View file photoCenter, Shaun Livingston of the Los Angeles Clippers plays during last year?s NBA Vegas Summer League at the Cox Pavilion. This year, 21 NBA teams will participate in the league that features NBA rookies and undrafted free agents.
Advertisement
It's back, and it's bigger and better than ever.
The 2007 NBA Summer League presented by Adidas, formerly known as the Las Vegas Summer League, returns for its fourth year with action tipping off on Friday at Cox Pavilion and continuing through July 15. The 55-game schedule will feature 21 NBA teams and the Chinese National Team competing at Cox and the Thomas & Mack Center.
The growth of the summer league, designed to allow this year's professional basketball rookie class and undrafted free agents the chance to earn an invitation to team training camps in October, is most evident this year in Las Vegas, which is now recognized as the premier NBA Summer League destination.
This is the first year the local event has been officially branded by the NBA, said Gail Hunter, NBA vice president of events and attractions, and the other summer leagues -- in Utah and Orlando, Fla. -- are much smaller, and one is not even open to the public.
"The Las Vegas Summer League is definitely something that has been growing each year," Hunter said. "In the past, the event has been managed by other groups, but this year the NBA wanted to be a much bigger part of it. We've seen the number of teams increase significantly each year. This year, the majority of the games in Las Vegas will be broadcast on NBA TV as well."
There are a couple of exciting things adding to the NBA action in Las Vegas this year. One is the presence of the Chinese team, which marks the first time an international squad has participated in the pro summer league.
"This is part of the NBA's ongoing relationship with international basketball and specifically in China," Hunter said. "It's a long-term relationship. We've been making trips (having teams play preseason games) in China, and anytime you can get the international game involved, it's good for competition. You're going to see, on this team, some players that have played in the NBA or will be drafted this year. I think fans are going to be very impressed with this team."
Another bright spot has to do with that NBA Draft, which occurred after press time on June 28. Among the teams involved in this year's summer league are the Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle SuperSonics, who owned the rights to the top two picks in the draft. That translates into the chance for local basketball fans to see the top rookies in the game getting their first taste of NBA action.
"It was very fortunate for this summer league how that worked out," Hunter said. "In this Las Vegas league, you have the teams with four of the top five picks. It's very exciting."
In recent years, the local event has blossomed as more teams have chosen to participate. In February, the city hosted the NBA All-Star game, the first time a city without an NBA team has done that. Last year's summer league included 16 teams.
"It's 55 games in 10 days, and that's a lot of basketball." Hunter said. "To be able to come in and see up to six games in one day is a pretty unique experience, especially with the potential to see some of the top picks in the draft. Plus, the set-up at Cox Pavilion is much more intimate than what you're going to get at a normal NBA game. I think that makes it a lot of fun for fans."
Tickets are on sale at the Thomas & Mack Box Office, at all UNLV Tickets outlets and at www.unlvtickets.com. Prices are $25 per day for adults, $15 per day for kids ages 3-12 and free for kids 2 and under.
Teams scheduled include: the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Seattle SuperSonics and Washington Wizards.
Action starts Friday at 1 p.m. when San Antonio takes on Philadelphia. Most days have four games on the schedule.
Archived Editions| Advertising | Contact The Staff
