The NBA Summer League, primarily held in Las Vegas, is an off-season basketball tournament organized by the NBA. Teams experiment with rosters comprising rookies, sophomores, and G League players, rather than their regular season lineups. Besides Las Vegas, the Summer League also includes the California Classic and the Salt Lake City Summer League.
1984: Rocky Mountain Revue Begins
The Rocky Mountain Revue, a summer league hosted by the Utah Jazz, was launched in 1984 as a community outreach program.
1990: Rocky Mountain Revue Transitions to All-NBA Format
In 1990, the Rocky Mountain Revue shifted to an all-NBA team format, with the Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, and Sacramento Kings joining the Utah Jazz.
1998: Rocky Mountain Revue Sees Record Participation
The Rocky Mountain Revue reached peak participation in 1998 with 16 teams, including its first international team, Burghy Roma.
1999: Rocky Mountain Revue Cancelled Due to NBA Lockout
The 1999 NBA lockout forced the cancellation of the Rocky Mountain Revue.
2002: Orlando Pro Summer League Begins
The Orlando Pro Summer League, hosted by the Orlando Magic, was first held in 2002.
2004: Las Vegas Summer League Begins
The inaugural Las Vegas Summer League was held in 2004 with six teams: the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and Washington Wizards.
2005: Orlando Pro Summer League Hiatus
The Orlando Pro Summer League did not operate in 2005.
2007: Las Vegas Summer League Becomes Officially Affiliated with the NBA
In 2007, the Las Vegas Summer League became officially recognized by the NBA and was renamed the "NBA" Summer League.
2008: Iranian National Team and D-League Ambassadors Participate in Rocky Mountain Revue
The 2008 Rocky Mountain Revue featured the Iranian national team and a D-League Ambassadors team.
2008: Las Vegas Summer League Expands to 22 Teams
The Las Vegas Summer League expanded to 22 teams in 2008 and secured sponsorship from EA Sports.
2008: Rocky Mountain Revue Ends
The Rocky Mountain Revue, after facing declining participation, ceased operations in 2008.
2009: Rocky Mountain Revue Cancelled
The Rocky Mountain Revue was cancelled for the 2009 season due to low participation.
2010: Jeremy Lin's Summer League Success
In 2010, undrafted Harvard graduate Jeremy Lin played well in the Summer League for the Dallas Mavericks and was later signed by the Golden State Warriors.
2011: Orlando Pro Summer League Hiatus
The Orlando Pro Summer League did not operate in 2011.
2013: Summer League Format Changes and Champions Named
Before 2013, the summer leagues did not crown an official champion, focusing more on individual player development. This format changed in 2013 when leagues began to name champions.
July 11, 2014: Philadelphia 76ers Win Orlando Pro Summer League
The Philadelphia 76ers won the Orlando Pro Summer League championship on July 11, 2014, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 91-75.
November 2014: Utah Jazz Announce Revival of the Utah Jazz Summer League
In November 2014, the Utah Jazz announced the return of the Utah Jazz Summer League, albeit with a reduced number of participating teams, starting in 2015.
2015: Utah Jazz Summer League Begins
The Utah Jazz Summer League began play in 2015, replacing the Rocky Mountain Revue.
2017: Orlando Pro Summer League Ends
After 15 years, the Orlando Pro Summer League folded in 2017 due to the growing popularity of the Las Vegas Summer League.
May 6, 2018: Sacramento Kings to Host New Summer League Event
Reports emerged on May 6, 2018, that the Sacramento Kings would host their own Summer League event, the California Classic Summer League, to replace the Orlando Pro Summer League.
May 14, 2018: Sacramento Kings Confirm California Classic Summer League
The Sacramento Kings confirmed on May 14, 2018, that they would host the California Classic Summer League, replacing the Orlando Pro Summer League.
2018: All 30 NBA Teams Participate in Las Vegas Summer League
Since 2018, all 30 NBA teams have participated in the Las Vegas Summer League, adopting a traditional tournament format.
2019: Las Vegas Summer League Expands to 32 Teams
By 2019, the Las Vegas Summer League had expanded to include all 32 NBA teams.
2019: Utah Jazz Summer League Rebranded as Salt Lake City Summer League
The Utah Jazz Summer League underwent a rebranding in 2019, becoming the Salt Lake City Summer League, complete with a new logo and court design.
2019: Second Annual California Classic Summer League
The second annual California Classic Summer League, featuring a four-team format including the Kings, Warriors, Lakers, and Heat, took place in 2019.
2022: NBA2K Becomes New Sponsor of the Las Vegas Summer League
The Las Vegas Summer League secured a new sponsor in 2022, partnering with NBA2K.