NBA Summer League
Encyclopedia
The NBA Summer League is a period during which NBA teams come together to try out different summer rosters instead of their regular season line-ups. Typically, there is a mix of rookie
s and some of the younger bench players to see how well some players work with others. Sometimes, even unsigned players are invited to play so teams can decide whether or not they want to sign the new players. The main benefit for fans, as well as the media, is to get a preview of the top rookies and how they will fit into the NBA and how they transit from college basketball to the National League level.
The league is one of two summer pro leagues in the United States. The other summer pro league is the Orlando Summer League
(run by the Orlando Magic
). Up until 2008, the Rocky Mountain Revue
(run by the Utah Jazz
) operated until it was cancelled in 2009 due to declining participation.
On April 13, 2011 it was announced that the 2011 edition of the summer league was cancelled due to the possibility of an upcoming NBA
lockout.
, Cleveland Cavaliers
, Denver Nuggets
, Orlando Magic
, Phoenix Suns
and Washington Wizards
– playing a total of 13 games. With Warren LeGarie leading the way, the summer league had three successful summers in which participation increased to 16 teams playing more than 40 games at UNLV. In 2005, the summer league expanded to 15 teams – Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Golden State, L.A. Clippers, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento and Washington. In 2007, the NBA attached its name to the event, making in the “NBA” summer league. In 2008, the summer league expanded to 22 teams and was sponsored by EA Sports
.
If there is a member of a team, say the Los Angeles Lakers
, and he plays summer league, he will be on the Lakers in the regular season. If someone is not currently signed, a team might just sign him for their summer league team, which will give him a chance to prove his worth and possibly be signed to a contract during the regular season. Any team can sign him after the league is over, not just the one he played for in summer league. For example, Jeremy Lin
, a Harvard student, was invited to play for the Dallas Mavericks
summer league team. In the 2010 summer league, Lin performed well and was later signed by the Golden State Warriors
.
Summer League basketball is very different from normal NBA play. It features a high-speed mesh of fast breaks, one-on-one possessions, blocked shots, three-pointers, and erroneous passes. The lack of teamwork often leads to a sloppy game. Most summer league games in Vegas average about a turnover per minute.
player, accumulated five fouls in a little under three minutes of playing time. It takes 10 fouls to foul out in a summer league game, and Greg Oden
accomplished this in his first game. Von Wafer
took 26 shots in 26 minutes.
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
s and some of the younger bench players to see how well some players work with others. Sometimes, even unsigned players are invited to play so teams can decide whether or not they want to sign the new players. The main benefit for fans, as well as the media, is to get a preview of the top rookies and how they will fit into the NBA and how they transit from college basketball to the National League level.
The league is one of two summer pro leagues in the United States. The other summer pro league is the Orlando Summer League
Orlando Summer League
The Orlando Pro Summer League is a pro basketball league run by the NBA club the Orlando Magic in the United States each summer following the NBA Draft. Teams consist of players who have been in the league for 3 years or fewer as well as newly drafted talent....
(run by the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
). Up until 2008, the Rocky Mountain Revue
Rocky Mountain Revue
The Rocky Mountain Revue, until 2008, was one of the NBA's summer leagues, along with the Vegas Summer League and the Orlando Pro Summer League. It is hosted by the Utah Jazz. It started in 1984 as a pro-am league with students and alumni of Utah, BYU, Weber State and Utah State...
(run by the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
) operated until it was cancelled in 2009 due to declining participation.
On April 13, 2011 it was announced that the 2011 edition of the summer league was cancelled due to the possibility of an upcoming NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
lockout.
History
The Las Vegas Summer League played its inaugural season in 2004 on the basketball court at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) with six NBA teams – Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
, Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
and Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
– playing a total of 13 games. With Warren LeGarie leading the way, the summer league had three successful summers in which participation increased to 16 teams playing more than 40 games at UNLV. In 2005, the summer league expanded to 15 teams – Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Golden State, L.A. Clippers, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento and Washington. In 2007, the NBA attached its name to the event, making in the “NBA” summer league. In 2008, the summer league expanded to 22 teams and was sponsored by EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
.
Description
In NBA summer league, winning or losing does not matter very much. The summer league gives individual players a chance to prove their skills on the court. Some of these players hope to earn a role on their respective team's roster once the regular season starts.If there is a member of a team, say the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, and he plays summer league, he will be on the Lakers in the regular season. If someone is not currently signed, a team might just sign him for their summer league team, which will give him a chance to prove his worth and possibly be signed to a contract during the regular season. Any team can sign him after the league is over, not just the one he played for in summer league. For example, Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Shu-How Lin is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association...
, a Harvard student, was invited to play for the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
summer league team. In the 2010 summer league, Lin performed well and was later signed by the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
Summer League basketball is very different from normal NBA play. It features a high-speed mesh of fast breaks, one-on-one possessions, blocked shots, three-pointers, and erroneous passes. The lack of teamwork often leads to a sloppy game. Most summer league games in Vegas average about a turnover per minute.
Stats
The NBA summer league games are home to improbable stat lines. Greg Brunner, a former University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
player, accumulated five fouls in a little under three minutes of playing time. It takes 10 fouls to foul out in a summer league game, and Greg Oden
Greg Oden
Gregory Wayne Oden, Jr. is an American basketball player at the center position. Oden is a member of the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA....
accomplished this in his first game. Von Wafer
Von Wafer
Vakeaton Quamar Wafer , commonly referred to as Von Wafer, is an American professional basketball player who plays with Vanoli Cremona of the Lega Basket....
took 26 shots in 26 minutes.