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