A pair of top 10 picks — Memphis’ Zach Edey (No. 9) and Utah’s Cody Williams (No. 10) — will make their Summer League debuts in Salt Lake City.
NBA 2K25 Summer League 2024
- Dates: July 12-22
- Location: Las Vegas at Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the campus of UNLV
- Teams: All 30 NBA teams
Overview: The 20th year of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas brings all 30 teams together for the NBA 2K25 Summer League, which begins July 12 and ends July 22 when a champion will be crowned.
Schedule
A total of 76 games will be played over 11 days in Las Vegas with games split between the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion
- Friday, July 12: 7 games beginning at 4 p.m. ET
- Saturday, July 13: 8 games beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET
- Sunday, July 14: 8 games beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET
- Monday, July 15: 6 games beginning at 6 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, July 16: 8 games beginning at 4 p.m. ET
- Wednesday, July 17: 8 games beginning at 3 p.m. ET
- Thursday, July 18: 7 games beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET
- Friday, July 19: 8 games beginning at 4 p.m. ET
- Saturday, July 20: 7 games beginning at 3 p.m. ET
- Sunday, July 21: 8 games beginning with the semifinal doubleheader at 2 p.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET (both on ESPN)
- Monday, July 22: Championship game at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Format: Each team will play at least five games, including four games from July 12-19. After each team’s first four games, the top four teams will advance to participate in the playoffs, beginning with a semifinal doubleheader on Sunday, July 21 at 2 ET and 4 ET on ESPN. The two winning teams from the semifinal games will meet in the championship game on Monday, July 22 at 9 ET on ESPN.
- The four playoff teams will be determined by winning percentage in each team’s first four games, with a tiebreaker in effect if needed. The 26 teams that do not advance to the four-team playoff will play a fifth game on Saturday, July 20 or Sunday, July 21.
How to watch: All 76 games of the 11-day competition will air on ESPN platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+ and ESPN3) or NBA TV. Every game will also be available to stream on the ESPN App.
- Reigning champs open competition on NBA TV: NBA 2K25 Summer League opens with the reigning Summer League champion Cavaliers taking on the Magic at 4 p.m. ET — the first of four games on NBA TV on opening day.
- Opening day doubleheader on ESPN: ESPN’s coverage begins with Knecht, James and the Lakers facing No. 3 pick Reed Sheppard and the Rockets at 7:30 p.m. ET. That is followed by a matchup of the top two picks in the 2024 NBA Draft — No. 1 Zaccharie Risacher and the Atlanta Hawks against No. 2 Alex Sarr and the Washington Wizards — at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Ticket information: Tickets for NBA 2K25 Summer League are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting NBAEvents.com.
Former Connecticut teammates Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle will reunite for a Summer League matchup on July 13.
Players to watch: While 10 teams got their summer started early by participating in either the California Classic (Heat, Hornets, Kings, Lakers, Spurs, Warriors) or Salt Lake City (Grizzlies, Thunder, Sixers, Jazz) Summer Leagues, the NBA 2K25 Summer League will be the first chance for draftees from 20 teams to get their first taste of the NBA.
For the second straight year, all eyes will be on a French prospect selected with the No. 1 overall pick as Risacher follows reigning Kia Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama.
First game in Vegas for the 2024 lottery picks
- Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta): Hawks vs. Wizards | Friday, July 12 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
- Alex Sarr (Washington): Hawks vs. Wizards | Friday, July 12 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
- Reed Sheppard (Houston): Rockets vs. Lakers | Friday, July 12 (7:30 ET, ESPN)
- Stephon Castle (San Antonio): Spurs vs. Blazers | Saturday, July 13 (9 ET, ESPN2)
- Ron Holland II (Detroit): Pistons vs. 76ers | Saturday, July 13 (7 ET, ESPN2)
- Tidjane Salaun (Charlotte): Hornets vs. Knicks | Saturday, July 13 (5 ET, ESPN2)
- Donovan Clingan (Portland): Spurs vs. Blazers | Saturday, July 13 (9 ET, ESPN2)
- Rob Dillingham (Minnesota): Pelicans vs. Timberwolves | Friday, July 12 (5 ET, ESPN2)
- Zach Edey (Memphis): Kings vs. Grizzlies | Friday, July 12 (6 ET, NBA TV)
- Cody Williams (Utah): Jazz vs. Mavericks | Saturday, July 13 (10:30 ET, NBA TV)
- Matas Buzelis (Chicago): Bucks vs. Bulls | Saturday, July 13 (4:30 ET, NBA TV)
- Nikola Topic (Oklahoma City): Injured, will not play
- Devin Carter (Sacramento): Kings vs. Grizzlies | Friday, July 12 (6 ET, NBA TV)
- Bub Carrington (Washington): Hawks vs. Wizards | Friday, July 12 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
Official rosters for the NBA 2K25 Summer League will be announced over the next week and can be found here.
Teams that have announced Summer League rosters: