The Importance of Summer League
You won't find Summer Pro League information or results on the front page of many newspapers. The TV coverage is minimal, and nearly every time it's brought up on sports talk radio it's prefaced with being a "slow news day".
Many people don't realize just how important this time during the summer is.
It's far from the most entertaining basketball, and a lot of the players will not be in the NBA next year – but that's not what summer ball is about.
Summer league is all about development and exposure. For those players who have a roster spot it's their first opportunity to play in their team's system and get a feel for their style of play. For the others, it's about being able to play in front of GMs and scouts and make an impression on them. Their chances at making it to the NBA are slim, but this league can help open up other doors.
"This is a great way to get exposure. Some of the people here are fans, but some of them are NBA people, and a lot of them are also agents that represent franchises in other countries." explained Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak
Only 60 players can be drafted every year. Guys slip through the cracks every year, and summer league gives teams a chance to see guys like Raja Bell, Bruce Bowen, and Ben Wallace again.
"It's terrific, the opportunity to play and compete against other players at the same stage of their career. It's a great measuring stick for all players." said New Orleans Hornets GM Jeff Bower regarding the importance of summer league.
Summer league isn't only about the players though. This summer in particular has been a vital one for a couple of new head coaches. Vinnie Del Negro and Michael Curry, two first-year head coaches, are coaching their summer league teams.
Aaron Affalo, Rodney Stuckey, and Amir Johnson are all players who will see playing time for the Pistons next season, making it important for Michael Curry to be a part of their summer.
"It's a big summer for me to have the coaching done the way I wanted and have the guys develop as players." Pistons head coach Michael Curry told HOOPSWORLD at the Vegas Summer League. "It's about building a foundation for who we're going to be and how we're going to play."
We will still probably never see summer league games on at primetime or on any major networks. Highlights will still be hard to find and coverage will only be provided by the most dedicated NBA news providers. Make no mistake about it though – summer league is of vital importance to the players, coaches, and the league as a whole.
About the Author: YANNIS KOUTROUPIS
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Yannis Koutroupis is in his third season of covering college basketball and the NBA for HOOPSWORLD. Yannis’ passion for the game of basketball formed in 1994 when he saw Shaquille O’Neal play for the first time. Amazed by his size, strength, and athleticism, Yannis has been hooked ever since. He’s finishing up his Bachelors in Communication at Texas A&M – Corpus Christi and will be making his play-by-play debut this season for the Islanders women’s basketball team. Yannis is also an on air personality for ESPN 1230 KSIX and has appeared on radio shows all over the country. Yannis’ favorite team is the Los Angeles Lakers, you can contact him at ykoutroupis@hoopsworld.com.
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