12 NBA stars' standout Drew League appearances

Have a look at some of the NBA stars’ best Drew League efforts over the past few years.

For almost 40 years, the Drew League has been a staple of Southern California’s summertime culture. The Drew is a pro-am summer league that Dino Smiley founded in 1973. It has brought together local players, streetball superstars, international players, past professionals, and NBA superstars for the love of the game.

NBA players looking for a run during the offseason will go to King Drew Magnet High School, where fans cram the building for an opportunity of seeing players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, and DeMar DeRozan up close. 

It’s comparable to watching Drake or Beyonce play at a neighbourhood club rather than a stadium or large arena. 

In Drew, weekends are unpredictable. Which players will show up and show out is a topic of discussion. Additionally, if you’re inside the building—or streaming, if you’re not in Los Angeles—you never know when you might see something extraordinary.

Here is a look back at 12 of the most standout NBA stars’ Drew League appearances, starting with those that have just happened this month.

LeBron James put on a spectacle for the estimated 2,500 spectators in attendance in his first game back at the Drew League since 2011 during the NBA lockout as he teamed up with Chicago Bulls swingman and Compton native DeMar DeRozan for the MMV Cheaters. 

The Cheaters defeated Black Pearl Elite, 104-102, thanks to LeBron’s 42 points, 16 rebounds, four steals, and DeRozan’s 30 points and 14 rebounds. Fans won’t remember the final result of the game, but rather the atmosphere in the arena and standout plays like this off-the-backboard alley-oop that electrified the crowd.

DeRozan is a regular in his