Marquette, MI – July 20th, 2026 – Eleven days ago, all 30 NBA teams arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the 2026 NBA Summer League, giving fans their first opportunity to watch this year’s rookie class and some of basketball’s brightest young talent compete on the NBA stage.
Since expanding to all 30 NBA franchises in 2018, the NBA Summer League has become one of the most anticipated events of the offseason. The tournament provides an early look at recently drafted rookies while also showcasing second-year players, two-way contract players, G League standouts, and unsigned free agents all looking to make an impression heading into training camp.
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, while the remaining 26 teams each play one final consolation game to conclude their schedules.
Last summer, the Charlotte Hornets captured the 2025 NBA Summer League championship, finishing a perfect 6-0 throughout the tournament. Hornets standout Kon Knueppel was named Summer League MVP after leading Charlotte to the title.
Semifinals
After four days of preliminary play, the field was narrowed to four teams: the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Lakers.
In the first semifinal, the Memphis Grizzlies, led by No. 3 overall pick Cameron “Cam” Boozer, squared off against the Houston Rockets, who were powered by second-round selection Bruce Thornton. Memphis wasted little time taking control, jumping out to a commanding 24-9 lead after the opening quarter. The Grizzlies never looked back, cruising to a 101-90 victory to punch their ticket to the championship game. Cedric Coward led the way with 28 points and eight rebounds.
The second semifinal featured the Golden State Warriors, led by No. 11 overall pick Yaxel Lendeborg, against the Los Angeles Lakers and No. 24 overall pick Cameron Carr. The two teams entered halftime tied at 42-42 before Golden State found another gear in the fourth quarter. The Warriors outscored the Lakers by seven over the final 10 minutes to secure their place in the championship game behind Graham Ike’s 16-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Championship Game
The championship game featured the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors battling for the 2026 NBA Summer League crown.
Neither team could create much separation during a tightly contested first half, with the game tied heading into the break. Memphis seized momentum in the third quarter, outscoring Golden State by 10 to take what appeared to be a comfortable lead entering the final period.
The Warriors, however, had one final run left. Golden State exploded in the fourth quarter, dominating the final 10 minutes by a 28-14 margin to erase the deficit and complete an impressive comeback, earning the 2026 NBA Summer League Championship.
Lendeborg delivered his best performance when it mattered most, finishing with 21 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and three steals to lead the Warriors to the title. His outstanding play throughout the tournament earned him 2026 NBA Summer League MVP honors following the championship victory.
With the win, Golden State finished the tournament with a 5-1 record and captured its second NBA Summer League championship, joining the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers as the only franchises to win multiple Summer League titles since the event adopted its current format in 2013.
If you’d like to see how every team finished, including your favorite team’s final record, where they placed in the overall standings, and how all 30 teams performed throughout the 2026 NBA Summer League, click this link for the complete final standings.
