Charlotte Hornets to participate in expanded dual California Classic summer league
It’s back to the West Coast for the Charlotte Hornets.
After making their inaugural appearance at the California Classic summer league in Sacramento last year, the Hornets will participate again in the event, which has expanded and is going to be spread across two venues.
The Hornets, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs will be featured at Golden 1 Center from July 6-9 while the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Kings match up at Chase Center in San Francisco from July 6-10.
Presuming the Hornets keep the sixth overall selection in the NBA Draft on June 26, the first glimpse of Charlotte’s latest youthful addition should come during its first contest against San Antonio at 8:30 p.m. ET on July 6. The Hornets will also take on the Chinese National team at 8 p.m. ET on July 7 before concluding the event with a 10 p.m. ET date with the Kings on July 9.
Broadcast information hasn’t been released yet, but ESPN televised both of the Hornets’ games last year. Modified game play rules will be in place, including 10-minute quarters.
The three-day, 12-team event precedes the annual Las Vegas summer league. Charlotte will head to Nevada following its final outing in Sacramento to compete in that NBA’s signature summer tournament.
Given the uncertainty around which players will be taken off the board before the Hornets are on the clock, the lead into the summer should have a completely different feel than it did a year ago. With Victor Wembanyama a lock to go No. 1 to San Antonio, the Hornets had their choice of Brandon Miller or Scoot Henderson.
Everyone knows how that turned out.
Time will tell whether it’s Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard, G League Ignite’s Ron Holland, Donovan Clingan or Stephon Castle from Connecticut. But that answer is less than a month away.
The Hornets also hold the No. 42 overall selection and anyone taken in the second round will be on the summer league roster, which won’t be officially announced until late June. But Nick Smith Jr., taken with the 27th pick last year, is expected to participate in summer league and should see time in the California Classic like he did in 2023.
Hornets California Classic schedule
July 6: vs. San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. ET
July 7: vs. Chinese National team, 8 p.m. ET
July 9: vs. Sacramento, 10 p.m. ET
This story was originally published May 28, 2024 at 10:15 AM.
