Caleb Wilson was the last one among the top-four picks in the NBA draft to make his summer league debut, and boy, oh, boy was it worth the wait.

The No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft lit up the Las Vegas Strip with a 35-point performance against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Chicago Bulls’ 20-year-old budding superstar followed up his sensational debut with 19 points, eight rebounds, and five blocked shots against the Utah Jazz, and another 19-point, eight-rebound outing against the Washington Wizards. He capped off his Vegas one-man show with 21 points and eight rebounds against the L.A. Lakers.

Wilson was named to the all-summer league first team, along with fellow rookies Cameron Boozer (Memphis Grizzlies), Brayden Burries (Milwaukee Bucks), Maleek Thomas (Cleveland Cavaliers), and Yaxel Lindeborg (Golden State Warriors).

The Bulls fanbase hasn’t felt this good since Derrick Rose’s MVP season in 2011. Many of them came out to Thomas & Mack Arena to watch Wilson, and they certainly liked what they witnessed.

The uber-athletic 6-10 forward averaged 23.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 2.5 blocks. He shot 50% from the field, including a stunning 41.9% from behind the 3-point line. The 3-ball was supposed to be Wilson’s Achilles’ heel. He clearly worked on his long-range shooting in the months leading up to the summer season. He worked with renowned shooting coach Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews, and the extra reps definitely paid off.

About the only thing that went wrong for Wilson was his free throws. He would have had a higher scoring average if he made more free throws. But that was the only blemish in an otherwise impressive summer league for the former North Carolina Tar Heel.

Individual scoring stats were a bit inflated because of the new summer league rules in which one free throw was worth two points, and if a player were fouled behind the 3-point line, one free throw would be worth three points. The new free-throw rule — which was enforced until the last two minutes of a game — was adopted to speed up the game and improve game flow.

Wilson has drawn comparisons to NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett for his two-way ability and defensive intensity. But the more we see Wilson’s game, from the way he handles the ball to get to his spots and the way he shoots his picture-perfect jumper, he reminds us of Kobe Bryant. Caleb is the latest in the long list of ballers who subscribe to the Mamba Mentality.

“We have some similarities, but I feel like we’re much different players,” Wilson said about the KG comparison. “Kevin Garnett’s a Hall of Famer. I don’t want to be compared to a Hall of Famer because that messes up my expectations.”

Unlike the Big Ticket, who relied heavily on post-ups and face-up mid-post moves, Wilson operates more like a big perimeter wing. Just like Kobe, Wilson has a tight handle. Just like Kobe, Wilson creates most of his shots off the bounce. More than anything, Wilson plays with an edge. Just like Kobe.

Check out this move by Wilson against the Grizzlies. Watch how he navigates around defenders to get to his spot for a 3-ball to beat the buzzer. He walks off the court dejected despite hitting a spectacular shot. The fact that he wears No. 8 seals it.

Future Hall of Famer and current Golden State Warrior Draymond Green thinks KG is Wilson’s baseline instead of his ceiling.

“Caleb Wilson is so good, and I think he’s still clumsy,” Green said on his podcast “The Draymond Green Show.”

“I think he’s so clumsy that he can’t really walk and chew gum at the same time. And yet, he’s already that good right now,” Green continued. “So, if that guy is still clumsy and he’s that good right now, man, what happens if he continues to grow into his body and he ain’t clumsy no more?

“I actually think Kevin Garnett could be his floor. That’s how special I think Caleb Wilson is,” Green concluded.

While top picks AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson shut it down after two games in Vegas, Wilson pulled a Kobe-esque move by running through the tape while some of his peers were making a rest stop.

“I wanted to win a game before I stop,” Wilson said to reporters after the Bulls’ victory over the Dybantsa-less Wizards. “I don’t get to play again until October, probably, or whenever the season starts. I’m just trying to learn as much as I can, and there’s no better place to do that than Summer League.”

When asked about Peterson and Dybantsa skipping a showdown with him and the Bulls, Wilson said that he’s “different from all of them.’’

“I can’t say they don’t enjoy basketball, but I enjoy basketball,’’ he said. ‘‘I love this [expletive]. I’m going to play as much as I can, as much as my team will let me. I’m not the type to go away from a game because I don’t feel good because I know in the NBA, I’m not going to feel good some games. As long as I don’t have an injury or something wrong with me, I’m gonna play every time. People come from all over the world to see me play, so I don’t want to let them down.”

The Bulls have been searching for someone worthy of wearing Jordan’s sneakers. He wore Jordan Brand in college. Now he’ll be playing his home games at the house Jordan built.

Winning is what Cam does best

Cameron Boozer was the most consistent player throughout the summer. He was rock solid at the Salt Lake City Summer League, and he was outstanding at the Las Vegas Summer League. He made impactful plays. He did what was required for his team to succeed. That’s always been his best asset. He finds a way to win. He won at the high school level. He won a gold medal as a member of Team USA at the FIBA U17. He won at the AAU level. He led Duke to the Elite Eight.

Now, as a pro, he led the Memphis Grizzlies to the championship game of the Las Vegas Summer League. The Grizzlies ran their offense through Boozer in the fourth quarter. And Boozer got better as the stakes got higher.

Boozer recorded 19 points (7-for-17 from the field, 3-for-7 on threes), eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in 35 minutes during the Vegas Summer League championship game loss to the Golden State Warriors. Boozer appeared in all six games for the Grizzlies. He made the Vegas Summer League first team, averaging nearly a double-double (18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds) and had a top-five rating.

“He’s special, man,” Cedric Coward said of his Grizzlies teammate. “I mean, there are no other words I can use to describe it. Like I told people before, I can’t believe he’s 18, but he’s a special, special player.”

Boozer turned 19 on July 18, one night before the Vegas Summer League championship game.

Mixed reviews on point guards

If there was a rookie point guard who benefited most from the Las Vegas showcase, it was Mikel Brown Jr. The Brooklyn Nets first-round pick answered questions about his health as the back injury that shortened his lone season at the University of Louisville seemed to be a thing of the past. Brown Jr. was effective on both ends of the floor in the three games he played. Despite shooting just 39% from the field (33% on threes), there was nothing wrong mechanically with MBJ’s shooting stroke. In fact, he had one of the sweetest strokes among all the guards despite the poor shooting percentage. He has Damian Lillard-type range. He has great positional size (he’s listed at 6-5). He plays with a boatload of confidence.

Brown Jr. had a high-profile showdown with fellow lottery pick Darius Acuff Jr. Some thought Brown (No. 6 pick) won the head-to-head matchup with Sacramento’s Acuff (No. 7 pick), but in reality it was a stalemate. Both players had their moments.

Before coming to Vegas, Acuff played in the California Classic in front of Kings fans. The former Arkansas Razorback looked like he had heavy legs. Fatigue may have a lot to do with his poor shooting percentages. He shot a dreadful 26% from behind the 3-point arc and 36% from the field in three games.

Brayden Burries, the Bucks’ first-round pick and 10th overall selection, lived up to expectations. The 6-4 guard played with poise and first-class pace. They were the same attributes he displayed in his one season at Arizona. He averaged 23.5 points per game, which was second-best at the Vegas summer league based on a minimum of four games.

Keaton Wagler and Kingston Flemings may have made some L.A. Clippers and Atlanta Hawks fans a bit nervous. Wagler, the No. 5 pick overall, put up decent scoring stats (18 points per game) in four games for the Clippers, but he seemed overwhelmed by the physicality. He’ll need to add more muscle to his thin frame. He also struggled bringing up the ball as the lead guard. He may have to play more off the ball next to natural point guard Darius Garland.

Flemings averaged just 7.0 points in two games and shot 33% from the field. The struggles that Flemings dealt with during March Madness resurfaced in summer league. The eighth overall pick needs to pick up the pace because he’ll be counted on to fill the Hawks’ starting point guard spot after the departure of Trae Young. Flemings did play for Kelvin Sampson at the University of Houston. So far, Houston Cougars guards have done well at the pro level.

These 3 rookies exceeded expectations

Cameron Carr — The former Baylor Bear looks like a first-round steal for the Lakers after an impressive summer. He looked comfortable playing on the ball as well as off the ball. He does need to add more weight to his 175-pound frame, but the high-end athleticism and pro-ready skills are evident. Carr is a natural scorer, with a smooth mid-range jumper. The 24th selection in the 2026 NBA draft flashed the type of 3-point shooting that could earn him a spot in JJ Redick’s regular rotation. His perimeter shooting and athleticism are exactly what the Lakers need to help create space for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Carr averaged 18 points per game in Vegas, helping the Lakers win four of their first five games and earn a spot in the semifinals. The Lakers have whiffed on their last couple of first-round picks (Dalton Knecht in 2024 and Jalen Hood-Schifino in 2023), but Carr appears to be a home run. He’ll be a useful 3-and-D chess piece that Redick can use at his disposal.

Koa Peat—Peat has a frame NFL scouts love. He’s a 6-7, 235 physical specimen with solid footwork. Koa possesses a combination of size and strength that allows him to move defenders. His father, Todd Peat, played nine seasons in the NFL while his older brother, offensive lineman Andrus Peat, played for the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers. Koa was bigger than the average high school player, so he often overpowered opponents. His bully ball approach worked in high school and college, but some scouts didn’t think he’d be able to do it at the pro level. So far, Koa is proving some of the naysayers wrong, showing exceptional mobility for a 235-pound forward, and he moves a lot quicker than he looks. He’ll need to improve his face-up jumper and develop a perimeter shot beyond 15 feet, so he won’t feel the need to put his head down all the time.

Labaron Philon Jr. — Six years ago, the Philadelphia 76ers hit the jackpot when they selected Tyrese Maxey with the 21st overall selection. It turned out to be one of the best late-round picks. Maxey has turned into an All-NBA performer, and the Sixers have rewarded him with a $204 million max contract. Fast forward to this year, the Sixers may have found another late first-round gem in Philon Jr. The 6-4 guard from Alabama played with a chip on his shoulder and took every matchup personally. He showed up and showed out to let all the teams that passed on him know what they were missing.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. He hosts a sports podcast on YouTube @onemanfastbreak1.

Love it or hate, the NBA Cup is here to stay. And years from now, we’re going to look at it differently.

The New York Knicks became the latest team win the NBA Cup, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It’s the first time in 52 years that the Knicks have ever won anything in the NBA. The last time New Yorkers celebrated a professional basketball title, Knicks superfan Spike Lee was only 16 years old.

Lee, now 68, witnessed his beloved Knicks beat Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs in Las Vegas. Wembanyama, 21, wasn’t even born yet the last time the Knicks reached a championship game. It was 1999 and the grit-and-grind Knicks were coached by Jeff Van Gundy and spearheaded by Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, John Starks, and Anthony Mason.

Now, the Knicks can finally hang a banner at Madison Square Garden next to NBA titles won in 1970 and 1973 thanks to a new group of gritty guys, headed by Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

“This is on the road to an NBA championship,” Lee said on “NBA Nightcap” on Amazon Prime. It’s a great day. It’s not done yet. It’s a tough league. It’s gonna be a fight.”

Brunson put on an MVP performance in Vegas, scoring 40 points in the semifinal win over the Orlando Magic and 25 points in the championship game against the Spurs.

The former Villanova standout is playing at an elite level. New York Knicks coach Mike Brown hammered home a specific point he’s been making in recent weeks — that Brunson, even this early in the season, belongs in the regular-season MVP conversation.

“He makes the game easier for everybody,” Brown said. “That’s what MVPs are supposed to do, and he definitely did that tonight. … At the end of the day, he carries you home. It’s beautiful to be able to see him do what he’s more than capable of doing on a national stage like this, in an environment like this. Hopefully you guys as media and the fans out there can continue talking about him as an MVP of this league because that’s exactly what he is.”

If Brunson keeps playing this way, the MVP case is going to get even more compelling.

He was the NBA’s clutch player of the year last season, so it’s not like he’s been ignored by voters. Brown just wants him to be in the hunt for a bigger trophy.

“You see a lot of other great candidates that are well-deserving but I don’t ever hear Jalen’s name,” Brown said. “When you’re first or second in either conference, and you’re putting up the numbers that he’s putting up, his name’s got to be one of the first names coming out of somebody’s mouth.”

For the past three years since its inception, the NBA Cup has seen its share of detractors. One of the loudest critics is The Athletic’s John Hollinger, who suggested that the in-season tournament forced players to play more games leading to potential injuries.

Critics also say the whole thing is a gimmick, from the outrageously loud and colorful courts to the somewhat confusing group tiebreakers.

Say what you want about the NBA Cup, at least the NBA is making an effort to make waves in the fall season and put a small dent on the NFL’s stranglehold on viewership.

It appears to be working. The NBA has seen a surge in fan interest in the early portion of the 2025-26 season, with a 92% bump in viewership for nationally televised games. Thanks to new broadcast partners NBC and Amazon Prime, joining ABC/ESPN, the league is enjoying its best viewership numbers in 15 years.

But the biggest win so far is the fact that the players are embracing the NBA Cup. They competed hard each and every night the Cup games were held, injecting a playoff-type atmosphere that has resulted in some fantastic games.

“This is not a typical regular-season game,” Wembanyama said after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals. “We knew if that if we lose, we’re out. And you know, some people are built for these moments. Some aren’t. But we definitely are.”

The NBA Cup games in Las Vegas have replaced the league’s Christmas Day lineup as the Association’s marquee event of the fall. It hasn’t overtaken the NFL yet, but in three short years it has generated a lot of buzz and made the early portion of the season far more interesting.

The NBA Cup final didn’t count in the standings, and the stats won’t be added to any official totals. A trophy was at stake and $533,000 cash bonus for the winning team.

It was the third different finals matchup in the NBA Cup — which was initially referred to as the In-Season Tournament. During its inception, the L.A. Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers. In the second year, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a convincing victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Add the New York Knicks to the champions list.

“The Cup is special. I think you saw tonight, here in Vegas the semifinals and finals, it brought out the best in all the teams,” Knicks center Towns said while proudly wearing a championship T-shirt.

“For us to be in a position to say that we won and we’re the champions, and to have this dope-ass shirt on with the Knicks saying as champions is humbling and an honor.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo was determined to win the NBA Cup. He came close in 2023, losing in the semifinals. A year later, Giannis and Milwaukee Bucks had some unfinished business in Las Vegas. They took care of business with an impressive all-around performance.

Behind a suffocating defense and a triple-double from tournament MVP Antetokounmpo, the Bucks throttled the Oklahoma City Thunder, 97-81, to claim the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup title. Giannis was a major factor on both ends of the court as he finished the game with 26 points, pulled down 19 rebounds, dished out 10 assists and had three monster blocks.

Antetokounmpo anchored a Bucks defense that stymied the high-scoring Thunder, holding them to 33.7% shooting from the field and 5-for-32 from the 3-point line. OKC star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held nine points below his season average (21) and made just 8-for-24 shots from the field.

“We’re getting better,” Antetokounmpo told ESPN’s Malika Andrews postgame. “We know we’re leaving Vegas as a better team. I’m so proud of this group. Man, I’m so proud of this group.”

It was refreshing to see a superstar like Giannis put maximum effort during the whole NBA Cup tournament. He could have easily taken his foot off the gas pedal and saved his body for the stretch run in the spring. But you can tell he wanted to win the Cup.

When it was over, Giannis couldn’t hide his excitement after lifting the NBA Cup trophy and the tournament MVP trophy, adding to his growing collection of trophies. He was dancing and hamming it up with his teammates and coaches during the postgame celebration on the court at T-Mobile Arena.

But Giannis knows there’s more work to be done. He’s far from done hoisting trophies.

“Job is not done,” he said. “We have a lot of basketball in front of us. We have a lot of things we need to improve. We are going to continue to improve. We’re going to stay locked in because the job is not done.”

Winning the NBA Cup was extra special for this Bucks squad following a dreadful 2-8 start, and many basketball experts were wondering if the partnership between Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard was ever going to work. But head coach Doc Rivers believed his team will eventually figure it out, especially defensively.

“We struggled coming out of the gates,” Rivers said. “No one here doubted what we can be and who we can be and we just hung in there. We stuck together and this is the byproduct of a team sticking together.”

It’s easy for a team to stick together and not fall apart when the leader of the team is also the most humble and harder worker. The Bucks are Giannis’ team. He sets the tone and leads by example.

“When he’s out there playing so hard, you can’t do anything but follow his lead,” Bucks center Brook Lopez said about the two-time NBA MVP. “He’s the best player in the world. You gotta follow him. He’s such an incredible leader.”

A big shout-out to NBA commissioner Adam Silver for gifting basketball fans the in-season tournament. It was a smashing success. It created a ton of buzz right around a time when football usually dominates the headlines.

The championship game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 9 was the most-watched regular-season game — excluding Christmas Day games — the NBA has had on any network in nearly six years, according to ESPN. It averaged 4.58 million viewers on ABC and ESPN2, peaking at about 5.68 million viewers.

The NFL still rules the American sports landscape, but the NBA in-season tournament certainly carved out a nice niche that could be parlayed into something special for years to come. Sure, there are still a few things Silver and his top executives could smooth out. But the NBA certainly hit the jackpot with this out-of-the-box idea that worked because the players bought in, especially the league’s superstars.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis were clearly motivated to win the inaugural tournament. The Lakers’ All-Star duo set the tone by treating every game as if it was the playoffs. After finishing 4-0 in group play, the Lakers eliminated Kevin Durant’s Phoenix Suns in the knockout round, and capped their perfect 7-0 tournament run by sweeping both games at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to capture the first ever NBA Cup.

LeBron had 30 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in just 23 minutes in L.A.’s 133-89 demolition of the New Orleans Pelicans in the semifinals. Two nights later, it was Davis’ turn to dominate as he authored Shaq-like numbers with 41 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks in a convincing 123-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers in the championship game.

“We have a great 1-2 punch,” said LeBron, who was named in-season tournament MVP. “I took care of the semifinals game and he took care of the finals game, and that’s what it is all about. Hold each other accountable.”

Davis, who showed a lot of grit and fire during L.A.’s impressive run, mirrored what his fellow Klutch Sports buddy said in the locker room while celebrating with teammates.

“Bron carried the torch [in the semifinals] and it was my job [in the finals]. We have each other’s back,” Davis told Spectrum SportsNet’s Allie Clifton. “When one of us is struggling like I was Thursday, he carried the torch. Tonight, he got off to a slow start but I had his back.”

Davis had everyone’s back in the two games in Vegas, putting on a defensive clinic. He “only” tallied six blocks in the semifinals and finals, but he seemingly contested every shot in the paint and his presence was felt by everyone on the Pelicans and Pacers.

LeBron backed up AD’s monster game with an efficient 24-point, 11-rebound night in 34 minutes. LeBron was locked in throughout the tourney, averaging 26.4 points, eight rebounds and seven assists while shooting 56.8% from the field and an eye-popping 60.6% on 3-pointers (James shoots 34% for his career). He turns 39 years old on Dec. 30. For a man who has accomplished just about everything in the sport, LeBron understood the historical nature of the moment.

“It’s pretty cool to be able to say you were the first to do something,” LeBron told Lakers sideline reporter Mike Trudell. “This will go down in history. We’re the first team to ever win the in-season tournament. I’ll take some history for sure.”

“It absolutely means something,” LeBron added. “Every time you put the Lakers into the history books, it means something and I’m happy to be part of it.”

The Pacers, led by tournament breakout star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, came into the finals as the NBA’s No. 1 scoring team at 128 points per game. They love to play at a breakneck pace. But against the Lakers, their speed and pace were overwhelmed by the Lakers’ size and length.

L.A. had a massive 42-point advantage on points in the paint and outrebounded the Pacers by 23. The Lakers made only two 3-pointers for the game, but their 86 points in the paint more than made up for their lack of threes. The Lakers’ dominance in the paint didn’t allow Haliburton to get a running start, forcing him to slow down and play in more halfcourt sets where the Lakers defense can load up and trap him.

Haliburton, who entered the tourney final averaging 26.7 points and a league best 13.3 assists, was held in check with 20 points and had three turnovers.

Marvin Bagley III and DeAndre Ayton go head-to-head in NBA summer league. (Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS — You don’t have to be a basketball junkie to love the NBA summer league, especially if the venue is Las Vegas. For the general admission price of $35, you’ll be able to watch a slew of games at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. And if you’re paying close attention, you could bump into some NBA executives or big-time players.

It’ll be like watching 10 live shows for the same price you would pay for a dinner buffet at Mandalay Bay or Planet Hollywood.

The event is fast becoming one of the best shows on the Vegas Strip, and this year should bring a tremendous amount of buzz thanks to a heralded draft class headed by No. 1 overall selection DeAndre Ayton (Phoenix Suns), No. 2 pick Marvin Bagley III (Sacramento Kings), No. 4 pick Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), and No. 5 pick Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks). This will be the first year all 30 NBA teams are participating in the Vegas summer league.

Here is the jam-packed schedule through the first five days (All times EST):

Friday, July 6

Houston vs. Indiana (3 p.m., NBATV)

Toronto vs. New Orleans (3:30 p.m., ESPNU)

Brooklyn vs. Orlando (5 p.m., NBATV)

Oklahoma City vs. Charlotte (5:30 p.m., ESPNU)

Milwaukee vs. Detroit (7 p.m., NBATV)

Boston vs. Philadelphia (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

Cleveland vs. Washington (9 p.m., NBATV)

Dallas vs. Phoenix (9:30 p.m., ESPN)

Denver vs. Minnesota (11 p.m., NBATV)

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State (11:30 p.m., ESPN)

Saturday, July 7

Portland vs. Utah (3 p.m., NBATV)

San Antonio vs. Indiana (3:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Miami vs. New Orleans (5 p.m., NBATV)

New York vs. Atlanta (5:30 p.m., ESPN)

Oklahoma City vs. Brooklyn (7 p.m., NBATV)

Phoenix vs. Sacramento (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

Detroit vs. Memphis (9 p.m., NBATV)

Chicago vs. Cleveland (9:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Boston vs. Denver (11 p.m., NBATV)

Philadelphia vs. Los Angeles Lakers (11:30 p.m., ESPN)

Sunday, July 8 

Minnesota vs. Toronto (3 p.m., NBATV)

Washington vs. San Antonio (3:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Charlotte vs. Miami (5 p.m., NBATV)

Portland vs. Atlanta (5:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Dallas vs. Milwaukee (7 p.m., NBATV)

Golden State vs. Houston (7:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Utah vs. New York (9 p.m., NBATV)

Memphis vs. Orlando (9:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Sacramento vs. Los Angeles Clippers (11 p.m., NBATV)

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Chicago (11:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Monday, July 9

New Orleans vs. Detroit (3 p.m., ESPNU)

Toronto vs. Oklahoma City (3:30 p.m., NBATV)

Indiana vs. Cleveland (5 p.m., ESPN2)

Washington vs. Philadelphia (5:30 p.m., NBATV)

Charlotte vs. Boston (7 p.m., ESPN2)

Golden State vs. Dallas (7:30 p.m., NBATV)

Milwaukee vs. Denver (9 p.m., ESPNU)

Orlando vs. Phoenix (9:30 p.m., NBATV)

Brooklyn vs. Minnesota (11 p.m., ESPNU)

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston (11:30 p.m., NBATV)

Tuesday, July 10 

San Antonio vs. Portland (4 p.m., NBATV)

Utah vs. Miami (4:30 p.m., ESPNU)

Atlanta vs. Chicago (6 p.m., NBATV)

Sacramento vs. Memphis (6:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York (8:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Playoffs start Wednesday, July 11

Sixers guard Markelle Fultz made a strong first impression at the Utah summer league. (AP)

LAS VEGAS — You don’t have to be a basketball junkie to love the NBA Summer League, especially if the venue is Las Vegas, Nevada. For the general admission price of $25 you get to watch a slew of games at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. And if you’re paying attention you could bump into some celebrities or NBA executives.

That’s like watching four live shows for the same price you would pay for a dinner buffet at Mandalay Bay.

The event is fast becoming one of the best shows on the Vegas Strip, and this year should bring a tremendous amount of buzz with most of the heralded 2017 NBA draft class — headed by No. 1 overall selection Markelle Fultz (Philadelphia 76ers), No. 2 pick Lonzo Ball (L.A. Lakers) and No. 3 pick Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) — playing for their new teams.

Here is the jam-packed schedule through the first five days (All times Pacific):

Friday, July 7

Toronto Raptors vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Cox Pavilion 3:00 PM

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Thomas and Mack Center 3:30 PM

Brooklyn Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks
Cox Pavilion 5:00 PM

LA Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Thomas and Mack Center 5:30 PM

Houston Rockets vs. Denver Nuggets
Cox Pavilion 7:00 PM

Phoenix Suns vs. Sacramento Kings
Thomas and Mack Center 7:30 PM

Saturday, July 8

Washington Wizards vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Cox Pavilion 1:00 PM

Dallas Mavericks vs. Chicago Bulls
Thomas and Mack Center 1:30 PM

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz
Cox Pavilion 3:00 PM

Toronto Raptors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Thomas and Mack Center 3:30 PM

Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs
Cox Pavilion 5:00 PM

Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Thomas and Mack Center 5:30 PM

Houston Rockets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Cox Pavilion 7:00 PM

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Golden State Warriors
Thomas and Mack Center 7:30 PM

Sunday, July 9

Atlanta Hawks vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Cox Pavilion 1:00 PM

Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks
Thomas and Mack Center 1:30 PM

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets
Cox Pavilion 3:00 PM

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets
Thomas and Mack Center 3:30 PM

Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers
Cox Pavilion 5:00 PM

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Boston Celtics
Thomas and Mack Center 5:30 PM

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Sacramento Kings
Cox Pavilion 7:00 PM

Philadelphia 76ers vs. San Antonio Spurs
Thomas and Mack Center 7:30 PM

Monday, July 10

Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls
Cox Pavilion 1:00 PM

Miami Heat vs. Washington Wizards
Thomas and Mack Center 1:30 PM

Brooklyn Nets vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Cox Pavilion 3:00 PM

Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns
Thomas and Mack Center 3:30 PM

Denver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors
Cox Pavilion 5:00 PM

Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Thomas and Mack Center 5:30 PM

LA Clippers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Cox Pavilion 7:00 PM

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings
Thomas and Mack Center 7:30 PM

Tuesday, July 11

San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Cox Pavilion 1:00 PM

Utah Jazz vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Thomas and Mack Center 1:30 PM

Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Wizards
Cox Pavilion 3:00 PM

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics
Thomas and Mack Center 3:30 PM

Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks
Cox Pavilion 5:00 PM

Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Thomas and Mack Center 5:30 PM

Fans packed Thomas & Mack Arena for the Lakers-Knicks game.

LAS VEGAS — The Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas hit the ground running with a record-setting opening night. The marquee matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled in the largest crowd to watch a summer league game at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center, as more than 12,000 came to watch No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns and No. 2 pick D’Angelo Russell.

The crowd, predominantly Lakers fans, filled up all of the lower bowl and arena officials had to open up the upper deck to accommodate more people.

The NBA learned their lesson from last season when fans had to be turned away for a game between that featured Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker. That marquee game was inexplicably played at the smaller venue, Cox Pavilion, which only seats about 3,000. This year, almost all of the featured games were played at Thomas & Mack, which seats 19,522.

Fans who paid $25 to watch the games got real treat this year, as there were plenty of outstanding performances. Here are 10 things we learned from our basketball pilgrimage to Sin City:

— Becky Hammon may be ready to become a NBA head coach sooner rather than later. The former WNBA star became the first woman to coach an NBA squad in the summer league, and she passed with flying colors by leading the San Antonio Spurs to a summer league championship. Hammon lost just one game and appeared real comfortable being the leading voice in the huddle. Whenever Gregg Popovich decides to call it a career, Hammon could be one of the leading candidates to replace him.

— More Spurs love here. Former UCLA point-forward Kyle Anderson showed he’s ready for a bigger role with the Spurs this upcoming season. The versatile swingman averaged 22 points and six rebounds, and was named the MVP of the Vegas Summer League.

— Speaking of UCLA, the biggest surprise in the summer league may have been the play of former Bruins guard Norman Powell. The second-round pick by the Toronto Raptors made the Vegas Summer League first team, joining Anderson, New Orleans’ Seth Curry, Chicago’s Doug McDermott, and Phoenix’s T.J. Warren. The Raptors were so impressed with Powell they signed him to a three-year contract.

— New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis may not be a bust after all. The 7-foot-3 forward-center has a good feel for the game and a nice shooting touch. He’s only 19 so he’ll fill out (hopefully). Even though he’s got body by Shawn Bradley he didn’t look frail or weak inside. He altered a lot of shots in the paint and didn’t shy away from contact. If the Knicks are patient with him, he could turn out to be a very good NBA player.

— D’Angelo Russell had an up-and-down showing in Vegas, but he did finish strong with a 21-point effort in the Lakers’ final game. Russell is not an elite athlete, so he struggles turning the corner coming out of pick-and-rolls. He could get exposed defensively against some of the quicker guards in the Association. Turnovers were also an issue for him, but that can be easily corrected with more court time with his new teammates. Lakers coach Byron Scott tried to squash the hype around Russell a tad by saying “he’s not Magic Johnson.” The Lakers brass, mainly Scott, Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss, believe Russell can be a superstar. From what he displayed in Vegas, Russell has a lot of work to do.

— One player who didn’t have a problem turning the corner off ball screens was Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson. Last year’s second-team all-rookie performer showed flashes of Russell Westbrook-like ability. The 6-5 combo guard loves to attack the rim (just ask Utah’s Jack Cooley) and plays better when he’s at the point. If given the opportunity he could be an 18-20 point scorer.

— Julius Randle still has a ways to go before he returns to his old form. The Lakers’ top pick from the 2014 draft doesn’t appear to be fully recovered from his ACL injury, although he did get better as he got more time on the court. The Lakers had a minutes restriction on Randle, making it difficult for him to find a rhythm. He HAS to develop more post-up moves because that spin move will get stale awfully quick.

— SMU coach Larry Brown was absolutely right about point guard Emmanuel Mudiay. He is easily the best point guard in the 2015 draft class. The Congo native looked NBA ready, and his 12-game stint in China did him a lot of good. He showed he can run an offense. And the game wasn’t too fast for him. Once he fixes his jump shot he’ll be real scary. The Nuggets basically gave the keys to the franchise to Mudiay by trading Ty Lawson.

— The Philadelphia 76ers has a budding star in Jahlil Okafor. The 6-11 big man didn’t disappoint, as he showed off his fantastic offensive skills around the basket and looked better shooting his free throws.

— Kentucky products Towns (Timberwolves), Devin Booker (Suns), Trey Lyles (Jazz) and Willie Cauley-Stein (Kings) should all contribute right away for their respective NBA teams. How in the world did Kentucky not win the NCAA title?

L.A. Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson plays in Las Vegas. (GETTY IMAGES)

LAS VEGAS — You don’t have to be a basketball junkie to love the NBA Summer League, especially if the venue is Las Vegas, Nevada. For the general admission price of $25 you get to watch a slew of games at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. And if you’re paying attention you could bump into some celebrities or NBA executives.

That’s like watching four live shows for the same price you would pay for a dinner buffet at Mandalay Bay.

Each year I make a pilgrimage to Sin City to observe and absorb what is fast becoming one of the best shows on the Vegas Strip. This year should real exciting with most of the heralded 2015 NBA draft class — headed by Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves), D’Angelo Russell (L.A. Lakers) and Jahlil Okafor (Philadelphia 76ers) — playing for their new teams.

Here is the 2015 NBA Las Vegas Summer League schedule, featuring 24 teams and 67 games over 11 days. All times Pacific:

Friday, July 10

Cox Pavilion
3 p.m. – Milwaukee vs. New Orleans
5 p.m. – Atlanta vs. Denver
7 p.m. – D-League Select vs. Houston

Thomas & Mack
3:30 p.m. – Sacramento vs. Toronto
5:30 p.m. – Minnesota vs. L.A. Lakers
7:30 p.m. – Golden State vs. Cleveland

Saturday, July 11

Cox Pavilion
1 p.m. – New Orleans vs. Dallas
3 p.m. – Washington vs. Phoenix
5 p.m. – Boston vs. Portland
7 p.m. – Brooklyn vs. Cleveland

Thomas & Mack
1:30 p.m. – New York vs. San Antonio
3:30 p.m. – Chicago vs. Minnesota
5:30 p.m. – L.A. Lakers vs. Philadelphia
7:30 p.m. – Miami vs. Utah

Sunday, July 12

Cox Pavilion
1 p.m. – Washington vs. D-League Select
3 p.m. – Chicago vs. Toronto
5 p.m. – Sacramento vs. Denver
7 p.m. – Portland vs. Dallas

Thomas & Mack
1:30 p.m. – Phoenix vs. Houston
3:30 p.m. – Milwaukee vs. San Antonio
5:30 p.m. – Golden State vs. Atlanta
7:30 p.m. – Philadelphia vs. Boston

Monday, July 13

Cox Pavilion
1 p.m. – Cleveland vs. Milwaukee
3 p.m. – D-League Select vs. Atlanta
5 p.m. – Miami vs. Denver
7 p.m. – Toronto vs. Houston

Thomas & Mack
1:30 p.m. – New Orleans vs. Brooklyn
3:30 p.m. – Golden State vs. Sacramento
5:30 p.m. – L.A. Lakers vs. New York
7:30 p.m. – Utah vs. Minnesota

Tuesday, July 14

Cox Pavilion
12 p.m. – Portland vs. San Antonio
2 p.m. – Brooklyn vs. Chicago
4 p.m. – Miami vs. Boston

Thomas & Mack
12:30 p.m. – Washington vs. Dallas
2:30 p.m. – New York vs. Philadelphia
4:30 p.m. – Phoenix vs. Utah

Playoffs begin Wednesday, July 15

Austin Rivers is introduced at a press conference as the newest member of the New Orleans Hornets. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Learning on the job is part of the culture in the NBA. Austin Rivers knows this very well because his father, Glen “Doc”  Rivers, went through the same thing 30 years ago. But even though 19-year-old Austin has been groomed and prepped for life in the Association, it’s still a painful process — literally.

In his second game at the NBA Summer Pro League in Las Vegas, Austin Rivers took a beating against the Milwaukee Bucks. He hit the deck numerous times, slammed his left elbow on the floor, and took a shot to the knee that forced him to the bench for a few minutes. It’s the kind of physical game most first-year NBA players dread, a realization that this is a man’s game and the training wheels are off.

“Now is his time to grow. We’re putting the ball in his hands, putting the ball in the summer in his hands to see what he’s got,” Hornets assistant James Borrego told The Associated Press. Borrego, the Hornets’ head coach for their summer league team in Las Vegas, has Rivers playing point guard almost exclusively; a preview of what the Hornets are planning to do with the 10th overall selection in the 2012 NBA draft, who played mostly shooting guard at Duke and Winter Park High School (Fla.).

“Hopefully Austin’s that guy that can take that point guard position and run with it,” Borrego said. “There’s some things he’s got to learn as you go, but I think we’re all confident he can get there.”

So far Rivers is struggling as he adjusts to his new role as an NBA point guard. He went 1-for-6 and scored just six points against the Bucks on Monday. In two games, he’s now 4-for-19 from the field. He was outplayed by fellow rookie Damian Lillard in his summer league debut on July 15, as Lillard scored 25 points and looked more comfortable.

But in fairness to Rivers, Lillard was playing his natural point guard position while Rivers is still finding his way as a playmaker. Rivers did show some flashes of brilliance, splitting double teams with some nifty dribbling and getting to the free throw line by relentlessly attacking the basket.

“He’s a natural scorer. As a point guard, he can make it work though,” Borrego said. “He’s got to get better and he will. He’s putting in the time. He’s teachable. He’s coachable. He understands the game, which you want in a point guard. His instinct is to score but we’re trying to slow him down, learn our offense, learn our pace, learn our rhythm and I think those are things he’s going to get.”

The Hornets don’t want to slow Rivers down too much, seeing how Oklahoma City succeeded in turning Russell Westbrook from shooting guard to point guard. According to Hornets general manager Dell Demps, the team has matched the Phoenix Suns’ contract offer to guard Eric Gordon, so the Hornets envision a Rivers-Gordon backcourt in New Orleans to go with No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis in the frontcourt.

“We don’t want to put too much pressure on [Austin]. That’s what summer league is for. We’re here just evaluating,” Demps said. “It’s real early in the process. He only played one year in college. We’re going to take this slowly.”