Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

2010 NBA SUMMER LEAGUE:

Wall’s debut highlights intriguing storylines at NBA Vegas Summer League

Top pick in NBA Draft will play first pro game in Las Vegas for second consecutive year

John Wall

AP PHOTO

Washington Wizards draft pick John Wall, center, from the University of Kentucky, smiles as he holds up a jersey with coach Flip Saunders, right, and Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld during a news conference in Washington, on Friday, June 25, 2010. Wall was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA basektball draft on Thursday. He will make his pro debut in Las Vegas at the 2010 NBA Summer League on Sunday, July 11.

After the conclusion of the 2010 NBA Draft comes the set-in-stone must-see games on the slate for the upcoming NBA Summer League, which runs from July 9-18 at Cox Pavilion and the Thomas & Mack Center.

The first few days of the 10-day event will include several highly anticipated pro debuts and story lines with plenty of local appeal.

Topping the list will be the first professional appearance by John Wall, who the Washington Wizards took with the top overall pick Thursday.

Wall, who earned National Player of the Year honors in his lone season at Kentucky, will make his debut at 5 p.m. July 11 when the Wizards take on Golden State.

The game before Wall's debut will feature Portland and Houston, tipping at 3 p.m. On a draft night that included the Blazers firing general manager Kevin Pritchard but having him stick around to conduct the draft, Portland acquired Luke Babbitt and Armon Johnson, both of whom played for Nevada-Reno before leaving school early.

Two other top-5 picks will also make their pro debuts in Las Vegas. Kentucky big man DeMarcus Cousins, who the Sacramento Kings took fifth overall, will tip off at 3 p.m. July 12 at the Cox Pavilion, and Syracuse's Wesley Johnson, who went fourth to the Minnesota Timberwolves, will lace up at the Mack on at 3:30 p.m. July 12.

July 12 will be the most intriguing day of this year's Summer League. It will include the first game for the Los Angeles Clippers, who will feature last year's No. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin. Griffin missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, but blew fans away with his performances at last summer's Vegas showcase. The Clippers will play the 7 p.m. nightcap at the Cox Pavilion. The Clippers also will feature Wake Forest forward Al-Farouq Aminu — their first-round pick this year — and Kentucky point guard Eric Bledsoe, who Oklahoma City drafted and then traded to LA.

Playing right before the Clippers on July 12 at 5 p.m. will be the Milwaukee Bucks, who feature former New Mexico standout and Las Vegas native Darington Hobson.

Hobson, who was the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and a third-team All-American last season in his lone campaign with the Lobos, was a second-round choice of the Bucks on Thursday.

For a full look at the 58-game Summer League schedule, visit the official schedule page, and for ticket info, call 702-739-FANS, go to UNLVtickets.com or visit the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office and UNLV Ticket Outlets.

All general admission tickets are $25 for the day, seniors and children (3-12) are $15 for the day and children two years and under are admitted free of charge.

Also, for full coverage of this year's NBA Summer League as it unfolds, stay tuned to lasvegassun.com.

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