The 2026 NBA Summer League officially began on Friday, July 3, with the California Classic at the Chase Center in San Francisco and the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
First-round draft picks took center stage in the opening games, offering the first competitive look at the 2026 rookie class ahead of the larger Las Vegas Summer League starting July 9.
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Top Rookies Impress
Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 11 overall pick, scored 14 points in 11 minutes during his debut against the Los Angeles Lakers, according to USA Today.
Lakers rookie guard Cameron Carr countered with 11 points in nine minutes, shooting 3-for-6 from three-point range in the same matchup.
In the opening contest at the Chase Center, the Miami Heat defeated the San Antonio Spurs 88-87, led by 21-point performances from Jahmir Young and Ryan Conwell, as reported by Bleacher Report.
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The Spurs played without second-year players from the previous season's main rotation. Rookie Tarris Reed Jr. scored 10 points, while Miles Kelly led San Antonio with 16 points.
According to Knox News, the Lakers did not include third-year wing Dalton Knecht on their summer roster, signaling a potential roster overhaul around Luka Doncic as LeBron James prepares to depart.
The Salt Lake City Summer League is scheduled to begin its four-team tournament on July 4 at the Jon M.
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Huntsman Center.
