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Here are some observations regarding the NBA 2K26 Summer League, scheduled to take place in Las Vegas from July 10-20.
• This year will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, an event that has been held annually since 2004, with the exception of 2011 and 2020.
• For the seventh consecutive year, all 30 NBA franchises will compete in Las Vegas (in the years 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025).
• The inaugural NBA Summer League kicked off in 2004 with six NBA teams participating in a total of 13 games. The teams involved were the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and Washington Wizards.
• Four teams—Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, and Washington Wizards—have taken part in every Summer League since its inception in 2004.
• Since the format introduced a championship game in 2013, the teams that have won the NBA Summer League title include the Golden State Warriors (2013), Sacramento Kings (2014), San Antonio Spurs (2015), Chicago Bulls (2016), Los Angeles Lakers (2017), Portland Trail Blazers (2018), Memphis Grizzlies (2019), Sacramento Kings (2021), Portland Trail Blazers (2022), Cleveland Cavaliers (2023), and Miami Heat (2024).
• The Sacramento Kings (2014 and 2021) and the Portland Trail Blazers (2018 and 2022) are the only franchises to have claimed the NBA Summer League championship more than once.
• The San Antonio Spurs, who won the Summer League in 2015, were led by Becky Hammon, marking her as the first female head coach in the tournament’s history.
• The Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers faced off in the Summer League championship game in consecutive years (2017 and 2018), with the Lakers emerging victorious in 2017 and the Trail Blazers winning in 2018.
• Fifteen players who were selected as the first overall pick in the NBA Draft have participated in the Summer League prior to beginning their rookie seasons: Dwight Howard (2004), Andrea Bargnani (2006), Greg Oden (2007), Blake Griffin (2009), John Wall (2010), Andrew Wiggins (2014), Karl-Anthony Towns (2015), Ben Simmons (2016), Markelle Fultz (2017), Deandre Ayton (2018), Zion Williamson (2019), Cade Cunningham (2021), Paolo Banchero (2022), Victor Wembanyama (2023), and Zaccharie Risacher (2024).
• Seven winners of the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award have played in the Summer League: Kevin Durant (2007), Stephen Curry (2009), Russell Westbrook (2009), James Harden (2009), Giannis Antetokounmpo (2014), Nikola Jokić (2015), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2018).
• Fourteen players have participated in the Summer League before being awarded the Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award: Chris Paul (2005), Brandon Roy (2006), Kevin Durant (2007), Tyreke Evans (2009), Blake Griffin (2009), Damian Lillard (2012), Andrew Wiggins (2014), Karl-Anthony Towns (2015), Malcolm Brogdon (2016), Ben Simmons (2016), Scottie Barnes (2021), Paolo Banchero (2022), Victor Wembanyama (2023), and Stephon Castle (2024).
• Three Summer League MVPs have later achieved All-Star status in the NBA: Blake Griffin (2009), John Wall (2010), and Damian Lillard (co-MVP in 2012).
• Record holders for single-game performances in the Summer League include Anthony Morrow for scoring (47 points), Malcolm Thomas for rebounds (22), and Marcus Williams for assists (17).
• Three non-NBA teams have participated in the event: the NBA G League Select Team (seven consecutive appearances from 2009 to 2016), the Chinese National Team (2007 and 2019), and the Croatian National Team (2019).
