It’s strange that this even needs to be said, but maybe it’s time for a public service announcement:
Summer League doesn’t count, but it absolutely matters.
No, it won’t show up in the standings. There’s no trophy anyone will remember. But for the rookies stepping onto an NBA floor for the first time, it’s everything. It’s an introduction. A proving ground. For sophomores, it’s a measuring stick. Did they grow or just age? And for the guys on the fringe — the two-way contract hunters, the G League hopefuls — this is their postseason, their spotlight, their shot.