The NBA needs positive image molding. Its high-profile Tim Donaghy drama, in which he pleaded guilty to betting on games he refereed and then took cash payments from gamblers, raised serious questions about the integrity of professional basketball.

It’s an ongoing public relations blowout. Even while the Celtics-Lakers championship series rekindled a fine league rivalry, commissioner David Stern fielded questions of suspicious past officiating. Sacramento’s controversial 2002 playoff loss to the Lakers resurfaced, in which, minutes away from the NBA finals, the Kings were hit with a staggering 27 fourth-quarter fouls. They lost game six and later the series in a year they figured to win it all. Some players never got over it.

Summer brought a federal probe, reports of more dishonest officiating, refs allegedly being told to favor home teams and the NBA crying “foul.”
 
Ah, but amid the finger pointing, federal probe and public paranoia, here comes a breather.

The NBA summer league at the Thomas & Mack Center and the Cox Pavilion may provide a refreshing change July 11-20.

Launched as a showcase for rookies and future league stars in 2004, the summer circuit has grown from six to 21 teams. The 2008 lineup includes 12 that appeared in the recent playoffs.

A whopping 55-game slate unfolds, with at least four games per day. For the NBA, it’s a chance to recall how superstar Lebron James once played here. Or that the last three rookies of the year, Seattle’s Kevin Durant (2008), Portland’s Brandon Roy (2007) and New Orleans’ Chris Paul (2006), appeared in this tournament.

The newest talent arrives just after the June 26 NBA draft. This forum provides invaluable public relations for the league, playing time for rookies, a showcase for fans and business during a slow time for the city.

Las Vegas Events, which brought the U.S. Olympic Wrestling and Judo finals here last month, thus secured two strong showcases in two months.

“Our focus is to bring events to town that help fill hotel rooms,” said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events. “It’s great that we can co-brand with an organization like the NBA. With gaming and the fact you have NBA players here in town, it becomes somewhat of a conference, a convention centerpiece. You’ve got general managers looking at the players and the coaches. You’ve got referees getting quality training too.”

Tickets are just $20 per day, ensuring excellent bang for the buck. The expanded field means more interest, more fans and more money circulating throughout the city.

“It brings people to town for a prestigious event, it helps keep us a little bit more occupied in the summer and if you are a basketball junkie, you love this,” Christenson added. “This is great basketball. The games are more contested than a lot of regular-season events. These guys are trying to earn a spot on their NBA teams. They play very hard. Almost every rookie plays in this. The summer league provides players a valuable time to be getting some minutes and adjusting to the NBA environment.”

The 2007 Summer League became a showcase for the Knicks’ Nate Robinson. He was the series MVP and later averaged nearly 13 regular-season points per game for his abysmal franchise. The Knicks and Dallas Mavericks went 5-0 in this competition last year.

Las Vegas, offering this event and training for U.S. Olympic teams, has become an unofficial NBA home base. There may be no better place for the NBA to generate positive summer attention.

By Dave Bontempo

Casino Connection Sports Editor Dave Bontempo is an award-winning sports writer and broadcaster who calls boxing matches all over the world. He has covered the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs, as well as numerous PGA, LPGA and Seniors Golf Tour events, and co-hosted the Casino Connection television program with Publisher Roger Gros.

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