The NBA has been one of the most exciting leagues for several decades. It has been around since the early half of the 20th century and the league became a home for the most dedicated fan base. However, the league has been running as a business since the start as well. League officials and its Board of Directors work relentlessly to come up with new upgrades that will help the league stay relevant.
Every year, fans tune in to watch the regular season and the post-season, two of the most important parts of its schedule. The league has an incredibly high viewership rating that reaches past 10 million viewers per game at times. Events such as the All-Star Weekend, NBA Draft, and Playoffs are some of the most awaited ones every year. However, the NBA Summer League has been gaining more attention lately.
Following the annual draft that welcomes recruits to the NBA family, the Summer League takes place. This tournament typically takes place in July after hype around free agency and the draft dies down. Fans get to see a sneak peek at what they may expect to witness during the regular season. This tournament is just as exciting as any other event that is scheduled on the NBA calendar.
Four teams qualify for the NBA Summer League Playoffs including two wild card entries
The NBA Summer League does not have your typical regular-season game schedule. In July, a series of games are scheduled for two weeks. Teams are divided into four groups namely the Las Vegas Summer League, California Classic Summer League, Salt Lake City Summer League, and the NBA 2K Summer League. These can also be unofficially referred to as conferences. The tournaments take place in the arenas of various teams that are in the division.
The MSG Sphere in Vegas has been lit up all week to promote NBA Summer League 🏀pic.twitter.com/OGfPbYjQAG
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 7, 2023
A series of 76 games are played before the playoffs kickstart and each game is streamed on the NBA App. After the seeding games conclude, the top four teams will qualify for the championship rounds.
The Playoffs start with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the title round. Two teams that haven’t qualified are selected as wild card entries to play a fifth game. During the tournament, teams usually play a total of four games. The most recent winners of the Summer League were the Portland Trail Blazers.
The NBA Summer League is a tournament that gives fans a glimpse of the newest recruits. Only rookies, sophomores, and G League players participate in the Summer League. These players are allowed to prepare for higher levels of competition or to compete for a chance to sign contracts as well. This applies to second-year players and G League recruits as well.