From the 11th of July until the 21st, Las Vegas, Nevada will become the center of the basketball world as the NBA Summer League holds its annual games for the younger players in the league and for those about to be initiated into the fast paced life of professional basketball.
For some of these guys it will be the first time they have ever gone head to head with a real, live NBA player. It will be an eye opening experience for some, and some others might just open some eyes. The Las Vegas Summer League is always chocked full of surprises and is seldom boring.
Participants will consist of players who have put in three years or less in the NBA and who have also been the focus of some serious attention. Let no one doubt that these are some seriously good basketball players gathered out in the desert this July.
For that reason the NBA itself will be well represented by executives, scouts and coaches who will gather to check out the new talent in the league, but also to take time to socialize with collogues who they may not get to see all that much of on the same side of the court. Stories are told and information is exchanged. It’s all part of this kind of gathering of basketball aficionados.
The games will all take place right there in Las Vegas on the University of Nevada at Las Vegas campus. Throughout the ten days of action games will happen at both the Cox Pavilion and the Thomas & Mack Center, there on the UNLV campus.
Of course the press will be well represented as you’d expect. TV & Radio personalities of all ranks will be there in droves. After all, who would pass up on ten days in Vegas? There will also be seminars and displays of all descriptions.
NBA TV will be on hand to televise the games which will begin with three preliminary rounds from July 11th -15th during which seedings will be determined for the big tournament that will culminate with the Championship Game on July 21st.
Twenty some-odd NBA teams will be represented at the summer event plus a selection of standout players from the NBA D-League. It will be the public’s first look at some of these players we watched being drafted but have yet to see in action on a basketball court. It should be fun!
