The NBA calendar officially entered its silly season last week as Kevin Durant’s trade request became public, and we’re unlikely to see the circus in Brooklyn end anytime soon. But there’s good news for those who’ve had their fill of cryptic tweets and extended monologues: Summer League is officially here.
Mock the celebration if you wish. Yes, Summer League games can feature a competitive spirit akin to a fourth run at LA Fitness, and the unforced turnovers are enough to make a high school coach fume. Yet look past the rough edges and a satisfying product can emerge. Summer League is the launching point for the stars of tomorrow. The right organization can also pluck a rotation player out of relative obscurity. And three weeks removed from the Finals, we’ll frankly take any live basketball we can get.
With 11 days of madness ahead, let’s sort through the top things to watch as Summer League heads to Las Vegas.
