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Is summer league eligibility somewhere in the CBA? I seem to recall that only rookies and sophomores could be forced to play by their team but has it been changed so that you can only play a specific number of times if you are not a rookie or sophomore?

ranger001 wrote:Is summer league eligibility somewhere in the CBA? I seem to recall that only rookies and sophomores could be forced to play by their team but has it been changed so that you can only play a specific number of times if you are not a rookie or sophomore?

Technically, no one can be forced to play in Summer League. It is generally an agreement between the player and team on who will play of players who are under contract. This year there were situations that went every way imaginable. Some players opted out. Some players wanted to play and were asked not to by their teams. And vice versa. And of course, several players were held out due to injury.

As for anyone else, they can play as much as they want. For example, Ike Diogu played this year for the first time in like 10 years. Some guys will play every year, as they try and catch on with a team for training camp and beyond.

WHY A PLAYER MIGHT NOT PLAY SL
Summer league is part job audition and part learning experience. Not paid other than expenses.

WHY PLAYERS DO PLAY SL
Getting paid expenses (when you'd otherwise be training and practicing for free) is a step up to most. And there are LOTS of scouts and NBA execs watching, so as far as an audition venue goes, it's pretty strong.

DBoys wrote:WHY A PLAYER MIGHT NOT PLAY SL
Summer league is part job audition and part learning experience. Not paid other than expenses.

WHY PLAYERS DO PLAY SL
Getting paid expenses (when you'd otherwise be training and practicing for free) is a step up to most. And there are LOTS of scouts and NBA execs watching, so as far as an audition venue goes, it's pretty strong.

To add to this, at least half of the players are auditioning for overseas jobs. Especially those who know they are fringe NBA guys at best. They'll take the bigger paycheck overseas. They use SL to show they can play against good competition.

Thanks guys. I was seeing some people saying you can only play 3 times and I didn't think that was correct.