The principle on-court occasion on the NBA summer time calendar begins Thursday when the Las Vegas Summer season League suggestions off from Sin Metropolis. There are seven video games on Thursday’s slate, together with a matchup between Cooper Flagg’s Dallas Mavericks and Bronny James’ Los Angeles Lakers.

Whereas Flagg, the No. 1 general choose in final month’s draft, has to attend till he will get to Las Vegas to make his debut, different members of the draft class have already had the possibility to take part in numerous summer time leagues on the West Coast. The California Traditional and the Salt Lake Metropolis Summer season League provided first appears to be like for prime prospects from the 2025 NBA Draft, together with Philadelphia 76ers No. 3 general choose VJ Edgecombe, who scored 28 factors in a 93-89 loss to the Utah Jazz.

The Miami Warmth are the reigning summer time league champions after an extra time win over the Memphis Grizzlies in 2024. Miami participated within the California Traditional final weekend and can open towards the Atlanta Hawks on Friday in Vegas. This yr’s Vegas Summer season League title recreation is about for July 20.

Listed here are the most important storylines forward of the Las Vegas Summer season League:

1. Flagg makes his debut vs. the Lakers

One of the anticipated debuts within the historical past of the Las Vegas Summer season League will happen when Flagg faces the Lakers this week. If you wish to learn extra about why it is the very best recreation on the slate, click on right here.

What makes Flagg such prospect is his two-way upside. The brand new Maverick could make an influence on the defensive finish and confirmed actual indicators of enchancment as a creator at Duke. He might have comparable summer time league hype to when Victor Wembanyama participated two years in the past.

Can Edgecombe construct off his efficiency in Utah?

Edgecombe received off to a improbable begin to summer time league by recording 28 factors, 10 rebounds and 4 assists towards Utah over the weekend. The Baylor product was one of the athletic gamers on this draft class and has the upside to be an All-NBA defender at some point. The overreactions from summer time league — good and unhealthy — are fairly widespread on this area, however you in all probability could not have requested for a greater debut for the No. 3 choose.

Edgecombe goes to suit completely in Philadelphia subsequent to guards Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain. Edgecombe confirmed actual enhancements all through his time at Baylor and solidified himself as a top-three choice. One other participant Philadelphia was linked to within the draft was Ace Bailey, who declined to exercise for the 76ers. It seems (very early) that the 76ers landed a gem. If Edgecombe can construct off his efficiency in Utah, it must be signal of what is to come back in Las Vegas and through the season. 

High video games to observe in Las Vegas

Final month, CBS Sports activities ranked the highest 5 summer time league video games to control in Las Vegas. Here’s a brief abstract of every of these video games and why it is best to watch.

• 1. Lakers vs. Mavericks (July 10): That is the very best recreation of the occasion. It will likely be the debut of among the best draft prospects this century. Las Vegas must be buzzing when this recreation suggestions off in primetime. 
• 2. Mavericks vs. Spurs (July 12): Historically, this matchup would’ve been the opener of the summer time league. As a substitute, it is going to be the Mavs’ second summer time league recreation. Flagg and his group will sq. off towards Harper and the Spurs, who had among the best draft hauls of any group. The Spurs not solely landed Rutgers guard Dylan Harper — the consensus second-best prospect within the class — but in addition Arizona wing Carter Bryant at choose No. 14.
• 3. Jazz vs. Hornets (July 11): The prospect who has been talked about probably the most (exterior of Flagg) has been Bailey. Bailey and his group participated within the Salt Lake Metropolis Summer season League final weekend. This may mark the debut of No. 4 general choose Kon Knueppel out of Duke.
• 4. Nets vs. Wizards (July 13): The Nets had probably the most attention-grabbing draft of any group. Brooklyn used all 5 of its first-round picks and can have a roster centered closely on the 2025 draft class. Headlining the group is BYU guard Egor Demin, the No. 8 choose. Washington’s summer time league group is headlined by Texas guard Tre Johnson and Illinois ahead Will Riley.
• 5. Suns vs. Kings (July 14): Phoenix and Sacramento every made a choose within the first spherical final month. The Suns chosen Khaman Maluach out of Duke, whereas the Kings traded as much as choose Colorado guard Nique Clifford. The Suns’ summer time league group will even function a pair of second-round picks in Saint Joseph’s Rasheer Fleming and Kentucky’s Koby Brea.

Breakout candidates to control

Yearly at summer time league, there are at all times gamers who emerge as potential stars or summer time league darlings. Listed here are 5 names to control in Las Vegas. Included on this checklist are rookies and gamers drafted final summer time.

• Devin Carter, Sacramento Kings: The No. 13 choose within the 2024 draft missed summer time league, coaching camp and the beginning of final season due to offseason shoulder surgical procedure. Carter can have a chance to be “the man” on Sacramento’s summer time league group. He is a tough-nosed defender and an distinctive rebounder. 
• Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans: Queen was one of the thrilling gamers to observe final season at Maryland. Queen is an offense-first large man with candy footwork. He has all of the instruments to be a summer time league darling. The 2-man recreation between him and fellow rookie Jeremiah Fears can be enjoyable to observe.
• Danny Wolf, Brooklyn Nets: The Nets made 5 picks within the first spherical final month. One of the best one (worth sensible) was drafting Michigan’s large man on the finish of the primary spherical. Wolf was the offensive engine of Michigan’s roster and was a part of a historic turnaround.
• DaRon Holmes ll, Denver Nuggets: The previous No. 22 choose final summer time suffered a devastating torn Achilles at summer time league final yr. He missed your complete 2024-25 marketing campaign and can return to motion in Las Vegas.
• Walter Clayton Jr., Utah Jazz: Clayton was the very best guard in school basketball final season. With Utah shifting guards Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton, there can be alternatives for Clayton to make an influence and get critical run with the Jazz. Summer season league might function a springboard for simply that.