What happened: The 2026 California Classic tips off tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET, opening the NBA's summer slate. The games are carried across ESPN, Prime, ESPNU, NBA TV and NBA League Pass.

Why it matters: Summer competition is the first live look at rookies and young roster hopefuls ahead of the 2026-27 season. Front offices use these games to evaluate recent draft picks and fringe players competing for regular-season roles.

What to watch: Watch how first-year players and draft picks perform in their opening reps, with more summer action to follow across the coming days.