NBA Summer League 2024: Previewing Biggest Games on Las Vegas Schedule

The NBA's stars of tomorrow are set to take over Sin City today.

Or starting Friday, July 12, rather.

That's when Las Vegas-style Summer League play opens, putting basketball's top new prospects on a stage all to themselves.

This is one of the most entertaining times on the basketball calendar—particularly if you're perpetually on the hunt for shiny, new objects—and while we'd recommend digesting as much hoops as your schedule allows, the following three matchups stand out as appointment-viewing contests on the NBA 2K25 Summer League slate.

Bronny James could have more eyeballs on him than any player participating in this event. It isn't every day, after all, that LeBron James' firstborn enters the Association.

Bronny had some exposure at the California Classic, but the Las Vegas stage is different. Plus, this Friday evening tilt just so happens to have the ESPN platform broadcasting it across the basketball world (7:30 p.m. ET).

The matchup is a good one, too. The Rockets have reigning summer MVP Cam Whitmore and this year's No. 3 pick Reed Sheppard on the roster. Both could produce the kind of fireworks that set off viral wildfires.

Throw in the potential of some fiery shooting from Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht (the No. 17 pick), and it's obvious this contest is one worth watching.

The NBA wasted no time pitting this year's top picks, Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr, against one another. This contest is set for a 9:30 p.m. ET tip on Friday night (ESPN).

Now, it's fair to say this won't exactly carry the same buzz as a normal clash between the first and second picks. There wasn't a consensus top prospect in this class, and the most common criticism of this draft pool was its lack of star power.

All of that said, Risacher and Sarr were taken in their respective spots for a reason. Risacher has a heightened floor as a big three-and-D wing, but there are flashes of handling and passing that make him seem capable of growing beyond that role. Sarr defends everywhere on the floor, and he's shown a willingness (if not always an ability) to dribble, dish and launch long-distance shots.

Plus, if we all heard the same criticisms about this class, that means these players did, too. Each might have a cinder block on their shoulder at this point, so that might be extra motivated to put on a show during what will be their first introduction to a lot of NBA fans.

This game may not immediately jump to the top of mind for everyone, but folks will want to watch this Saturday night showdown (5 p.m. ET on ESPN2) for a couple of reasons.

First, Brandon Miller, last year's No. 2 pick, might be the best player in this event. And if he looks the part, he won't be playing for long. This is Charlotte's first outing, though, so he'll get some run and hopefully flash enough high-end potential for Hornets fans to hope he can become basketball's next star big-wing.

Second, this will hopefully give everyone a glimpse of Tidjane Salaün, an 18-year-old the Hornets aggressively selected sixth overall. He missed the team's summer league minicamp with a laceration near his left knee, but the belief is he'll see some action in Las Vegas. He'll be one to watch whenever he suits up, as the 18-year-old is understandably raw but already a skilled scorer with the tools to potentially become a two-way star.

Finally, the Knicks have a few interesting prospects to eyeball here, too. One is rookie second-rounder Tyler Kolek, who has a non-zero chance of piloting New York's second unit already next season. Another is freshman first-rounder Pacôme Dadiet, an 18-year-old who can score from anywhere. And don't forget 2021 second-rounder Rokas Jokubaitis, who's been playing for Barcelona but has the craft and creativity to potentially push for a bench role on the big-league 'Bockers.