The Sacramento Kings are only two games into Summer League, but they already look like a team that might actually be fun to watch. On Sunday at Golden 1 Center, they erased a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit and beat the Golden State Warriors Blue 91-85 in the California Classic.
This came a day after they edged the Brooklyn Nets 79-76 on a game-winner from Nique Clifford. Clifford, along with Darius Acuff Jr. and Dylan Cardwell, got the night off vs. Golden State. That opened the door for Emanuel Sharp, Isaiah Stevens, and Marquel Sutton to carry the load.
Sharp gave the fans a lot of the credit afterward. According to Sactown Sports 1140’s Brenden Nunes, the rookie out of Houston was straight-up about what the crowd meant.
“Great fanbase. I’m so happy that I’m here and get to play for them. It makes you want to play hard. I love Sac fans,” Sharp said.
He finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. His shooting wasn’t pretty — 5-of-15 from the floor — but the effort was there. Stevens put up 18 points and four assists. Sutton contributed 17 points and eight boards. Both went undrafted out of Colorado and LSU, respectively.
What This Means for a Struggling Franchise
The Kings are coming off a 22-60 season. They have missed the playoffs three years in a row. Zoom out further and it gets uglier. This organization has been stuck in what feels like a permanent cycle of dysfunction for two decades, even as fresh talent cycles through every summer.
Sharp has a real fight ahead of him to earn a rotation spot. The Kings backcourt includes Clifford, Acuff, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Malik Monk. That’s a crowded room.
One wrinkle worth watching: a recent report suggested DeRozan is already looking for the exit in Sacramento. The team hasn’t confirmed anything, and it might just be league chatter. But it adds a layer of uncertainty to a team that could really use some stability.
For now, the Summer League Kings are giving fans a reason to cheer. The comeback was real. The gratitude from the rookies was genuine. Whether any of it carries over to the regular season is another question entirely.
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