The NBA Summer League's California Classic has once again proven to be a significant event on the basketball calendar. Spanning four days, it brought together a fascinating mix of established teams and emerging talent across two prominent venues: Sacramento's Golden 1 Center and San Francisco's Chase Center.
The Sacramento leg of the round-robin competition added intrigue with the Kings hosting a collection of formidable teams: the Hornets, the Spurs, and even the Chinese National Team. Highlighting the event was Stephon Castle, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, who donned the San Antonio Spurs jersey. Castle's performance was impressive, logging 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals in his final game of the summer league. As the forward looks forward to the main Summer League event in Las Vegas, he shared, "I'm comfortable really anywhere out on the court. I will say I'm probably most comfortable on the ball, but if I play off the ball, I still feel 100% comfortable there. Just being with the kinda team that we have, I feel like we will have five guys that can dribble, pass, and shoot. The positions are out of the equation a little bit."
In a notable absence from Sacramento, Tidjane Salaün, the Hornets' No. 6 pick, was sidelined due to a minor laceration near his knee. Despite the setback, other players rose to the occasion. Keon Ellis scored an impressive 30 points, even as his team suffered a loss to the Warriors. Ellis, who had a shooting accuracy of 41.7% on 3-pointers last season, continues to show his offensive prowess.
The action in San Francisco did not disappoint either. The Chase Center played host to a second Kings summer league team along with squads from the Warriors, Heat, and Lakers. The Warriors edged out Sacramento with a narrow 91-90 win in the final game, securing the inaugural "Mitch Richmond Trophy" awarded in the Battle of NorCal Summer League game. Bronny James, playing for the Lakers, faced his own challenges with knee swelling that kept him out of the game against the Warriors. Nevertheless, James showed glimpses of his potential by scoring three points, grabbing five rebounds, dishing out three assists, and making two steals against Miami. Over the course of the event, James accumulated a commendable seven rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and two steals.
Other standout performances included Knecht, who, while struggling with consistency by shooting 30.2% from the floor and 26.7% from beyond the arc, managed to score 20 points in a game against the Heat. This kind of grit and determination is precisely what keeps fans engaged and hopeful for future star development.
The Spurs also fortified their roster with the addition of seasoned veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes. Such strategic moves indicate their plans to integrate youth with experience, providing a balanced and competitive team structure.
The California Classic, now in its sixth year, continues to be a premier showcase for the NBA's rising stars, providing them with the platform to make a mark and prepare for more significant challenges ahead. As we await the commencement of the main Summer League event in Las Vegas, the performances at the California Classic certainly set a compelling stage for what promises to be an exciting summer of basketball.