Attempting to become the first organization to have three Las Vegas Summer League titles, the Sacramento Kings failed to defeat Charlotte in Sunday’s championship game.
The Hornets secured their first Summer League championship in the 83-78 win.
It was a different story from their semifinals victory over the Toronto Raptors the night prior. Charlotte, led by Kon Knueppel (4th overall in the 2025 Draft) and Ryan Kalkbrenner, got off to a hot start.
Kalkbrenner (7’1″) started the game guarding Devin Carter, who has struggled to shoot in the Summer League. Maxime Raynaud hit an early triple for Sacramento, but they struggled from distance while the Hornets started 5/8 from deep and 73 percent from the field.
Sacramento was facing a double-digit deficit in a hurry, as the scoreboard read 34-18 at the end of one.
Allowing an average of less than 90 points per game coming into the night, Coach Mistry’s preferred defensive identity didn’t seem to arrive until the second frame.
Full-court defensive pressure, securing defensive rebounds, and some shooting luck in their favor helped the Kings hold Charlotte to just 12 in the second. Night and day difference.
Carter, his teammates, and the coaching staff found ways to attack the Kalkbrenner matchup while Isaac Jones helped finish plays.
Isaac Jones will not be stopped 💪🏽😤
(via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/UTwW40ryB8
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 21, 2025
Trailing 46-39 at halftime felt like somewhat of an accomplishment considering their early struggles.
Their defensive success carried over into the third quarter, but they struggled to score as well, narrowly losing the frame 21-17.
Charlotte maintained a lead throughout most of the action before momentum began to swing.
A timely catch-and-shoot triple from Clifford made it a six-point game with 6:10 remaining. It was just Sacramento’s fifth made triple on thirty attempts.
Their most recent first-rounder had been clutch all throughout Summer League, and that was no different in the finals. Not long after, he knocked down an off-the-dribble stepback triple.
Eventually being overturned due to his foot being on the line shouldn’t detract from its impressive nature.
NIQUE CLIFFORD AGAIN ON THE STEPBACK 🔥
(via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/l2QHoPS4Rm
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 21, 2025
A 9-2 Sacramento run cut the deficit to one (75-74) with just over one minute remaining. Knueppel knocked down a triple, but I. Jones took and made his first triple of the night after.
Charlotte led 78-77 with 20 seconds, leaving the Kings no choice but to foul. Failure to secure the miss after Plowden seemed to slip at the most inopportune time practically put the game away.
Clifford intentionally missed a free-throw down three, but not getting the rebound, closed it out.
— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) July 21, 2025
Allowing 34 points in the first led to the Kings falling 83-78 in the Las Vegas Summer League Championship.
But, Summer League is more about process and results.
I. Jones (24 points, 11 rebounds) showed his consistent strengths. Rookies Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynayd showed their capabilities, and Coach Mistry got reps in the head seat.
No championship rings will be on their flight back home, but there were plenty of encouraging signs in Vegas.
More Sacramento Kings coverage on Sactown Sports
Scott Perry has made the Sacramento Kings’ goal for next season apparent: create an organizational identity centered around six core principles.
Competitive. Tough. Team-Oriented. Disciplined. Accountable. Professional.
In Las Vegas for the 2K26 Summer League, Perry sat down with Sactown Sports for an exclusive one-on-one interview to outline how he decided on those principles, finding players (new and inherited) who fit the mold, and plenty more.
Read More:
Scott Perry outlines details of preferred Kings’ identity
Upcoming offseason schedule for the Sacramento Kings:
July 10th-20th – Las Vegas NBA Summer League
August TBD – Release of 2025-26 regular season schedule
September TBD – Start of NBA training camps for the 2025-26 season
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