The Summer League Schedule for 2026 is now set, with the NBA Summer League beginning Thursday and running through July 19. It is a showcase built for rookies and sophomores, and this year’s group includes each of the top 10 picks in the 2026 Draft.
That gives the opening weeks real weight. Fans will not just be watching for results, but for early signs of what the draft class can become, while a handful of second-year players will also be under the spotlight as they look to build on what they have already shown.
AJ Dybantsa leads the attention
AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 Draft, will suit up for his first NBA Summer League game on Thursday. For a player taken at the top, these first minutes matter because they give the clearest early look at how quickly he can translate his game to this level.
He is not the only name drawing attention. The list of players to watch also includes the No. 3 pick, the No. 6 pick, the No. 7 pick, the No. 8 pick, the No. 10 pick, the No. 17 pick and the No. 28 pick, making this one of the most closely watched summer events of the year.
What the early summer signs suggest
There are already examples of how quickly this stage can shape the conversation. At the California Classic, the No. 7 pick averaged 23.5 points per game and helped the Kings go 3-0. At the Salt Lake City Summer League, Cameron Boozer averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4 assists in two games.
Elsewhere, the No. 17 pick and the No. 28 pick were both selected in the 2025 Draft, underlining how much of the league’s young talent is now being folded into the summer schedule. And in June, Bryant appeared in the NBA Finals as a rookie, a reminder that summer impressions can quickly turn into bigger stages.
That is the appeal of Summer League Schedule season: it gives teams, fans and evaluators a first proper look at the next wave. The games begin Thursday, the spotlight will stay on Las Vegas, and the final test arrives on July 19.
