Embiid vs. AD for Team USA, Reed Sheppard Mania, and NBA Summer League Economics

Welcome to the NBA Librarian Weekly, where we curate and summarize the best NBA content of the week.

<1000 words each week, I consume and summarize so you don’t have to.

In Today's Edition:

1. The Business of the NBA Summer League

2. Team USA: Adjustments and Weaknesses

3. Reed Sheppard Mania!

4. Winners of the Off-Season: The Orlando Magic?

5. Masai Ujiri's Vision: Transforming Africa Through …

6. Coaches Challenges - Who’s the Best?

The Business of the NBA Summer League

Summary —
The NBA Summer League has seen remarkable business growth, with revenues soaring from $12 million in 2013 to $125 million by 2023. This surge can be attributed to the foresight of NBA agent Warren LeGarie and his business partner Albert Hall, who in the late 1990s envisioned hosting the Summer League in Las Vegas—a concept initially dismissed by the NBA. At that time, existing summer leagues in cities like Atlanta, Orlando, San Antonio, and Salt Lake City were fleeting and unpopular.

Undeterred by the NBA's rejection, LeGarie and Hall personally invested $30,000 to independently launch the 2004 NBA Summer League in Vegas, featuring six teams and 13 games. Although the turnout was modest, their efforts established a foundation for what would become a significant annual event. Continuing to operate independently, their entrepreneurial spirit helped grow the Summer League into the thriving enterprise it is today.