The Las Vegas Summer League has been an annual tournament hosted by the NBA since 2006, with the only exception being the canceled 2020 tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Summer League is a great opportunity for players who are drafted, undrafted, rookies or unsigned free agents to showcase their skills and prove that they belong in the NBA. It also gives drafted players a chance to learn their new team's systems and get some much-needed playing time before the regular season begins.
This year's Las Vegas Summer League takes place in Las Vegas from July 7-17. The event included participation from all 30 teams, along with a tournament at the end to crown a winner.
Before Tuesday's championship game, Houston's Cam Whitmore was named MVP of 2023 Summer League.
Who has won Summer League MVP in the past? The Sporting News has the complete list below.
Who has won Las Vegas Summer League MVP?
Of the 17 Summer League MVPs awarded since 2006, nine were players who were drafted outside of the lottery in the same year or the previous year. This trend has become more pronounced in recent years, with seven of the last 10 MVPs being drafted outside of the lottery. The exceptions to this trend are Lonzo Ball (2017) and Davion Mitchell (co-MVP in 2021).
Blake Griffin and John Wall are the only two No. 1 overall picks to have won the Summer League MVP award, doing so in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
Here's a look at all the Summer League MVP winners since 2006:
| Year | Player | NBA Team | Draft pick | Nationality |
| 2023 | Cam Whitmore | Houston Rockets | 2023 Rd. 1 Pick 20 | USA |
| 2022 | Keegan Murray | Sacramento Kings | 2022 Rd. 1 Pick 4 | USA |
| 2021 | Davion Mitchell | Sacramento Kings | 2021 Rd. 1 Pick 9 | USA |
| 2021 | Cameron Thomas | Brooklyn Nets | 2021 Rd. 1 Pick 27 | USA |
| 2020 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2019 | Brandon Clarke | Memphis Grizzlies | 2019 Rd. 1 Pick 21 | Canada |
| 2018 | Josh Hart | Los Angeles Lakers | 2017 Rd. 1 Pick 30 | USA |
| 2017 | Lonzo Ball | Los Angeles Lakers | 2017 Rd. 1 Pick 2 | USA |
| 2016 | Tyus Jones | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2015 Rnd 1 Pick 24 | USA |
| 2015 | Kyle Anderson | San Antonio Spurs | 2014 Rnd 1 Pick 30 | USA |
| 2014 | Glen Rice Jr. | Washington Wizards | 2013 Rnd 2 Pick 5 | USA |
| 2013 | Jonas Valanciunas | Toronto Raptors | 2011 Rnd 1 Pick 5 | Lithuania |
| 2012 | Damian Lillard | Portland Trail Blazers | 2012 Rnd 1 Pick 6 | USA |
| 2012 | Josh Selby | Memphis Grizzlies | 2011 Rnd 2 Pick 19 | USA |
| 2010 | John Wall | Washington Wizards | 2010 Rnd 1 Pick 1 | USA |
| 2009 | Blake Griffin | LA Clippers | 2009 Rnd 1 Pick 1 | USA |
| 2008 | Jerryd Bayless | Portland Trail Blazers | 2008 Rnd 1 Pick 11 | USA |
| 2007 | Nate Robinson | New York Knicks | 2005 Rnd 1 Pick 21 | USA |
| 2006 | Randy Foye | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2006 Rnd 1 Pick 7 | USA |
In 2012, co-MVPs were handed out to Damian Lillard and Josh Selby for the first time in NBA Summer League history.
It happened for the second time in 2021 when Davion Mitchell and Cameron Thomas were named co-MVPs.