25 ways to spend these summer months without NBA basketball

Jul 17, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; The Portland Trail Blazers pose for photos after winning the NBA Summer League Championship game by defeating the New York Knicks 85-77 at Thomas & Mack Center. Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 17, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; The Portland Trail Blazers pose for photos after winning the NBA Summer League Championship game by defeating the New York Knicks 85-77 at Thomas & Mack Center. Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 26, 2022; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker (3) and Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot (22) fight for the ball against Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) during the second half of the Commissioners Cup-Championships at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 26, 2022; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker (3) and Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot (22) fight for the ball against Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) during the second half of the Commissioners Cup-Championships at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Watch the WNBA

There is still professional basketball to watch, actually. There is an established league with good teams doing basketball right now. As far as solutions to a lack of NBA go, the easiest is to just add a ‘W.’ It’s probably the best too.

For real. You want professional basketball? It’s not too hard to find it. If you have NBA TV, you’re in good shape. There are multiple games every week. They’re not every day, but they are frequent enough to keep you sated on a pretty regular basis.

Also, sometimes there are games on Twitter. You don’t even need a TV at all, in case you may have smashed your current one after Summer League was over. I understand if you did. There’s no judgment coming from me. Maybe a little bit, actually. You could have donated it. But the past is in the past.

The WNBA is fun. It’s very talented people playing basketball at a high level. If you like the NBA, you’re already kind of primed to enjoy this.

Now, you may feel a bit of a barrier to entry if you’ve never really watched outside of the playoffs before, but it’s really not anything to fret about. Pick a favorite player. Pick the closest team. See whatever it is that grabs you and just dive in.

You’ll find yourself in good company. There is a lovely community of people who just want to watch and grow the game. It’s infectious, and you can feel like you’re getting in kind of early on something great.

Watch the WNBA. Do it.