Pelicans fans get first look at summer squad in Las Vegas

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The New Orleans Pelicans will open NBA Summer League play July 9 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Las Vegas.

The game will air live on the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network.

The game will mark the debut of Summer League head coach God Shammgod, who joined the Pelicans’ coaching staff after Jamal Mosley was named head coach. Shammgod previously served on Mosley’s staff in Orlando.

Shammgod has been tasked with leading the Pelicans’ youngest players against four other NBA teams. He is expected to play a role in the development of second-year point guard Jeremiah Fears.

The team released its four-game summer schedule Friday, giving fans an early look at when the Pelicans’ young roster, draft picks and developmental players could take the court.

The Pelicans are scheduled to play four games between July 9 and July 15:

• July 9: Pelicans vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 2:30 p.m. CT
• July 11: Pelicans vs. Charlotte Hornets, 3 p.m. CT
• July 12: Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns, 2 p.m. CT
• July 15: Pelicans vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4:30 p.m. CT

The date and opponent for the Pelicans’ fifth game will be determined by the results of the first four games.

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The 2026 NBA Summer League will feature all 30 NBA teams, with each team playing five games. All 76 games of the 11-day competition will air live on Prime Video or ESPN platforms.

After each team’s first four games, the top four teams will advance to the playoffs. The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, July 18, at 5:30 p.m. CT and 7:30 p.m. CT on Prime Video.

The two semifinal winners will meet in the championship game Sunday, July 19, at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN.

The four playoff teams and their seeds will be determined by winning percentage in each team’s first four games, along with tiebreaker criteria. The 26 teams that do not advance to the four-team playoff will play a fifth game July 17, July 18 or July 19.

Summer League is typically used to evaluate rookies, recent draft picks, two-way players and other young players competing for roster spots before training camp.

Tickets for the 2026 NBA Summer League are on sale now at NBAEvents.com.

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