The prospects of the Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings will do battle for Sin City glory in the Summer League finale.
The latest edition of NBA Summer League play will end with a royal buzz.
The roster hopefuls of the Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings will square off for summer glory in Sin City, facing off in the summer league’s annual final. Each team has won each of their five showings to date as they face off for the championship.
Primarily sustained by the effort of second-year second-rounder K.J. Simpson, the Hornets punched their ticket to the final on Saturday with a 109-80 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jaylen Sims scored 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting while Simpson pulled in 10 rebounds. Charlotte has reached the championship finale despite dealing with some notable injuries: recent first-round picks Liam McNeeley and Tidjane Salaun have been dealing with an Achilles ailments that have kept them out of the last few games while Kon Knueppel, the fourth choice of the most recent draft, endured a head injury while diving for a loose ball in Saturday’s win.
The Kings have been supported by strong shooting on the other end, as they’re back in the final after a 98-88 triumph over the Toronto Raptors, also on Saturday. Undrafted sophomore Isaac Jones led the way with a sterling 36-point tally while Mason Jones, a 45 percent 3-point shooter, came off the bench to tally 17 more. Maxime Raynaud fell three rebounds short of a double-double in the win.
Sacramento will look to make Summer League history on Sunday, as a win will make them the first franchise to win three such championship. The Kings previously prevailed in 2014 and 2021, with Ray McCallum Jr. and Louis King, respectively, serving as MVPs. Charlotte has reached the Summer League finale for the first time in its history.
2k26 Summer League Championship Info
Who: Charlotte Hornets (5-0) vs. Sacramento Kings (5-0) (Summer League)
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
When/Watch: Sunday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
Who’s Favored: SAC -2.5
Hornet to Watch: Ryan Kalkbrenner
The Creighton alum is a second-round pick, but the lastest rebuild in Charlotte gives him a chance to make an impression immediately. If Knueppel is unable to go, the length and shape of the 7-1, 256-lb. could come up big in relief. Despite working in and out of the primary lineup, Kalkbrenner has pulled in at least five rebounds in all but one of his Summer League showings. He hasn’t brought over his 3-point touch from Omaha yet, but his interior grit could be a hidden x-factor for the Hornets to earn one last unexpected, shorthanded victory.
King to Watch: Nique Clifford
A small school prospect like Clifford had to do a lot to yank the freshman spotlight away from big-brand talent like Knueppel and Cooper Flagg, but few, if any, first-round talents partaking in Las Vegas action have raised their stock better than the Colorado State alum. Entering Sunday play, Clifford is one of just six prospects to be averaging at least 16 points and six rebounds, while putting up more than a steal per game while playing all five games to date. He was quiet on the scoring front in Saturday’s semifinal against Toronto, but managed to pack his box score with enough impact while Jones kept up his hot scoring. With uncertainty surrounding the Kings’ future under new management, there may be a chance for Clifford to contribute immediately. One last sterling showing from the rookie could leave a lasting impression, especially in a championship surrounding.
They Said It
“It’s very important because we’re really young and, as we know, in the Summer League, you’ve got guys that are really veterans, that are masters of their trade. So you need guys with some experience, and KJ just really has to use his voice and dominate the defensive end.”-Hornets head coach Chris Jent on Simpson (h/t Matt Alquiza, Hornets on SI)
“My goal coming here was to just be myself and show that I have a little bit of everything in my game. But most importantly, I always want to be a great teammate. I feel like I’ve definitely done that. Now, it’s all about finishing Summer League strong and leaving here with a ring. That’s what we came here to do.”-Nique Clifford (h/t Brett Siegel, ClutchPoints)
Prediction
What Charlotte has done without its headliners is no doubt respectable and a sign of hope for a team in desperate need of any step in the right direction, no matter how fleeting. But that’ll come back to bite them against the Kings, especially if the touted Knueppel is unable to go. Expect Clifford and Reynaud to take advantage in the interior as the Kings seek a unique brand of history.
Kings 94, Hornets 81
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
