close
close

Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards FREE LIVE STREAMING (12/07/24): How to watch Summer League 2K25 in Las Vegas online

Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards FREE LIVE STREAMING (12/07/24): How to watch Summer League 2K25 in Las Vegas online

The Atlanta Hawks, led by first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, will face the Washington Wizards, led by second overall pick Alex Sarr, in an NBA Summer League game on Friday, July 12, 2024 (12/07/24) at the Thomas & Mack Center in Paradise, Nevada.

HOW TO WATCH: Fans can watch the game for free via a fuboTV or DirecTV Stream trial, or via a Sling subscription, which offers $25 off the first month.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas

WHO: Atlanta Hawks vs Washington Wizards

When: Friday July 12, 2024

Or: Thomas & Mack Center

Time: 9:30 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Direct: (DirecTV Stream, Free Trial) (fuboTV, Free Trial)

Channel search: Verizon Fios, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, Cox, DIRECTV, Dish, Hulu, fuboTV, Sling.

Here’s a recent AP article on the NBA:

The NBA may have to revise its annual draft schedule. Not the month or the new two-day format, but an adjustment to the time at which picks begin to be released.

Paris is six hours ahead of New York, so French basketball fans eager to see history had to stay up until the wee hours of Thursday morning to see France join the United States as the only countries with three players drafted in the top 10 of an NBA draft.

The first round ended with four Frenchmen drafted: Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, Tidjane Salaun, Pacome Dadiet. At the end of the draft on Thursday night, Melvin Ajinca reached the fifth position when he was announced as the 51st overall pick by the New York Knicks.

The question going into the draft was whether Risacher or Sarr would be the first overall pick and become the second consecutive French player to be the first overall pick, following in the footsteps of last season’s Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama.

Atlanta made Risacher that player.

“If I had to give him advice, it would be to just be yourself, don’t change anything, don’t let pressure change you, don’t let fame, money or anything else influence you,” Wembanyama said at a French team news conference in Paris on Thursday ahead of the Olympics. “But I know Zach, he’s got what it takes.”

Washington took the 6-foot-4 Sarr at No. 2 and shortly after, Charlotte made the historic decision to select Salaun at No. 6 overall.

The French quartet became a quartet when the New York Knicks selected Dadiet with the 25th overall pick in the draft. Dadiet, who turns 19 in July, is a 6-foot-10 developing player who can finish around the basket. He’s also a versatile defender who honed his game in Germany.

The Knicks made Ajinca their second of four picks in the second round on Thursday before the Dallas Mavericks traded the 58th pick to acquire Ajinca’s draft rights.

Risacher (pronounced Ree-zah-shay) said it meant a lot to all of France and the country’s burgeoning basketball pipeline to the NBA.

“I know a lot of French people stayed up all night to watch this,” Risacher said. “It’s incredible for French basketball, and I’m very happy to be a part of something special for my country. I think more players will be able to make it to the NBA and do something great. I’m really proud to be a part of it.”

This is the second straight year Washington has brought in a French player. The Wizards traded up a spot a year ago, trading lottery picks with Indiana to get Bilal Coulibaly. Washington general manager Will Dawkins said he felt like he got the same question about the Frenchman’s talent a year ago.

“It’s only getting better,” Dawkins said. “And I’ll be honest, it’s only going to get better because new players are coming in.”

The timing couldn’t be better for France, which will host the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The country where Tony Parker won four NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs is a real threat for the gold medal, thanks in part to Minnesota center Rudy Gobert, voted NBA Defensive Player of the Year this season.

“It’s unbelievable,” Gobert said Thursday at the French team’s press conference. “Think about it. Three French players in the top six of the draft. Ten years ago, nobody would have believed that.”

“I’m very happy for each and every one of them. I’m very happy for the future of French basketball and the future of the sport,” Gobert added. “It shows that a kid, no matter where he is in the world, can dream of becoming number one or becoming anything he wants. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Charlotte general manager Jeff Peterson said France really loves basketball and the NBA is now harvesting a generation influenced by players like Parker, Evan Fournier and Nicolas Batum.

“This is a very strong basketball country,” Peterson said. “So I think this younger generation has grown up and seen it and loved it. And these guys have been great role models for them.”

Salaun said French players have improved and their impact is now being felt around the world.

“This is just the beginning,” Salaun said.

MORE SPORTS COVERAGE

Thank you for trusting us to provide you with trustworthy journalism. Please consider supporting us NJ.com with a subscription.