Victor Wembanyama is a lock to be selected first overall by the San Antonio Spurs at the 2023 NBA Draft. The first overall pick’s NBA debut usually comes at Las Vegas Summer League, but that might not be the case this year.
The Spurs are one of six teams scheduled to play in the California Classic Summer League, hosted by the Sacramento Kings. The Spurs and Kings will join the Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat in the two-day league held on July 3 and 5.
Wembanyama and the Spurs are scheduled to take on the Charlotte Hornets, who hold the second pick in the draft. That game scheduled for July 3 at 8:00 PM ET could see the first and second overall picks make their unofficial NBA debuts.
As for the NBA themselves, Adam Silver said they have no issue if Wembanyama debuts in Sacramento, as opposed to Las Vegas.
“All summer leagues are NBA Summer Leagues,” Silver told The Associated Press. “I’m very supportive of the Sacramento summer league. I remember when (Kings owner Vivek Ranadive) first came to the league and said this was something he wanted to do. I said, ‘As long as you have enough other teams who support it and players who want to play in it, it’s a good thing.'”