How does the NBA summer league work? Format, dates, more

Many of the NBA's rookies are set to see their first action with their new club as all 30 teams gear up for the NBA summer league.

Top overall pick Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks, newLos Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James and many other notable players from the 2024 NBA draft class are expected to see playing time.

Here's everything you need to know about the NBA's annual summer showcase.

What is the NBA summer league?

The NBA first held its Las Vegas Summer League in 2004. It provides the first glimpse of the league's rookies and also serves as a competitive platform for second- and third-year players to showcase their skills. Undrafted players are also able to put themselves in position to potentially earn a training camp invitation and possibly a roster spot or a two-way contract.

When is the 2024 NBA summer league?

The NBA's summer slate of games tips off with the California Classic Summer League in Sacramento and San Francisco from July 6-10, followed by the Salt Lake City Summer League from July 8-10, and finally the NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas from July 12-22.

Which teams will participate in the 2024 NBA summer league?

California Classic Summer League teams: Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs

Salt Lake City Summer League teams: Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz

All 30 teams will compete in the 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas.

How can fans watch the 2024 NBA summer league?

All games are available on ESPN+ via the ESPN streaming hub. Select games are also available on TVE networks. Full listings here.

What is the format of the 2024 NBA summer league?

The 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas features 76 games over an 11-day span. After each team plays four games, the top four teams will advance to the playoffs. The two semifinal games will take place on July 21. The two winning teams from the semifinal games will face off in the championship game on July 22. The 26 teams that do not advance to the four-team playoff will play a fifth game on either July 20 or July 21.

What is the schedule of the 2024 NBA summer league?

*All times Eastern

California Classic Summer League

Saturday (Sacramento)

• Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings 2 - 4:30 p.m.
• Miami Heat vs. Golden State Warriors - 6:30 p.m.

Saturday (San Francisco)

• Charlotte Hornets vs. San Antonio Spurs - 8:30 p.m.
• China vs. Sacramento Kings 1 - 10:30 p.m.

Sunday (San Francisco)

• Miami Heat vs. Sacramento Kings 2 - 4:30 p.m.
• Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors - 6:30 p.m.

Sunday (Sacramento)

• China vs. Charlotte Hornets - 8 p.m.
• San Antonio Spurs vs. Sacramento Kings 1 - 10 p.m.

Tuesday (Sacramento)

• San Antonio Spurs vs. China - 8 p.m.
• Charlotte Hornets vs. Sacramento Kings 1 - 10 p.m.

Wednesday (San Francisco)

• Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers - 7 p.m.
• Sacramento Kings 2 vs. Golden State Warriors - 10 p.m.

Salt Lake City Summer League

Monday

• Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Philadelphia 76ers - 7 p.m.
• Memphis Grizzlies vs. Utah Jazz - 9 p.m.

Tuesday

• Memphis Grizzlies vs. Philadelphia 76ers - 7 p.m.
• Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Utah Jazz - 9 p.m.

Wednesday

• Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - 7 p.m.
• Philadelphia 76ers vs. Utah Jazz - 9 p.m.

NBA 2K25 Summer League (Las Vegas)

July 12

• Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic - 4 p.m.
• New Orleans Pelicans vs. Minnesota Timberwolves - 5 p.m.
• Sacramento Kings vs. Memphis Grizzlies - 6 p.m.
• Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers - 7:30 p.m.
• Brooklyn Nets vs. Indiana Pacers - 8 p.m.
• Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards - 9:30 p.m.
• Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers - 10 p.m.

July 13

• Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls - 4:30 p.m.
• Charlotte Hornets vs. New York Knicks - 5 p.m.
• Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics - 6:30 p.m.
• Detroit Pistons vs. Philadelphia 76ers - 7 p.m.
• Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Toronto Raptors - 8:30 p.m.
• San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers - 9 p.m.
• Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks - 10:30 p.m.
• Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors - 11 p.m.

July 14

• Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks - 3:30 p.m.
• Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Clippers - 4 p.m.
• Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Indiana Pacers - 5:30 p.m.
• Houston Rockets vs. Washington Wizards - 6 p.m.
• Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Pelicans - 7:30 p.m.
• San Antonio Spurs vs. Atlanta Hawks - 8 p.m.
• Denver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors - 9:30 p.m.
• Chicago Bulls vs. Golden State Warriors - 10 p.m. ET

July 15

• Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Miami Heat - 6 p.m.
• Detroit Pistons vs. Houston Rockets - 6:30 p.m.
• Dallas Mavericks vs. Memphis Grizzlies - 8 p.m.
• Portland Trail Blazers vs. Philadelphia 76ers - 8:30 p.m.
• Utah Jazz vs. Sacramento Kings - 10 p.m.
• Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers - 10:30 p.m.

July 16

• Indiana Pacers vs. Phoenix Suns - 4 p.m.
• New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets - 4:30 p.m.
• Charlotte Hornets vs. Denver Nuggets - 6 p.m.
• Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons - 6:30 p.m.
• Philadelphia 76ers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves - 8 p.m.
• Washington Wizards vs. Portland Trail Blazers - 8:30 p.m.
• Los Angeles Clippers vs. Milwaukee Bucks - 10 p.m.
• New Orleans Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs - 10:30 p.m.

July 17

• Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks - 3 p.m.
• Sacramento Kings vs. New York Knicks - 3:30 p.m.
• Toronto Raptors vs. Utah Jazz - 5 p.m.
• Boston Celtics vs. Charlotte Hornets - 5:30 p.m.
• Memphis Grizzlies vs. Orlando Magic - 7 p.m.
• Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - 8 p.m.
• Los Angeles Lakers vs. Atlanta Hawks - 9:30 p.m.
• Golden State Warriors vs. Golden State Warriors - 10 p.m.

July 18

• Indiana Pacers vs. Denver Nuggets - 4:30 p.m.
• Memphis Grizzlies vs. New Orleans Pelicans - 6 p.m.
• Washington Wizards vs. Sacramento Kings - 7 p.m.
• Orlando Magic vs. Brooklyn Nets - 8 p.m.
• Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers - 9 p.m.
• Los Angeles Clippers vs. Utah Jazz - 10 p.m.
• Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Houston Rockets - 11 p.m.

July 19

• Milwaukee Bucks vs. Phoenix Suns - 4 p.m.
• Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics - 4:30 p.m.
• Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls - 6 p.m.
• New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons - 7 p.m.
• Philadelphia 76ers vs. San Antonio Spurs - 8:30 p.m.
• Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat - 9 p.m.
• Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - 10:30 p.m.
• Portland Trail Blazers vs. Charlotte Hornets - 11 p.m.

July 20

• TBD vs. TBD - 3 p.m.
• TBD vs. TBD - 4 p.m.
• TBD vs. TBD - 5 p.m.
• TBD vs. TBD - 6 p.m.
• TBD vs. TBD - 7 p.m.
• TBD vs. TBD - 9 p.m.
• TBD vs. TBD - 11 p.m.

July 21

• Semifinal game: TBD vs. TBD - 2 p.m. on ESPN
• TBD vs. TBD - 3 p.m.
• Semifinal game: TBD vs. TBD - 4 p.m. on ESPN
• TBD vs. TBD - 5 p.m.
• TBD vs. TBD - 6:30 p.m.
• TBD vs. TBD - 7 p.m.
• TBD vs. TBD - 8:30 p.m.
• TBD vs. TBD - 9 p.m.

July 22

• Championship game: TBD vs. TBD - 9 p.m. on ESPN

What do players get for winning the NBA summer league?

The winning team of the 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas receives T-shirts, a championship trophy and championship rings.

For more NBA content, check out the ESPN NBA hub page for breaking news, stats, transactions and more.