Before the NBA regular season officially gets underway in October, fans and players alike will have an advanced preview of the league’s premier young talent. That includes the vast majority of this year’s rookie class, such as standout draftees Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, Ace Bailey and more.
While several teams and top picks got started early in the Salt Lake City Summer League and California Classic, the NBA 2K26 Summer League will be the most star-studded of the bunch. Make sure you don’t miss out on the first couple of days.
How to watch NBA 2K26 Summer League, Days 1-2
- Venue: Thomas & Mack Center/Cox Pavilion — Las Vegas
- Dates: July 10-11 (Summer League takes place through July 20)
- Watching in person? Get tickets on StubHub.
Thursday viewing guide
GameTime (ET)TVStream
Pelicans vs.
Timberwolves
3:30 p.m.
ESPN2 (national);
FDSN North (regional)
Cavaliers vs.
Pacers
5 p.m.
NBA TV (national);
FDSN Indiana Extra 2
(regional)
Thunder vs.
Nets
5:30 p.m.
ESPN2 (national);
FDSN Extra Oklahoma
Extra 1 (regional)
Magic vs.
Kings
7:30 p.m.
NBA TV
Lakers vs.
Mavericks
8 p.m.
ESPN
Nuggets vs.
Bucks
9:30 p.m.
NBA TV (national);
FDSN Wisconsin (regional)
Spurs vs.
76ers
10 p.m.
ESPN (national);
FDSN Southwest,
NBC Sports Philadelphia (regional)
Friday viewing guide
GameTime (ET)TVStream
Grizzlies vs.
Celtics
4 p.m.
NBA TV (national);
FDSN South – Kentucky,
NBC Sports Boston (regional)
Hawks vs.
Heat
4:30 p.m.
ESPN2 (national);
FDSN Southeast (regional)
Knicks vs.
Pistons
6 p.m.
NBA TV (national);
FDSN Detroit (regional)
Jazz vs.
Hornets
7 p.m.
ESPN
Bulls vs.
Raptors
8 p.m.
NBA TV
Wizards vs.
Suns
9 p.m.
ESPN
Clippers vs.
Rockets
10 p.m.
NBA TV (national);
FDSN SoCal (regional)
Trail Blazers vs.
Warriors
11 p.m.
ESPN2
All broadcasts on ESPN networks are available to stream on ESPN+ and ESPN3. All broadcasts on NBA TV are available on the NBA League Pass app.
Beginning July 10, all 30 teams will converge in Las Vegas, where 76 games will be played over 11 days. Each team is guaranteed at least five games, with the opportunity to play up to six by qualifying for the championship game.
Thursday’s slate features some filling entrees in the late window, but New Orleans Pelicans vs. Minnesota Timberwolves should be a satisfying appetizer. Lottery selections Jeremiah Fears (No. 7 pick) and Derik Queen (No. 13) will make their anticipated debuts for New Orleans, while No. 17 pick Joan Beringer will do the same for Minnesota. The Timberwolves also bring experience to the table with 2023 pick Leonard Miller, alongside second-year guards Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr.
The Brooklyn Nets will play four of their five first-round picks — No. 22 overall pick Drake Powell will reportedly sit out due to a knee injury — against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who nabbed Thomas Sorber just outside the lottery at No. 15. Sorber continues to recover from foot surgery, but the reigning NBA champions will get an extended look at Nikola Topić. The 2024 No. 12 pick missed the entirety of the 2024-25 season after undergoing ACL surgery and suited up for the Thunder for the first time last weekend.
The real action begins at 8 p.m. ET, when the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Dallas Mavericks. Bronny James impressed in the California Classic, but the purple and gold will have their hands full with Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. It’s no surprise to see these squads set to square off in prime time.
Later Thursday, we’ll see the San Antonio Spurs face the Philadelphia 76ers in an intriguing battle between two of the top three draftees. Harper (No. 2) is a three-level scorer and captivating playmaker, while Edgecombe (No. 3) burst onto the scene at the Salt Lake City Summer League by dropping 28 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in his first game.
Friday’s schedule offers more matchups between lottery picks. Bailey (No. 5) and the Utah Jazz — who also nabbed Florida Gators standout Walter Clayton Jr. — meet Kon Knueppel (No. 4) and the Charlotte Hornets. Then, the Washington Wizards bring Tre Johnson (No. 6) and young center Alex Sarr for a showdown with 7-foot-2 Khaman Maluach (No. 10) and the Phoenix Suns.
Teams tend to be especially cautious with injuries this time of year. There’s no use in taking risks for what is essentially meaningless basketball, so these first few contests may well be our only chance to watch some of this year’s top prospects before the NBA season begins. Get your hot takes ready and enjoy the show.
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(Photo of Dylan Harper: Mike Lawrie / Getty Images)