Marquette, MI – July 9th, 2026 – The 2026 NBA Summer League officially tipped off today, beginning 11 days of basketball action in Las Vegas from July 9-19. All 30 NBA teams will play five games, giving fans their first opportunity to watch this year’s rookie class and other young talent compete at the top level.
The tournament begins with each team playing four preliminary games. At the conclusion of those contests, the top four teams are determined by winning percentage. If teams are tied, the standings are decided by head-to-head results, followed by point differential, and total points scored. The top four teams advance to the semifinals, with the winners meeting in the championship game to compete for the Summer League title. The remaining 26 teams will each play one final consolation game to conclude their schedules.
Since expanding to all 30 NBA franchises in 2018, the NBA Summer League has become one of the highlights of the offseason. The event gives fans their first look at recently drafted rookies while also showcasing second-year players, two-way contract players, G League standouts, and unsigned free agents looking to earn an NBA opportunity.
Last summer, the Charlotte Hornets captured the 2025 Summer League championship, finishing perfect (6-0) throughout the tournament. Hornets standout, Kon Knueppel, was named Summer League MVP after leading Charlotte to the title. This year’s Summer League is headlined by one of the most highly anticipated draft classes in recent memory. Fans will get their first look at No. 1 overall pick, AJ Dybantsa, of the Washington Wizards, along with Darryn Peterson of the Utah Jazz, Cameron Boozer of the Memphis Grizzlies, and Caleb Wilson of the Chicago Bulls.
In addition to showcasing the league’s newest talent, the NBA will use the Summer League to test several experimental rules and technologies that could eventually make their way to the regular season. The biggest rule change involves free throws; any foul that would normally result in one, two, or three free throws will instead be replaced by a single free-throw attempt worth the total value of the original shots. For example, a shooting foul on a three-point attempt would result in one free throw worth three points. The NBA G League has successfully used this format since the 2019-20 season. The league will also debut a new game ball equipped with an embedded sensor capable of detecting contact with the basketball. According to the NBA, the technology is virtually unnoticeable, with no meaningful difference in the ball’s feel, performance, or weight. Data collected will support future officiating applications, such as last touch out of bounce calls.
All Summer League games will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the campus of University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Every game will be broadcast across ESPN networks or Prime Video throughout the event. If you’re looking to follow the action, a link to the complete 2026 NBA Summer League schedule is provided below.
