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California Classic to go on without the Kings this year

The Kings will be skipping the annual summer event they founded.
By | 21 Comments | May 29, 2025

Jul 3, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) dribbles against Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (24) during the second quarter at the California Summer League at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday the California Classic schedule was announced with a glaring omission; The Kings were no longer among the teams participating.  The Kings had founded the event back in 2018 and had participated each year up until this point.  This year only the Warriors, Lakers, Spurs and Heat would participate in a two day event at San Francisco’s Chase Center.

On the one hand, it’s not too surprising that the Kings might not want to field a team for the event given that they aren’t hosting and that they don’t have a first round pick in this year’s draft.  Kings fans aren’t likely to drive to San Francisco to watch Devin Carter and Isaac Jones get some scrimmage run.  But on the other hand, it’s still kind of weird that the Kings won’t be participating in an event they founded.  This doesn’t mean the Kings are out of the event forever however, as Carmichael Dave reports that the Kings and Golden 1 Center will once again host in 2026 and every other year after.  The Kings also will still field a team for the main Summer League event in Las Vegas which takes place from July 10th-20th with all 30 NBA teams participating.

I for one am not too worried or upset about the lack of participation in an event that isn’t going to be at Golden 1 Center anyways.  The Classic has always been more for fans than anything, and the Kings have much more important work to do this summer.  The last thing Scott Perry needs to worry about right now is fielding a team of mostly undrafted free agents to go practice for a couple of days in San Francisco.

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Hippity_Hop_Barbershop
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May 29, 2025 8:31 am

The best was in 2022. Being able to see three games at G1C with one ticket.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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Nostradumbass 14
May 29, 2025 8:48 am

Dave made it sound like the Kings failed to respond to the call to play in the Classic. Spurs, Lakers, and Miami all RSVPd. Kings were told should they want to participate they’d need to include another team. It sounds to me like someone dropped the ball (no pun intended).

Maybe it’s because Perry is just getting his feet under him in the front office and the Classic is happening in the first week of free agency? They really can’t say it’s because they don’t have a first round pick, so what’t the point, because neither do the Warriors! The Kings could easily fill out a team around Carter and Isaac Jones. Just smells of more Kagnz bullshit or is tied to $$$$.

TheGrantNapear
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May 29, 2025 11:02 am
Reply to  Adamsite

My arse pulled guess is Vivek got offended by something or someone and decided to pull out of the Classic.

UpgradedToQuestionable
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May 30, 2025 9:07 am
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

Indolent or Shambolic or Parsimonious or Huffy*

why not all 4?

Your 2025 Sacramento Kings

*Finding new ways to say the same ol’ things

Last edited 1 day ago by UpgradedToQuestionable
SactownLegendz
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May 30, 2025 3:17 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Not the hugest deal but still could’ve fielded a decent team with Carter, IJ and whoever they get with the 2nd rounder….plus whatever UDFA’s they get. Jabri Abdur-Rahim mighta been cool to see in the event.

Mike120
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May 29, 2025 9:10 am

Not a fan of the Kings not participating. How hard is it to send a bench coach and half the Stockton roster to SF?

Hobby916
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May 29, 2025 9:15 am

Meh, whatever. Not a big deal to me. They will have the Vegas summer league to throw out some random collection of players.

Would it be nice to see if Carter can run a team as the primary ball handler? Sure. But that dude needs to get his shoulder squared away for the regular season. I can he them keeping him out of Vegas too.

Other than that, it’s Isaac Jones, Crawford, Mason Jones? They can go to Vegas with the 2nd round pick and any undrafted guys they sign.

rockbottom
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May 29, 2025 9:20 am

So it’s a case of the Kings taking their ball and staying home . If it was important last year why not this one ? Very Kangz decision !

andy_sims
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May 29, 2025 9:30 am

Kings will go undefeated in the California Classic in 2025. Book it, done.

SactownLegendz
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May 30, 2025 3:20 pm
Reply to  andy_sims

Lol

Hobby916
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May 29, 2025 9:32 am

Why does the Chase Center not allow fans to come in for certain games? This year it looks like the final game is the one where fans can’t attend. Why have the event and play in front of empty seats?

1951
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May 29, 2025 10:14 am

The saddest part of this is understanding why the Kings aren’t playing.

It’s because they don’t have any young talent to play in it. lol

Last edited 2 days ago by 1951
TheGrantNapear
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May 29, 2025 11:03 am
Reply to  1951

Lol. Very true. Besides DC we have no young talent that matters or has upside.

Kfan
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May 29, 2025 11:14 am
Reply to  1951

OKC average age = 24.7

Kings “Youth”:

Keegan is 25 in August. LaRavia is 24 in November. Carter turned 23 in March. I.Jones will be 25 in July.

Convoy
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May 29, 2025 10:27 am

Klassic Kangz maneuver to add to the long list of a tragic comedy of errors…Kings skipping an event they founded

Jman1949
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May 29, 2025 1:01 pm

This seems like a missed opportunity for a cross-promotion with the A’s who will be hosting the Giants across the river on July 4-6.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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Nostradumbass 14
May 29, 2025 2:59 pm
Reply to  Jman1949

That’s because the Kangz are the Kings of missed opportunities.

NorCalKingsFan
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May 30, 2025 10:00 am

Vivek is obviously too poor for the Kings to participate. Maybe if the tourney was in Rio Linda he could cover it but the Bay Area is just too expensive for the broke little chap.

SactownLegendz
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May 30, 2025 3:23 pm
Reply to  NorCalKingsFan

Wouldn’t surprise me, probably losing fans by the thousands….might not afford a team bus at this rate, players may have to walk to games, or pay for their own Ubers haha

SactownLegendz
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May 30, 2025 3:18 pm

No playoffs, 1st rd pick and now the Cali Classic even….when’s this gonna stop?! lol

Sacto_J
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May 31, 2025 11:17 am

I’d rather they spend their off-season focusing on how to improve this team from the inside out, especially since its obvious that Vivek isn’t capable of over-spending for talent.

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