The NBA Summer League is the summer tournament that each year becomes the starting point for promising professional basketball players. It is held in Las Vegas and brings together the league’s 30 teams, which field squads made up primarily of rookies recently selected in the Draft, second-year players and undrafted free agents looking to impress coaches and managers.
More than just a tournament, the NBA Summer League functions as a laboratory where strategies, rotations and future starters are tested. It is also a space where franchises can evaluate potential international recruits before the preseason.
2025 format and schedule
In its 2025th edition, the NBA Summer League was held July 10-20 at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas.
Each team plays a minimum of five games.
After an initial phase, the top four teams will advance to the semifinals and then to the final, where the champion will be crowned.
The schedule is designed to concentrate as many games as possible in an 11-day period, allowing fans to see their favorite teams and players in action on an almost daily basis.
Why it is important
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For the players, especially the rookies, this tournament is their first experience facing the pace and intensity of NBA basketball.
Here they learn to adapt to professional offensive and defensive systems, and to coexist with media pressure.
Free agents also see the NBA Summer League as a golden opportunity to earn a contract.
In many cases, a good performance in Las Vegas can mean an invitation to training camp or even a permanent spot on the squad.
It is not only the players who are under the spotlight:
Teams often give opportunities to young assistant coaches or coaches to manage during the tournament, assessing their ability to manage games, squads and pressure situations.
The appeal to Hispanic fans
The NBA Summer League is not only a sporting event, but also a tourist and cultural attraction.
Thousands of fans travel to Las Vegas to enjoy high-level basketball in a closer and more relaxed atmosphere than the regular season.
Each team plays at least five games
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For the Hispanic community, it’s a chance to keep an eye on Latino and international talent that could become the league’s next stars.
In addition, the compact format makes it possible to watch several matches on the same day, which makes for an intense and exciting experience.
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