Since 2018, the Sacramento Kings have hosted the California Classic, a mini-schedule of games before the NBA Summer League begins in Las Vegas. Previously, the Kings, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, and Miami Heat have traveled to Northern California. However, Sacramento will not participate this season, as they will be replaced by teams with more prominent rosters.
The Heat, Spurs, Lakers, and Warriors will play at Chase Center in six games between July 5 and July 8. The Spurs, with the second pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, who will surely play in the California Classic, seem like a great team to add, and the Heat, who will pick 20th and already have young players like Pelle Larsson and Kel’el Ware, also make sense. The Lakers and Warriors, meanwhile, don’t boast headline youthful talent, although the possibility to host Bronny James in a contest does appeal to the Warriors, who get a piece of income as the host.
The Kings, meanwhile, don’t have a first-round pick and aside from Devin Carter don’t have much potential young talent. DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Domantas Sabonis will not play in the Summer League, which will reduce interest in Sacramento. Not every team participates in a regional “preseason” prior to the Summer League, and the Kings may simply send their roster to Las Vegas to participate in the mandatory mini-season for young prospects.
Leave a Reply