NBA Summer League co-founder hopes expansion bidders ‘see what we do’

Warren LeGarie has organized NBA Summer League in Las Vegas annually since 2004, but hadn’t been to the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign before Wednesday morning.

The light bulbs on the sign flashed red, white and blue to christen NBA Summer League’s 22nd edition during a ceremony hosted by Clark County commissioner Michael Naft.

LeGarie and co-founder Albert Hall proudly attended.

As LeGarie said Monday afternoon as play continued at Thomas & Mack Center: “You pass it all the time and you don’t think about (stopping) until you do it and you do get chills because it’s so iconic.

“It’s something that people around the world know. … It was great.”

Also an agent for coaches and executives, LeGarie so far is satisfied with the play and turnout at UNLV with six days of NBA Summer League left. He made his rounds through Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion yet again, warmly greeting passersby who are also in the basketball business.

He also carved out time to chat with the Review-Journal about the Summer League and basketball in Las Vegas.

RJ: How’s the vibe of Summer League so far for you?

LeGarie: Everybody wants to be an NBA franchise. It’s easy to talk. Let’s do it. The way you can really show the NBA you’re supporting this — buy tickets, come to Summer League. This is right now the 31st franchise. (NBA commissioner Adam Silver) called it that. And by the way, people have responded. We’ve had four really good days here. We’re very, very happy.

RJ: How does Las Vegas as a city and market now align with the vision you had when you guys first brought Summer League here?

LeGarie: I’d love to take all the credit. Adam Silver saw it way, way ahead of everybody. He understood because (late former comissioner David Stern) just kept focusing on “It’s the Strip. It’s guys (who are) low lives. It’s the things you see in the movies.” But none of that is true. This was the fastest growing community. School districts. All these things going on. And Adam was keenly aware of that.

RJ: How do you feel like Las Vegas has shaped Summer League the last two decades? And how has Summer League shaped Las Vegas?

LeGarie: Well, you guys are our market. But at the same time, if you want to expand that market, it needs a franchise, then you’ve got to be able to show that you sincerely want it and support whatever goes on here with NBA basketball, including us. The first four days seem to reflect that that’s the case. People are supporting us. The crowds are into it. Remember, we’re here 12 months a year. Our community service people have put on all the acts. They’re all Vegas acts. Every singer, every dancer, they’re all (from) Vegas.

RJ: Why does Summer League continue to work in Las Vegas?

LeGarie: Sometimes, luck and timing. In the beginning, the NBA was right to keep (Summer League) out of a gambling establishment and that, but having the two gyms together was a game changer. That’s just fortuitous. There’s no way you can do all 30 teams in one gym unless you’re doing basically a 24-hour coffee shop because you would start at 6 in the morning and finish at 6 in the morning.

RJ: Did you anticipate Summer League becoming a central meeting point for the NBA at large?

LeGarie: A lot of my coaches who lived here were working out players. They were just looking to make sure that this was anchored, it was in one place, so they could be around it for sure. I don’t think we imagined that we’d make it into entertainment as much as it is real basketball. It’s not an NBA game, but it’s definitely an NBA experience.

RJ: Seems like an expansion franchise is trending toward coming here. If and when that happens, what role do you think Summer League played in getting Las Vegas to that point?

LeGarie: To be determined, in all fairness, because the new owners will have the say in what they do. The ownership in the city are the ones who determines what kind of Summer League they want, if any. We don’t know who the eventual (expansion bid) winner is. All we’re doing is making sure they see what we do.