The NBA Summer League tips off on Friday with games over the next week at the California Classic and the Salt Lake City Summer League before next Thursday's main event for the beginning of the Las Vegas Summer League.
Eight former Alabama basketball players will participate in Summer League this year, including the recently selected Labaron Philon, who was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 22 pick.
He'll be joined by teammates Latrell Wrighsell and Houston Mallette, who will participate in the Summer League after being undrafted free agents making their professional debuts.
Here's the full breakdown of the former Tide players set to perform this summer.
8 former Alabama players participating in the NBA's Summer League
G Labaron Philon - Philadelphia 76ers
The player with the most eyes on him will be Philon. The 76ers won't participate in California or Utah, but Philon is slated to make his Sixers debut at the LSVL (Las Vegas Summer League) on Thursday, July 9th with Phiadelphia taking on the Detroit Pistons at 4:30 CT live on Prime Video.
Philon will look to make a strong first impression as he attempts to carve out a significant role as a rookie. That seemed like a foregone conclusion until recent Sixers moves netted the franchise Jaylen Brown in a trade and Anfernee Simons in free agency.
G Latrell Wrightsell - Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets won't participate in California or Utah, either, so Latrell Wrightsell, who signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Charlotte after going undrafted, will make his debut in Vegas on the same night as Philon.
The Hornets will face the Orlando Magic on Thursday at 6:30 CT on Prime Video. Wrightsell will be looking to play well enough to potentially earn a two-way contract from the Hornets - or someone else.
The Summer League provides more than just an opportunity to show out in front of the team you are playing for. The eyes of the other 29 teams are on you, too.
G Houston Mallette - Chicago Bulls
It wasn't immediately clear whether Mallette would pursue professional opportunities or stick around as a graduate assistant on Nate Oats' staff. His future certainly seems likely to include coaching, but he's going to give the Summer League a shot first.
Mallette will play with the Bulls, and his debut will also come in Vegas as part of one of the showcase games to open the Summer League slate. The Bulls will face the Grizzlies next Friday night at 7pm CT on Prime Video, with all eyes on Cameron Boozer vs. Caleb Wilson.
G Mark Sears - Denver Nuggets
Mark Sears spent the majority of last season playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in the G-League, while making seven appearances with the NBA team. Now, he'll take a crack at Summer League with the Denver Nuggets, hoping to earn another two-way contract that will afford him more of an NBA opportunity.
Sears will open Summer League for the Nuggets in Las Vegas against the Houston Rockets on Friday, July 10th. The game will be televised on ESPN at 5:30 Central.
G Chris Youngblood - Portland Trail Blazers
Youngblood was a Summer League success story last season, turning an impressive performance with the Oklahoma City Thunder into a two-way contract. He was impressive in the G-League, too, and ended up playing 34 games at the NBA level last season between Oklahoma City and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Youngblood averaged 23 points per game in the G-League last season. The Thunder liked him, but he ran out of NBA call-ups without having his contract converted, which is how he landed in Portland.
Youngblood appears close to earning a legitimate NBA shot. The Blazers will open Summer League in Vegas next Friday night against the Phoenix Suns at 10pm CT on ESPNU.
Grant Nelson - Brooklyn Nets
Nelson will enter his second Summer League with the Nets. He played the bulk of last season with the G-League affiliate, but did play four games with the NBA franchise. He'll look to take a step forward this summer.
Nelson and the Nets will participate in the California Classic starting on July 4th against the Sacramento Kings at 4pm CT on Prime Video/NBA TV.
Alex Reese - Indiana Pacers
Reese has spent the last few years playing in the G-League with the Rip City Remix, the Portland Trail Blazers' G-League affiliate.
Reese and the Pacers will open the LSVL against the Cleveland Cavaliers on ESPN2 at 3:30 on Saturday, July 10th.
Kira Lewis Jr. - Milwaukee Bucks
A former lottery pick, Kira Lewis is probably walking into his last NBA opportunity in the Summer League with the Bucks. Still only 25-years-old, Lewis is entering his 7th professional season, but hasn't played in an NBA game since 2023-24 with the Utah Jazz.
Injuries have piled up for Lewis, and while he can still likely carve out a spot in the G-League, his NBA days are likely over.
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