Before the next NBA season begins in October, we get our first look at rookies in the 2026 NBA Summer League. The California Classic Summer League wrapped up on Monday, and the Salt Lake City Summer League caps play with a doubleheader on Tuesday night.
The official 2026 NBA Summer League hosted by Las Vegas is what everyone waits for, as all 30 teams will be on show. Las Vegas tips off the action on Thursday, July 9, with the event extending to Sunday, July 19.
Ahead of the Las Vegas showcase, let's look at the NBA Summer League schedule, circling the five games you can’t miss. Which players and matchups stand out for NBA picks on PrizePicks?
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2026 NBA Summer League Schedule: Las Vegas Action Begins July 9
The 2026 NBA Summer League features 76 games over the course of 11 days. Every team will play a minimum of five contests, including four from July 9 to July 16.
Following July 16, the NBA Summer League enters the playoffs. Only four teams make the playoffs, earned from records over the four matchups from July 9 to July 16. The semifinals occur on July 18, followed by the championship game on July 19.
Each squad that did not make the four-team playoff will get a consolation matchup between July 17 and July 19. That ensures every team gets five games at the 2026 NBA Summer League.
Here's a summary of the NBA Summer League schedule in Las Vegas:
- July 9 to July 16 – 60 games played, with each team playing in 4 games
- July 17 to July 19 – 26 teams participate in consolation games, with each squad playing once
- July 18 – NBA Summer League semifinals
- July 19 – NBA Summer League championship game
Keep in mind, we only know matchups for the first 60 games played from July 9 to July 16. Every game with the tip-off time and where to watch it can be found here.
The NBA will also feature some unique rules at the 2026 NBA Summer League, headlined by the one free-throw rule. This is designed to speed up play, as players will attempt one free throw following a foul. For example, if a player is fouled on a 3-point shot, one free throw is attempted for all 3 points.
In the final two minutes of fourth quarters and in overtime, the standard free throw rule returns.
Now that we’ve previewed what to expect for the NBA Summer League, let’s circle five matchups you can’t miss.
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On PrizePicks Team Picks, payouts for the winner, spread, over/under, and more are available in 35 states for the NBA Summer League! The Bulls (2.04x), Celtics (2.04x), Raptors (2.04x), Trail Blazers (2.04x), and Suns (2.04x) are all tied for the shortest payout to be crowned the champion of the 2026 NBA Summer League.
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NBA Summer League: Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks
Date, Time: Thursday, July 9, 7:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN
The 2026 NBA Summer League schedule tips off with a loaded slate on Thursday, July 9, televised by ESPN. The late-night doubleheader is a must-see, but don’t sleep on this 7:00 p.m. ET matchup between the Warriors and Mavericks.
In the 2026 NBA Draft, Golden State selected Michigan F Yaxel Lendeborg with the 11th pick, while the Mavericks landed Michigan F Morez Johnson Jr. with the ninth overall selection. This is a clash between former teammates who won the national championship with the Wolverines last season.
Golden State has yet to announce its official roster for Las Vegas, but we saw the likes of former Gonzaga C Graham Ike, former Texas Tech G Chance McMillan, and former Wisconsin G Nick Boyd at the California Classic. Each piece was a high-level contributor in college, including Ike’s 19.9 points per game (PPG) and 8.0 rebounds per game (RPG) in his final collegiate season.
If Ike is featured on the Warriors’ roster, the Mavericks’ Morez Johnson Jr. will have a strong challenge right off the bat.
Furthermore, Golden State rookie Yaxel Lendeborg had an impressive Summer League debut at the California Classic with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists, cashing in all 6 field goal attempts and 4 looks from 3-point land.
NBA Summer League: Utah Jazz vs. Washington Wizards
Date, Time: Thursday, July 9, 9:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN
Now, we get to the late-night slate for the first day of 2026 NBA Summer League action. This is the matchup everyone will have circled on the NBA Summer League schedule, as the No. 2 pick, Darryn Peterson, takes on the No. 1 pick, AJ Dybantsa.
We’ve yet to see Dybantsa play for the Wizards, but Peterson has quickly made noise in the Salt Lake City Summer League. For all those concerns about Peterson’s injury history, he’s quickly reminded us why he was once the favorite to be the No. 1 pick.
After erupting for 28 points while shooting 52.4% from the field and making 4 of 7 3-pointers in his debut, Peterson had another excellent performance on Monday with 25 points and 12 assists.
Totaling 25.5 PPG and 6.8 RPG at BYU in the 2025-26 season, Dybanta pulled away as the favorite to be the first player off the board at the 2026 NBA Draft.
There’s a real shot we see Peterson and Dybantsa each flirt with 25 points, providing a high-level duel to kick off the Las Vegas Summer League.
According to PrizePicks Team Picks, Peterson has the shortest payout to win the 2026-27 NBA Rookie of the Year (2.56x), while Dybantsa’s 5x payout is the third-shortest mark.
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NBA Summer League: Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Date, Time: Thursday, July 9, 11:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN
Following Peterson vs. Dybanta, two top seven picks in Kings PG Darius Acuff Jr. and Clippers G Keaton Wagler collide. Los Angeles took Wagler fifth overall, followed by the Kings snagging Acuff with the No. 7 pick.
Wagler features only a 14.28x payout to win Rookie of the Year, compared to Acuff carrying the fourth-shortest mark (5.26x).
We could see a motivated Acuff, who is arguably the top point guard from the 2026 class. Yet, Wagler and Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 6 to Nets) were drafted ahead of the Kings rookie.
Acuff featured at the California Classic, recording 25 and 22 points in two appearances.
NBA Summer League: Chicago Bulls vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Date, Time: Friday, July 10, 8:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Prime Video
Bulls F Caleb Wilson and Grizzlies F Cameron Boozer renew the North Carolina vs. Duke rivalry on Friday night.
Of course, each player’s draft slot is what takes the spotlight. Wilson was selected fourth overall, one spot behind Boozer at No. 3. Former UNC forward Wilson was held out of the second North Carolina-Duke matchup due to injury last season. Will that spark some motivation on Friday night?
The rivalry aside, Boozer logged 16.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 4.0 assists per game (APG) while shooting 65.0% and 62.5% on 3-pointers over two games at the Salt Lake City Summer League.
Chicago has yet to play in a Summer League game, but you can expect some high-flying highlights from Wilson.
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NBA Summer League: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Date, Time: Friday, July 10, 10:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Prime Video
Rounding out our five must-see games on the NBA Summer League schedule, we have the Thunder vs. Lakers following the Bulls vs. Grizzlies on Prime Video.
Most of this pertains to the Lakers’ top pick shining at the California Classic. Former Baylor guard Cameron Carr was flirting with a lottery pick ahead of draft night but slid to the 24th overall pick to the Knicks, who traded his draft rights to the Lakers.
Carr’s early statement is loud and clear, posting 19 and 26 points in his two Summer League outings. He showcased why so many were excited about his shooting touch, draining 9 of 20 3-point attempts (45.0%) over two games.
Thanks to a never-ending wealth of draft picks, the Thunder selected Michigan C Aday Mara (12th) and G Bennett Stirtz (16th) in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Plus, Kentucky G Otega Oweh was drafted 41st overall and traded to OKC, and the Thunder’s Summer League roster includes Indiana G Lamar Wilkerson, who posted 20.9 PPG last season.
Oklahoma City will have plenty of young talent on show, and Carr has a chance to maintain his hot play, proving why he may have deserved a lottery pick.
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Make NBA Summer League Picks at PrizePicks
Buckle in — we’ve got 76 NBA Summer League games ahead in Las Vegas. Top picks from the 2026 NBA Draft will be on display, including AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and more. The NBA Summer League schedule is locked and loaded with plenty of must-watch matchups, and you can make your predictions on PrizePicks!
You can get in on NBA offseason action with PrizePicks, from player projections to game winners and spreads for the NBA Summer League to predicting players’ next team in free agency on PrizePicks Team Picks. Plus, the NBA tab already features projections for the 2027 NBA Finals winner, the NBA Rookie of the Year, and more!
Stay tuned with the Playbook for continued NBA predictions, picks, news, and analysis all year long.
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