NBA shakes up Vegas Summer League; adds tourney, championship game
The NBA has decided to shake things up in its Vegas Summer League.
How does a single-elimination tournament sound? How about a championship game at the Thomas & Mack Center?
It’s coming, beginning July 12.
“We felt we had to keep it fresh,” said agent and league founder Warren LeGarie, who works with the NBA to run the summer league. “The games now have a consequence.”
Twenty-two teams will compete over 11 days and will be guaranteed five games, same as in years past. The difference is after the third game, eight teams will be moved into a tournament bracket and will play single-elimination games. A championship game will be played July 22.
Those teams that don’t qualify for the tournament still will play two additional games to reach their five-game quota.
“The feedback we got from the teams was that they didn’t want to lose the developmental portion of the summer league, which is still the most important thing,” LeGarie said. “But now, everyone has something to play for, and the games should be more competitive.”
Another factor was TV. Along with NBA TV, Turner Sports plans to show games, and a tournament format makes the event more compelling.
“The TV exposure we’ll get this summer will be the most ever; it just keeps growing,” LeGarie said. “So we want to give them a better product to show.”
LeGarie said more than 22 teams could participate in Las Vegas. The NBA Development League again will participate with its “Select” squad.
Tickets will go on sale June 1. The league set an attendance record in 2012 despite having been shut down in 2011 because of the NBA’s player lockout.
“We think the fans are going to love the new format,” LeGarie said. “You’ll see the top players stick around, and teams are going to put competitive rosters together. It’s going to create more excitement.”
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.