NBA-TV to broadcast summer league games

SECAUCUS, N.J. — The NBA's summer league games will be televised by the league's network this month, with LeBron James making his TV debut as a pro on July 16.

The series will be broadcast beginning July 9 with a game between the summer teams of the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers.

James will have his first NBA practice on Saturday in Orlando, Fla., where the overall No. 1 draft pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers is taking part in an instructional league. He is scheduled to play his first NBA exhibition game July 8 in Orlando.

His first game on TV as a pro will be against the New Jersey Nets. Cleveland's team is entered in the Boston summer league.

This is the first time the summer league is being televised on the NBA's 24-hour network. ESPN has televised summer games in previous years.

NBA TV will air live coverage from the L.A. Pro Summer League in Los Angeles, the Reebok Pro Summer League in Boston and the Reebok Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City.

The summer leagues are held in July and feature NBA rookies, free agents and other players.