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ESPN Senior Writer- Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series
- Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers
- Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system
NBA summer league has begun in Salt Lake City and Sacramento, California, with top draft picks such as Brandon Miller making his debut with the Charlotte Hornets and the Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren seeing his first game action since the 2022 summer league because of a season-ending foot injury.
The NBA 2K24 Summer League taking place Friday through July 17 in Las Vegas will be headlined by No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama, who will face Miller when his San Antonio Spurs take on the Hornets on Friday night. The Vegas league takes place at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. The 76-game event will feature all 30 NBA teams, with each playing at least five games from Friday through July 14.
After each team plays four games, the top four (determined by winning percentage) will advance to the playoffs and participate in a semifinal game on July 16. The 26 teams that do not advance to the playoffs will play a fifth and final game on either July 15 or July 16.
The two semifinal winners will advance to the championship game (July 17).
With so many games to be played, ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Kevin Pelton take a look at the most notable players to watch in Las Vegas and their impact for their respective teams.
Andscape: Brandon Miller's summer league debut
Atlanta Hawks
Kobe Bufkin | Guard
Bufkin looks like an ideal fit for the Hawks with his ability to play on or off the ball and defend multiple positions. Summer league provides an opportunity to show what he can do in a featured ballhandling role in case the Hawks need to trade Trae Young or Dejounte Murray at some point, but he should be able to see minutes alongside either in their current roster configuration thanks to his improving spot-up shooting, high-level defensive intensity and transition scoring prowess. -- Givony
Boston Celtics
Jordan Walsh | Forward
Celtics fans will likely get an extended look at second-round pick Walsh, who was billed as one of the best and most versatile defenders in this draft class with his ability to slide between point guards and power forwards. It will be interesting to see how the Arkansas product's offense looks in a bigger role than what we saw from him this past season, when he struggled with efficiency and decision-making but still dropped some intriguing flashes of passing ability. -- Givony
Brooklyn Nets
Noah Clowney | Forward
With fellow first-round pick Dariq Whitehead out after foot surgery, Clowney will be the featured player on this roster along with second-round pick Jalen Wilson. Clowney was mostly a role player at Alabama, tasked with making spot-up jumpers, providing defensive versatility and energy on both ends of the floor, and it's likely that will continue to be his focus in Vegas as well. The thin-framed 18-year-old has an opportunity to show coaches that he's further ahead with his development and ready to push for minutes in a crowded Nets frontcourt. -- Givony
Charlotte Hornets
Brandon Miller | Guard
Miller, the team's highest draft pick in more than a decade, will provide a major spotlight on the Hornets' summer league roster, in no small part due to the pre-draft debate we saw between him and guard Scoot Henderson. The fact that both players will match up with each other on July 11 should provide for plenty of fan intrigue, and it will be interesting to see how much ballhandling responsibility the Hornets decide to provide Miller with. Charlotte has several capable guard options on the roster, including fellow draft picks Nick Smith Jr. and Amari Bailey, as well as previous draftees James Bouknight and Bryce McGowens. Miller will likely be utilized both on and off the ball, and many will be interested to see how efficient he can be as a shot-creator inside the arc, as well as a perimeter shooter from NBA range. -- Givony
Chicago Bulls
Dalen Terry | Forward
After seeing just 212 NBA minutes as a rookie, Bulls fans will be both eager and excited to see how much progress Terry has made with a year of experience under his belt. The Bulls will hope to see more scoring prowess from the Swiss Army knife defender who still isn't of legal drinking age and has plenty of room to grow physically and skill-wise. Summer league should provide ample opportunity for Terry to show coaches he should be a part of the team's rotation moving forward. The Bulls' 2023 second-round pick Julian Phillips will likely also get a significant run. -- Givony
Cleveland Cavaliers
Emoni Bates | Forward
Bates will likely draw more interest than any second-round pick in the class because of the early notoriety he gained as one of the most hyped young teenagers in basketball history. It will be interesting to see how he looks in a different role than what we saw him in collegiately the past two years, likely asked to play a more toned-down version with better efficiency and shot selection. He'll have some excellent passers around him in Sharife Cooper, Isaiah Mobley and Luke Travers to get him easy looks, as well as a bruising center to set screens for him in 2022 draft pick Khalifa Diop. Vegas is a chance for Bates to begin to change the narrative around his lack of development the past three years, but considering he's still only 19 years old, he still has plenty of time to make progress with his thin frame and ability to impact winning on both ends of the floor. -- Givony
Dallas Mavericks
Dereck Lively II | Center
Not typically a team worth watching at the summer league in recent years, the Mavericks will bring three players on full NBA contracts this time: Lively, fellow first-round pick Olivier-Maxence Prosper and 2022 second-round pick Jaden Hardy. How well Hardy and Lively connect on lobs will probably be the most watchable aspect, though it's possible that Hardy's appearance could be brief after he played 708 minutes as a rookie. -- Pelton
Denver Nuggets
Julian Strawther | Guard
Can Strawther be this year's Christian Braun? Braun actually had a disappointing summer performance, shooting 3-for-24 from 3, but by season's end he was playing a key role for the Nuggets in the NBA Finals. With Braun stepping into the enormous role filled by Brown's departure, Denver will need to replace him in the rotation, and the Gonzaga product will get the first look after being taken late in the first round. -- Pelton
Detroit Pistons
Ausar Thompson | Forward
It's hard to find a more loaded roster than Detroit's, which features several first-round picks from previous years in Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren and even James Wiseman. As the week advances, we'll likely see Ausar in a featured role, giving fans an opportunity to see what made him a top-5 pick in this year's class thanks to his outstanding transition scoring prowess, unselfish passing and defensive versatility. How effectively he's able to make shots early in the week when playing more of an off-ball role could give us insight into the likelihood of him carving out a strong role for the Pistons as a rookie, as the team's rotation looks increasingly crowded and there will undoubtedly be pressure to begin showing results after the ambitious hire of coach Monty Williams. -- Givony
Golden State Warriors
Brandin Podziemski | Guard
The last time Podziemski was in Las Vegas, he came within an assist of a triple-double in a 22-point, 11-rebound performance, but his Santa Clara team lost to San Francisco in the WCC tournament. Since then, Podziemski's draft stock skyrocketed to the point where the Warriors took him at No. 19. Golden State is hoping Podziemski can develop immediately and summer league will be our first indication on whether that's realistic. -- Pelton
Houston Rockets
Amen Thompson | Forward
After Wembanyama, Amen might be the most interesting player to watch at summer league because this is the first time we've seen him go up against other top prospects in recent years. The level of play Thompson faced at Overtime Elite made it challenging to gauge his potential. After all, OTE's next-best prospect was twin brother Ausar. Having played together throughout their careers, the two will square off against each other on Sunday (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2). -- Pelton
Indiana Pacers
Jarace Walker | Forward
The Pacers' entire rotation might consist of their own recent draft picks early in the week, with the likes of Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, Isaiah Jackson and Kendall Brown featured on the roster along with 2023 draft picks Ben Sheppard, Isaiah Wong and Mojave King. After trading for forward Obi Toppin, the Pacers will likely be studying the play of Walker to determine how quickly they'll be able to integrate him into their roster, which looks a lot deeper after agreeing to terms with NBA champion Bruce Brown. The 2023 No. 7 pick's defensive versatility, intensity level and physicality will surely be valued by the Pacers' coaching staff, but he'll need to show he can make shots with consistency to earn a major role as a rookie, a process that can start in Vegas. -- Givony
LA Clippers
Jason Preston | Guard
Having delayed the date when his 2023-24 salary guarantees until after the summer league, Preston will have plenty to prove in Vegas. After missing his first NBA season because of injury, Preston saw little action last year, totaling just 124 minutes. Preston was effective in the 37 games he played in the G League, shooting 38% from 3 and averaging 6.8 APG. -- Pelton
Los Angeles Lakers
Jalen Hood-Schifino | Guard
For the second consecutive year, the Lakers used their top pick on a guard from the Big Ten, and both Hood-Schifino (Indiana) and Max Christie (Michigan State) will be part of their team in Vegas. Hood-Schifino will likely share ballhandling duties with Scotty Pippen Jr., who spent last season with the Lakers on a two-way contract, and get the keys to the offense when Pippen is on the bench. -- Pelton
Memphis Grizzlies
Kenneth Lofton Jr. | Forward
All five Grizzlies rookies last season are part of their roster for both the Salt Lake City (which began Monday) and Vegas summer leagues. After winning G League Rookie of the Year, Lofton was promoted from a two-way contract in time to put up 42 points on 17-for-25 shooting and 14 rebounds in Memphis' regular-season finale. David Roddy also played a more important role, seeing rotation minutes in the playoffs. -- Pelton
Miami Heat
Jaime Jaquez Jr. | Guard
Don't be surprised to see the Portland Trail Blazers' front office at Heat games in Las Vegas to watch Jaquez and 2022 first-rounder Nikola Jovic play in summer league. Both could be part of a Damian Lillard trade offer. It will be interesting to see if Jaquez's role evolves in Vegas compared with what we saw at UCLA. He was a major focal point at UCLA, but utilized more as a power forward tasked with significant shot-creation responsibility from the high and mid-post. Jaquez's ability to evolve as a perimeter shooter will likely play a role in his ability to find significant long-term success in the NBA. Summer league is somewhat of a difficult position for him, as the better he plays, the more likely he could be traded. -- Givony
Milwaukee Bucks
Andre Jackson Jr. | Guard
Jackson helped UConn win the national championship with his outstanding combination of defensive intensity, unselfish passing and ability to ignite a fast break. It will be fascinating to see how that translates to summer league, especially with his scoring ability, which waxed and waned throughout college. The easiest route for Jackson to earn playing time for Milwaukee revolves around his ability to make consistent shots alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, something that hasn't come easily for him. The Bucks have a plethora of guard options to get Jackson good looks, including 2020 draft pick Nico Mannion, two-way contract players AJ Green and Omari Moore, 2022 draft pick Hugo Besson, as well as last year's first-round pick MarJon Beauchamp. -- Givony
Minnesota Timberwolves
Leonard Miller | Forward
The Vegas area is familiar to Miller, who spent last season playing for G League Ignite in nearby Henderson. It was Miller, not No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson, who led Ignite in scoring at 18.0 PPG and added 11.0 RPG. Nonetheless, concerns about Miller's ability to space the floor caused him to drop to the second round before the Timberwolves traded to take him No. 33 overall. -- Pelton
New York Knicks
Isaiah Roby | Forward
The Knicks haven't prioritized the draft in recent years and have only two players who heard their names called in it on the roster, including 2022 pick Trevor Keels, who spent most of last season in the G League. The most interesting player looking toward this upcoming season is 2019 draft pick Roby, who has played for three different NBA teams in four years, but may have an opportunity to show the Knicks he's deserving as a backup power forward following the trade of Toppin. The 25-year-old has defensive versatility and passing prowess and has converted 35% of his 3s in the NBA, attributes that could be useful as he attempts to show he's worthy of a roster spot. -- Givony
New Orleans Pelicans
Jordan Hawkins | Guard
The last time he played in a meaningful game, Hawkins celebrated UConn winning the national championship in Houston. Hawkins' 16.3 PPG during the NCAA tournament run helped cement him as a lottery pick by the Pelicans, who are hoping to see plenty of his 39% college 3-point shooting on display in Vegas. -- Pelton
Oklahoma City Thunder
Chet Holmgren | Forward
Sadly, the summer league was the final time we saw Holmgren on the court last season. A Lisfranc injury suffered in the CrawsOver Pro-Am sidelined Holmgren for all of the 2022-23 season. Starting with Holmgren's play at the Salt Lake City summer league, this is an excellent opportunity to see what he's added to his game after rehabbing the injury. -- Pelton
Orlando Magic
Anthony Black | Guard
Summer league will provide Magic fans an opportunity to envision how Black will fit with the plethora of young talent assembled on Orlando's roster. He'll likely have the ball and a major opportunity to show how his size, playmaking prowess and feel for the game look in an outsized role while surrounded alongside fellow lottery pick Jett Howard and last season's second-round pick Caleb Houstan. Black can impact a game defensively and move the ball unselfishly, but how aggressive he puts points on the board as a creator and perimeter shooter will be fascinating. The Magic have somewhat of a glut of backcourt talent who they will need to sort through with Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs. Black may expedite, or slow that process, depending on how he plays. -- Givony
Philadelphia 76ers
Jaden Springer | Guard
Springer was the second-youngest player selected in the 2021 NBA draft and has received a limited opportunity to show what he can do on an NBA floor, playing just 125 minutes in his first two seasons. Now entering a crucial third year, Sixers brass want to see Springer show he's a cut above summer league competition, something that didn't look to be the case in extended G League runs. Making good decisions with the ball and finding ways to be more consistent as a perimeter shooter will be important for the 20-year-old guard, whose clock might tick a little more loudly as the Sixers navigate a tricky situation with James Harden. -- Givony
Phoenix Suns
Jordan Goodwin | Guard
With just one of their own draft picks (No. 52 overall selection Toumani Camara) on the roster, the Suns we see in Vegas will bear little resemblance to the championship contender in Phoenix next season. Goodwin, acquired along with Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards, might be the biggest exception. Having averaged 13.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per 36 minutes for the Wizards last season, Goodwin could play his way into the backup point guard job for the Suns. -- Pelton
Portland Trail Blazers
Scoot Henderson | Guard
With 2022 lottery pick Shaedon Sharpe also on its roster, we'll get an early look at Portland's backcourt of the future. Sharpe might not play for long after logging nearly 1,800 minutes as a rookie. This development opportunity is more important for Henderson, who could be handed the keys to the Blazers' offense this season after Damian Lillard's trade request. -- Pelton
Sacramento Kings
Keegan Murray | Guard
It's unclear whether we'll see Murray, the 2022 summer league MVP, play in Las Vegas after landing on the All-Rookie first team. It's plausible he'll be shut down after suiting up for the Kings' home games in the California Classic. In that case, attention will shift to second-round pick Colby Jones, who was Sacramento's top selection after the team traded away the No. 24 pick on draft night. It was obvious Murray was too good for this level after he dropped 41 points in front of home fans against Miami on Wednesday in the California Classic. Murray will practice with the team in Vegas but not play, per Kings summer head coach Luke Loucks. That turns attention to the top Sacramento draft pick this year, Jones. He put up 23 points, nine rebounds and five steals in two California Classic games, but struggled with turnovers, committing six of them against just one assist. -- Pelton
San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama | Forward
Who else? Wembanyama will be the talk of Las Vegas for as long as he suits up. Wembanyama has already dazzled in Nevada, dominating a pair of exhibitions against the Ignite last October in Henderson that confirmed him as one of the great prospects in NBA draft history. If anything, expectations might be unrealistically high for Wembanyama coming off a long season in France that didn't wrap up until late last month. Still, Wembanyama's summer debut is the most anticipated since Zion Williamson in 2019. -- Pelton
Toronto Raptors
Gradey Dick | Guard
The Raptors were ecstatic to see Dick fall to them at the end of the lottery and now get a chance to see how he plays in an outsized role in Vegas, which will surely be catered to his strengths. The 6-foot-7 sharpshooter will likely see a heavy dose of plays called to showcase his ability to come off screens, attack closeouts and maybe even show more playmaking ability than we saw at Kansas this past season. How well Dick is able to hold his own defensively will give us some insight into his ability to carve out a big role in the Raptors' rotation, which will likely look very different next season with Fred VanVleet off to Houston and Scottie Barnes potentially shouldering more ballhandling responsibilities. In theory, Dick's perimeter shooting prowess is a perfect fit on the Raptors' roster, but how quickly the 19-year-old will be able to absorb real minutes and responsibility might shed insight into how the Raptors approach the rest of their offseason. -- Givony
Utah Jazz
Keyonte George | Guard
All three Jazz first-round picks are on their roster for Salt Lake City and Vegas, including No. 9 Taylor Hendricks and No. 28 selections Brice Sensabaugh. George will be featured, giving him an opportunity to show viewers why he was considered a top-10 pick entering an uneven year at Baylor that caused him to slide to the No. 16 pick. -- Pelton
Washington Wizards
Bilal Coulibaly | Guard
Coulibaly was the biggest riser of the pre-draft process, capitalizing on an excellent showing in the French league playoffs alongside Wembanyama to catapult into the top 10. As the first player drafted by new decision-makers Michael Winger and Will Dawkins, the 18-year-old Coulibaly will likely get a big runway to showcase his talent and continue to develop his ballhandling and perimeter shooting. The front office will likely want to see last season's top-10 pick, Johnny Davis, show more ability than what the 21-year-old exhibited as a rookie in the NBA and G League. -- Givony