With the 2025 NBA Draft officially concluded, attention shifts to the next phase of the offseason, which features significant free-agent activity, trades, and the highly anticipated Las Vegas NBA Summer League. This main event in Las Vegas, starting on July 10, will be preceded by two smaller summer leagues: the California Classic and the Salt Lake City Summer League.
The opening day schedule in Las Vegas promises excitement, with seven games set to be played simultaneously at the Cox Pavilion and Thomas & Mack Center. The standout matchup features the No. 1 overall draft pick, Cooper Flagg, and the Dallas Mavericks taking on Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a primetime contest.
Day 1 also includes a notable game between No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper and the San Antonio Spurs facing No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe and the Philadelphia 76ers. The event in Las Vegas is scheduled to wrap up on July 20.
While the traditional opening game pairing of the No. 1 and No. 2 picks isn`t happening this year, NBA fans won`t have to wait long for that showdown. The San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks are set to play on July 12.
As the Summer League is just weeks away, here is a look at five must-watch games (the full schedule is also available elsewhere).
1. Mavericks vs. Lakers (July 10)
Why Watch: This game is the clear highlight of the event, marking the debut of Cooper Flagg, widely regarded as one of the premier draft prospects in recent history. Flagg makes his Summer League debut against the Lakers, a team featuring Bronny James, selected with the No. 55 pick in the recent draft. Both the Mavericks (Flagg) and Lakers (Adou Thiero) made one draft selection. Thiero, a skilled wing from Arkansas, is expected to lead the Lakers` summer roster alongside James. There`s also potential for Dalton Knecht, the No. 17 pick from the previous year`s draft, to join the roster. Flagg delivered one of college basketball`s most impactful one-and-done seasons, and all eyes will be on the former Duke star next month.
2. Mavericks vs. Spurs (July 12)
Why Watch: Although this matchup would typically kick off the Summer League, this year it`s the Mavericks` second game. Flagg and his team will face off against Harper and the Spurs, who had a particularly strong draft performance. San Antonio secured not only Harper, considered the consensus second-best prospect, but also Arizona wing Carter Bryant at pick No. 14. Bryant was projected as a potential top-10 pick, making his availability at 14 excellent value for the Spurs. While Summer League rosters are not yet finalized, this game could also feature Spurs guard Stephon Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year. If Castle plays, this contest becomes even more compelling.
3. Jazz vs. Hornets (July 11)
Why Watch: Beyond Flagg, Ace Bailey has been one of the most discussed prospects, for various reasons. The talented wing from Rutgers garnered significant attention throughout the draft process. While he was projected by some to go to the Wizards at pick No. 6, the Jazz selected him at No. 5. This game is intriguing for multiple reasons, primarily the matchup between Bailey and No. 4 overall pick Kon Knueppel, arguably the class`s best shooter. The Hornets also added notable players like UConn`s Liam McNeeley, Duke`s Sion James, and Creighton`s Ryan Kalkbrenner through the draft. Combined with the potential participation of Bailey, Jazz first-round pick Walter Clayton Jr., and other second and third-year players from Utah, this game is must-see television.
4. Nets vs. Wizards (July 13)
Why Watch: The Brooklyn Nets were a focal point during the draft`s first round. Holding five first-round picks, the Nets opted against trading up and kept each selection. This means Brooklyn will feature five first-round rookies on its Summer League squad. Headlining this group is BYU guard Egor Demin, taken at No. 8. The Nets` other picks included Drake Powell (North Carolina), Nolan Traore (France), Ben Saraf (Israel), and Danny Wolf (Michigan). On the other side, the Wizards made significant additions with Texas guard Tre Johnson and Illinois forward Will Riley in the first round. Johnson, one of college basketball`s top pure scorers and shooters, is a potential contender for the event`s MVP award.
5. Suns vs. Kings (July 14)
Why Watch: The Suns entered the draft needing to improve their center rotation. They quickly addressed this by trading for Mark Williams from Charlotte and drafting Khaman Maluach from Duke. Maluach`s selection was a surprise as he was expected to be gone by pick No. 10. Similarly, Saint Joseph`s Rasheer Fleming, another key Suns addition, was surprisingly available at No. 31. Sacramento also had a successful draft, selecting Colorado State`s Nique Clifford at No. 24 and Stanford`s Maxime Raynaud at 42. Both were projected later in the draft, offering good value for the Kings. Sacramento guard Devin Carter, the No. 12 pick in the 2024 draft, is also expected to play after missing last year`s Summer League due to shoulder surgery. This game promises an interesting look at players who could make an immediate impact for their teams in the 2025-26 season.
Jasper Hawthorne