History of NBA Summer League in Timeline

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.

2013: First Champion Crowned in Orlando Pro Summer League History

The Oklahoma City Thunder made history in 2013 by becoming the first-ever champions of the Orlando Pro Summer League, defeating the Houston Rockets 85-77.

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: Samsung Becomes Sponsor of the Las Vegas Summer League

Samsung took over sponsorship of the Las Vegas Summer League 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.