Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James Jr. (9) controls the ball against Sacramento Kings guard Dane Goodwin (33) during the third quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, USA, July 6, 2024. Source: Kelly L. Cox – USA TODAY Sports Innovation always seems to be on the mind of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Silver hasn't been shy about changing the face of the league, most notably by incorporating in-season tournaments into the schedule to give teams a purpose in playing as the mid-point of the regular season approaches.
Players and fans alike have benefited from a silver NBA that has been highly competitive for the better part of the past 11 seasons, producing eight champions during that time.
However, the NBA Summer League continues to be left in the cold.
For the casual fan, summer league games probably aren't even on their radar, and it's easy to see why: Beating the heat on a boat out on the lake and sipping a few cold beers sounds a lot better than sitting in front of the TV in the middle of the afternoon watching top prospects battle it out with lesser role players.
If the second option appeals to you, be advised that the match between the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks will kick off at 3pm on Wednesday.
Still, there must be a way for the NBA to draw attention to Summer League and showcase its merits.
Victor Wembanyama wins the 2023 NBA Summer League. Source: Getty Images We know this because last year at the Las Vegas Summer League, San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama made waves and became a hot topic ahead of his rookie season.
Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren and Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. were also among Las Vegas' top names in 2023.
But now, in 2024, there's really no reason to watch it other than for the Bronny James storyline.
While an extremely mediocre draft class is the main culprit, this likely won't be the last time the rookie pool is without a few stars looking to officially enter the professional ranks.
The NBA had a bad luck this draft, and it's up to the league to produce games worth watching, even if it's just summer league basketball.
We want to thank players like Reid Sheppard, Jordan Miller and Julian Strother for all their hard work in providing excitement for us all this summer. Sheppard, the No. 3 overall pick in this year's draft, is averaging 22.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in two games for the Rockets, making him one of the most impressive rookies to date.
Miller and Strother, both in their second season in the NBA, scored 57 points in two games against the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets, respectively.
If Silver wants to get the most out of Summer League, he'll use it as a testing lab for any changes the NBA might implement in the future. Not only could it spark the next great idea in Las Vegas, but it will also make fans more enthusiastic about attending because they'll have the chance to see things they don't get to see during the regular season.
While the primary purpose of the summer league is to give young players a taste of professional baseball, why not push the envelope a little?
That could mean an NCAA Tournament-style tournament with extra prize money awarded to the last team standing, or maybe the summer league MVP is guaranteed a roster spot.
Ultimately, no one is going to make a big fuss about how entertaining Summer League is or isn't, but no one is going to argue against some meaningful NBA basketball happening in July, and what's currently on the schedule certainly isn't enough.
