Mississippi State Players Compete in 2026 NBA Summer League
Two former Mississippi State men’s basketball players are competing in the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Cameron Matthews will play for the Charlotte Hornets, while RJ Melendez will suit up for the San Antonio Spurs, according to program officials.
Melendez has appeared in three games at the NBA Summer League California Classic from July 3-6, averaging 4.3 points and three blocks per game, the sources said. Both players played in the NBA G League last season. Matthews averaged 12.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals with Rio Grande Valley Vipers, while Melendez posted 11.5 points and 3.8 rebounds with the Mexico City Capitanes.
The Summer League features all 30 NBA teams, which will play at least five games from July 9 to 16. The top four teams will advance to a semifinal doubleheader on July 18, with the championship game set for July 19 at 8 p.m. Central Time on ESPN. The remaining teams will play their final games between July 17 and 19. All 76 games are available on Prime Video or ESPN platforms, the league confirmed.
The event runs from July 9 to 19 at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. Matchups include the Spurs versus the Hawks, and the Hornets versus the Magic, among others, scheduled over the course of the tournament. All times are Central, and games are streamed on Prime Video or ESPN+.
Mississippi State’s head coach Chris Jans has led the Bulldogs to three NCAA Tournament appearances in his first four seasons. The team will open the 2026-27 season against Tennessee Tech on November 2 at Humphrey Coliseum. The school has begun season ticket renewals and encourages fans to follow updates on its official social media accounts under ‘HailStateMBK.’
Source: Original Article
