NBA summer leagues feature NBA teams but with special summer rosters that are not even close to their regular season rosters. NBA summer leagues have action where each summer team consists of rookies from that team, undrafted rookies and unsigned veteran free agents looking for a job, and young signed players in need of more experience. For further explanation, scroll down. Also see NBA summer league rosters and TV schedule

2009 VEGAS NBA SUMMER LEAGUE INFO: Twenty-one NBA teams, including 10 that appeared in the 2009 NBA Playoffs, will compete July 10-19 in a 55-game schedule, with action taking place at the Thomas & Mack Center and the COX Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Additionally, a team of NBA Development League Select players will compete in the summer action. The NBA D-League is the NBA's official minor league, and the first basketball league with direct affiliations to NBA teams.

A complete schedule of games as well as broadcast information will be released at a later date.

2009 VEGAS NBA SUMMER LEAGUE TEAMS: Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, Toronto, Washington, and an NBA D-League Select team.


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2008 NBA SUMMER LEAGUES

Orlando Summer League
When: July 7-11
Where: RDV Sportsplex, Orlando Florida
Teams: Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, Oklahoma City, Orlando Magic
Schedule/Results: Click here.

NBA Summer League (Vegas)
When: July 11-20
Where: Two different Las Vegas arenas: Cox Pavilion, and Thomas and Mack
Teams: Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards
Schedule/Results: Click here.

Rocky Mountain Revue
When: July 18-25
Where: Salt Lake Community College (Redwood Campus) Lifetime Activities Center (LAC)
Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, New Jersey Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, plus a D-League All-Star team and the 2007 FIBA Asian Champion
Schedule/Results: Click here.



The best non-NBA summer league may have shut down

Summer Pro League (SPL)
When: No 2008 league?
Where: Pyramid in Long Beach, California
Teams: No NBA teams last year year but plenty of former and current NBA, CBA, D-League, ABA and overseas players
Schedule/Results: Click here.



ABOUT NBA SUMMER LEAGUES

NBA summer leagues feature rosters that are different from the regular season. A team's summer league roster usually features a mix of (1) rookies that the team just drafted, (2) a few other players signed to that team, and (3) various undrafted players and free agents looking to get signed to that team or any other team. If a player is a free agent, and that player gets invited to play on a certain summer league team, that team obviously has some interest in him, but the player is hoping to get signed to that team or any other team that happens to be impressed by him.

If you are a member of the Boston Celtics, and you play summer league, you'll be on Boston's team. If you are not currently signed to any NBA team, a team might just sign you for their summer league team, and you're trying to get signed to a real, regular season NBA contract from any team in the league, including the team that you're playing summer league for.

NBA summer leagues are great for seeing how various rookies play as well as watching guys compete for NBA jobs.

In NBA summer league play wins-losses don't really matter. These aren't regular season rosters. It's really all about the individual player performances. Some of these players are fighting to prove themselves worthy of more playing time once the regular season rolls around. Others just want more experience. But a lot of NBA summer league players are jobless. These dudes need a contract. And they'll do whatever it takes.