The NBA Summer League is back on the court this July, with the main Las Vegas Summer League running from July 9 to July 19, 2026.
An off-season competition like no other, the Summer League showcases basketball’s rising stars — including recent NBA Draft picks. This summer, fans will likely get their first glimpses of AJ Dybantsa, AJ Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson. Dybantsa was taken No. 1 by the Washington Wizards.
Keep scrolling for the best ways to catch this year’s Summer League on TV.
What channel shows the NBA Summer League?
You can watch the 2026 NBA Summer League on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and Amazon Prime Video. ESPN Deportes has also carried occasional Summer League games if you prefer commentary en Español.
Did you know? NBA Summer League doesn’t only take place in Las Vegas. Before the marquee event, San Francisco and Salt Lake City, Utah, will host their own smaller events.
2026 NBA Summer League TV schedules
This year, the California Classic and Salt Lake City Summer League tip off days after the Fourth of July holiday. Teams then head to Las Vegas for the main tournament, which runs July 9–19. Broadcast details for the California and Salt Lake City events are yet to be announced, but we’ll update this page once that information becomes available.
The California Classic will take place at the Chase Center, home to the Golden State Warriors, and Golden 1 Center. The Salt Lake City event will be held at the Huntsman Center for the second year in a row.
| Game | Day | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs | Friday, July 3 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors Gold | Friday, July 3 | 10:30 p.m. | NBCSBA+, Amazon Prime Video, ESPNU, NBA TV |
| Milwaukee Bucks vs. Golden State Warriors Blue | Saturday, July 4 | 3:00 p.m. | ESPNU, NBCSBA |
| Brooklyn Nets vs. Sacramento Kings | Saturday, July 4 | 5:00 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks | Sunday, July 5 | 3:00 p.m. | NBA TV, Amazon Prime Video, ESPN+ |
| Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers | Sunday, July 5 | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Golden State Warriors Blue vs. Sacramento Kings | Sunday, July 5 | 5:00 p.m. | NBA TV |
| San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors Gold | Sunday, July 5 | 7:00 p.m. | NBCSBA+, NBA TV, Amazon Prime Video, ESPN+ |
| Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs | Monday, July 6 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU, Amazon Prime Video |
| Golden State Warriors Blue vs. Brooklyn Nets | Monday, July 6 | 8:00 p.m. | NBA TV, ESPN+, Amazon Prime Video, Gotham Sports app |
| Miami Heat vs. Golden State Warriors Gold | Monday, July 6 | 10:00 p.m. | NBA TV, ESPN+, Amazon Prime Video, NBCSBA |
| Milwaukee Bucks vs. Sacramento Kings | Monday, July 6 | 10:00 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video, ESPNU |
All games played in San Francisco and Sacramento.
| Game | Day | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | Saturday, July 4 | 3:00 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video, ESPNU |
| Atlanta Hawks vs. Utah Jazz | Saturday, July 4 | 5:00 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video, KJZZ |
| Atlanta Hawks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | Monday, July 6 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN, Amazon Prime Video |
| Memphis Grizzlies vs. Utah Jazz | Monday, July 6 | 9:00 p.m. | ESPN, KJZZ |
| Atlanta Hawks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | Tuesday, July 7 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA TV, ESPNU, Amazon Prime Video |
| Memphis Grizzlies vs. Utah Jazz | Tuesday, July 7 | 9:00 p.m. | NBA TV, ESPNU, Amazon Prime Video |
All games played in Salt Lake City.
Best NBA Summer League TV plans
Because of the NBA’s new media deal, you’ll need two TV plans to watch every NBA Summer League game in 2026 and beyond.
The first is YouTube TV, which carries ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPU in its base package. The service also features unlimited DRV storage and the ability to use it throughout the year for multiple live sporting events.
An alternative to that, if you don’t want or need a full-blown live TV plan, is ESPN Unlimited. It’s a service that offers every ESPN-owned channel, and costs only $29.99 per month.
You’ll also need Amazon Prime Video for just about half of the Summer League games. Prime Video is a new addition to the NBA’s media landscape.
Which TV providers carry the NBA Summer League?
Most TV providers feature NBA Summer League coverage. But as the table below shows, only select services carry every required channel. You may also need a higher-tier plan or add-on package to get ESPNews, ESPNU, and NBA TV through some providers.
| Provider | Price | ESPN | ESPN2 | ESPNU | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | $20.00–$184.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Cox Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | $89.99–$169.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DIRECTV Read DIRECTV review |
| DISH | $89.99–$119.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DISH Read DISH review |
| Fubo | $14.99–$103.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for FuboTV Read Fubo review |
| Hulu + Live TV | $88.99–$99.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Hulu Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | $15.00–$140.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Optimum Read Optimum review |
| Philo | $33.00/mo. | — | — | — |
View Plans for Philo Read Philo review |
| Sling TV | $19.99–$60.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Sling TV Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | $40.00–$145.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Check Availability Read Spectrum review |
| Verizon Fios | $105.00–$149.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Verizon Read Verizon Fios review |
| Xfinity | $65.00–$135.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Xfinity Read Xfinity review |
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for YouTube TV Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date.
How to watch the NBA Summer League for free
The best way to watch the NBA Summer League for free is with a 30-day free trial to Prime Video. The tournament is 10 days long, so you’ll have nearly three extra weeks to watch any content that interests you on Prime Video before committing.
Other than that, you’ll need to be paying for a service that carries ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU. For those matchups, only free live TV streaming trials can get you Summer League coverage without paying.
Head to our Streaming Services with Free Trials guide for a closer look at which services offer free trials.
How to watch the NBA Summer League FAQ
Can I watch the NBA Summer League on Hulu?
Yes, you can watch NBA Summer League games with a Hulu + Live TV subscription. While the streaming service comes with every ESPN channel, you'll need a separate subscription to Amazon Prime Video.
How can I watch the NBA Summer League without cable?
You can watch the NBA Summer League without cable via any live TV streaming service that includes ESPN channels. DIRECTV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV are our favorite services for streaming NBA games. You can also stream the games with ESPN Unlimited. You can stream almost half the Summer League games with Amazon Prime Video, as well.
Can I watch the NBA Summer League on NBA League Pass?
Yes, you can watch select NBA Summer League games on NBA League Pass, but blackouts exist for all Summer League games that air live on ESPN channels. You must wait until Summer League ends to watch any blacked-out games.
Is NBA Summer League on Peacock?
No, you can't watch any NBA Summer League games on Peacock. But you'll be able to watch many games on Peacock during the regular season.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com sports editor, Taylor Kujawa, researched and tested the best ways to watch the NBA Summer League. After identifying this year’s Summer League schedule, he compared the pricing and channel lineups of 13 popular TV providers. He then determined our provider recommendations based on Summer League coverage and ease of use.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
