Updated

The NBA Summer League is adding a championship round.

The league announced Wednesday that for the first time since the summer league's inception in 2004, it will feature a format that includes preliminary games followed by a single-elimination tournament leading to an eventual champion.

This year's summer league starts in Las Vegas on July 12, and the champion will be crowned on July 22. All teams will play at least five games, with the tournament set to begin after teams are seeding following the conclusion of games played July 16.

Several of the league's top eventual rookies have played in the league in recent years, including Chris Paul, Brandon Roy, Kevin Durant, Tyreke Evans, Blake Griffin, Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard.