It’s important to take NBA Summer League results with a grain of salt, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be encouraged by what you saw from the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.
Sacramento opened up its Summer League slate in Las Vegas on a winning note, defeating the Orlando Magic by a final score of 84-81 at Cox Pavilion at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
As thousands of fans piled in next door to watch 1st overall pick, Cooper Flagg’s Dallas Mavericks, take on Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers, the Kings took on the Magic in what was somewhat of a rematch of the G League Finals.
Mason Jones–the reigning G League Finals MVP–laced up for Sacramento, while old friend Skal Labissiere switched sides to face his former teammates.
Here are some notes and takeaways from our first look at the Summer League Kings.
A 13-0 @SacramentoKings run capped off by @maximeraynaud42 👑 pic.twitter.com/thUdZ9g3qG
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 11, 2025
Summer League takeaways & observations
It didn’t take long for Maxime Raynaud to make a strong first impression.
Raynaud, the 42nd overall pick in last month’s NBA Draft, acted as the offensive hub for the Sacramento Kings offense early, scoring 11 points over the first four minutes of game action while creating second-chance and fast-break opportunities thanks to his physical play style.
The seven-foot big out of Stanford also displayed his range during the first quarter by knocking down his lone three-point attempt, something the Kings hope will translate to the next level after becoming the NCAA’s first major conference player to average 20+ points and 10+ rebounds while making 50+ triples since Kevin Durant (2007) and Carmelo Anthony (2003).
Raynaud stole the show during the first half and set the tone early for the Sacramento offense, leading all scorers with 13 points (five-of-six shooting from the field), two rebounds, two assists, and one steal over 13 minutes.
The Kings built an early 17-point lead in the first half, but Orlando battled back after being held to just 12 points during the first quarter. Sacramento’s lead was reduced to 42-33 at the break, as they remained in control thanks to holding the Magic to three-of-15 (20%) shooting from three-point range.
Maxime Raynaud starts his #NBA2KSummerLeague RED HOT 🔥
4-4 from the @SacramentoKings 2nd rounder! pic.twitter.com/C03QuHPdK7
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 10, 2025
Orlando continued to battle back as play entered the second half, outscoring the Kings 21-17 in the third period while holding Sacramento to just five-of-20 (25%) shooting from the field in the quarter.
Labissiere, who just a few months ago was celebrating with his Stockton Kings teammates after winning the G League Finals, helped apply pressure to the Kings by scoring eight of his 12 points in the third.
The Magic brought Sacramento’s lead within two points late in the fourth quarter, but a strong closing effort from 24th overall pick Nique Clifford helped keep the Kings in front during crunch time to complete the winning effort.
Clifford, who struggled to a 0-of-four start to his night shooting the basketball, found a rhythm following a chat with Summer League head coach Dipesh Mistry.
During the first half, Clifford brought the ball down to initiate the offense, something Sacramento believes he has the potential to do with the big-league club. However, the Magic defense often swarmed Clifford, causing the rookie to get caught in double-teams and traps.
Mistry said his message to Clifford at the break was simple: “Go. Just go until they stop you.”
Clifford pushed the pace in transition during the second half and played with a sense of aggression, scoring 16 of his 17 points during the final two quarters, including 11 points in the fourth.
NIQUE CLIFFORD BASELINE SLAM 💪
The 1st rounder puts the @SacramentoKings up 4 late in Vegas!
📺 NBA TV pic.twitter.com/wNCpMQSDKv
— NBA (@NBA) July 11, 2025
“I’m just trying to play the right way. I did come out a little tentative, but my team needs me to come out and make plays,” Clifford said of his debut. “It’s on me. I have to come out from the jump and be better. I came out slow, and I can’t have that. Learning lesson, and I’m going to be better next game.”
It was one game–one Summer League game–but the Kings rookies performed exactly like many would hope in their first go-around.
Clifford shook off a tough start and controlled the game during the second half, doing so while showing his ability to defend multiple positions (two steals and one block).
Raynaud–who finished the night with 16 points and five rebounds–set the tone early, but continued to create a presence on the floor due to his loud communication that could be heard echoing off the walls of Cox Pavilion.
Like current Sacramento big man Domantas Sabonis, Raynaud appears to be cut from the same cloth as his new teammate when it comes to calling out screens and defensive assignments.
“That’s everything I can bring as a big, anchoring the defense,” Raynaud said of his ability to direct traffic and be vocal with his teammates. “I’ve talked a lot with our front office, [Doug Christie], they’re all telling me that you have to be the loudest player on the floor.”
YouTube video
Final Box Score
When is the next Summer League game for the Kings?
Sacramento will be back in action on Saturday, July 12th vs. the Chicago Bulls, with action set to tip off at 5:00 pm PT from Cox Pavilion (broadcast on NBA TV).
What’s next for the Sacramento Kings offseason?
The NBA free agency window is wide open, meaning teams around the league will make signings and trades in the coming weeks and months ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Aside from free agency, the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League is set to begin on Thursday, July 10th, giving Sacramento Kings fans a first look at rookie talents like Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud, as well as second-year guard Devin Carter.
Be sure to stay locked into Sactown Sports 1140 each weekday from 6 am-6 pm for live analysis and around-the-clock coverage, as well as SactownSports.com for breakdowns for every move
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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