2025 NBA Summer League: A Complete Preview

The NBA draft has come and gone, altering the trajectory of franchises across the league for better and for worse. Now that the game’s brightest young stars have found their new homes, it’s time for the NBA offseason to get well and truly underway. Fans won’t have to wait any longer to see their teams’ draft picks suit up and fight for their city; the NBA Summer League is upon us. 

Every July, we get to witness a truly unique concoction of rookies, second-year, and G-League players, as well as last-chance guys, all throwing their names in the mix for a coveted roster spot. Across three separate showcase tournaments, we’ll get our first look at Cooper Flagg as a Dallas Maverick, see Bronny James and Dalton Knecht wreak havoc, and much, much more, with every player fighting to stay relevant until opening tip-off on October 21st. 

To make sure you are primed and ready for all the fun, our team has been digging deep on all the rosters and the leagues in question. Here is what you have to look forward to.

NBA Summer League Previews

California Classic

• Participating Teams: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs
• Dates: July 5, 6, and 8
• Venues: Chase Center (San Francisco, California)
• Teams/Players to Watch: Bronny James (G, Lakers); Dylan Harper (G, Spurs); Alex Toohey (SF, Warriors); Kasparas Jakučionis (G, Heat) 

Every team plays each other once, there are 10-minute quarters, and no playoffs. As far as what to look out for, the 2025 second overall pick, Dylan Harper, will make his debut in a Spurs jersey, offering a chance to see how Mitch Johnson’s team shapes up ahead of his first full season on the job. Golden State has a really interesting crop of talent, without the big names of the other participants in the California Classic, affording them a smaller stage that could see an unknown burst onto the scene. The Lakers are running it back with last year’s dynamic duo of Bronny James and Dalton Knecht, with the former out to show he fully deserves his roster spot in LA. Miami won the 2024 Summer League, and will be hoping to find exciting young talent to accelerate their rebuild. 

Salt Lake City Summer League

• Participating Teams: Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers.
• Dates: July 5, 7, and 8
• Venues: John M. Huntsman Center (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Teams/Players to Watch: Ace Bailey (SF, Jazz); VJ Edgecombe (SG, 76ers); Thomas Sorber (C, Thunder); RJ Luis Jr (G, Jazz); Zach Edey (C, Grizzlies)

Same structure as the California Classic: every team plays each other once, with 10-minute quarters and no playoffs. The hosts have one of the more controversial rookies in this class with Ace Bailey. Their 5th overall pick made headlines for his desire to go anywhere besides Utah or Charlotte, but alas, he’ll have no choice but to suit up for the Jazz this July, and show why he felt so entitled to choose his future employer. Fresh off winning the title, OKC will be looking for more young talent worthy of developing as part of Mark Daigneault’s championship defense. 

Memphis, meanwhile, had an incredibly young core in 2024, so they’ll be hoping to see big strides from the likes of Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells, and GG Jackson if they all show up in Salt Lake City. For the Sixers, third overall pick VJ Edgecombe has already won over Philly fans’ hearts. Now it’s time to deliver on the court, although Jared McCain’s absence through injury is a major disappointment. 

Las Vegas Summer League

• Participating Teams: All 30 NBA Teams 
• Dates: July 10-20
• Venues: Thomas & Mack Center, Cox Pavilion (Las Vegas, Nevada)
• Teams/Players to Watch: Cooper Flagg (PF, Mavericks); Kon Kneuppel (SF, Hornets); Rob Dillingham (G, Timberwolves); Alijah Martin (SG, Raptors); Tamar Bates (G, Nuggets)

Each team plays 4 games with 10-minute quarters. The top 4 teams advance to the semi-final playoffs, while the remaining 26 teams play one more game. Cooper Flagg is the big story here. He has risen to the occasion at every level, and the summer league will be his first professional test. On the opening gameday, Flagg will face off against Bronny in one of the most anticipated matchups in the summer league. The Brooklyn Nets made a record 5 first-round selections in the 2025 draft, bringing in a wealth of young talent that will make them an intriguing watch. The Knicks and Suns will be coming into the Summer League with new head coaches, in Mike Brown and Jordan Ott, respectively. Both men will be looking to make a strong first impression this July, and in the Sun’s case, it’s also a trial run for new GM Brian Gregory.

Summer Leagues on Streaming and TV

The first three weeks of July will be jam-packed with NBA action, which will be available through ESPN and ESPN2 on cable. Streaming options include ESPN+ and NBA TV. To know precisely where each game will be shown and never miss a tip-off, keep the Live Sports on TV up-to-date NBA Summer League schedule bookmarked on your browser, where you will find game times and broadcast information. It’s the go-to resource for any NBA fan who wants to stay informed on the Summer League and beyond.

NBA Summer League FAQ’s

Q: Are there any restrictions on who can play in the Summer League?

A: No, the only requirement is an invite from an NBA franchise that is participating.

Q: Where can I see who is playing for each team?

A: Every team’s summer league roster is available on the NBA website.

Q: What time of day are the games played?

A: Tip-off times vary by competition. For the California Classic, the games are at 1:30pm and 3:30pm PDT until the final day, when they shift to 4pm and 7pm. In Salt Lake City, the games take place at 5pm and 7pm MDT. Meanwhile, in Vegas, there are games from 12:30pm to 8:00pm PDT daily. 

Q: Are these games open to the general public? 

A: Yes, various ticket packages are available for purchase on the NBA and venue websites. The only exceptions are the July 8th California Classic games, which are available exclusively through broadcast. 

Q: Where can I find the 2025 NBA Summer League schedule?

A: Feel free to explore the full schedule.

Written by: Venuse, Inc. (Sports Content Creator)

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