Charlotte Hornets beat Sacramento Kings to clinch NBA Summer League Championship
Finally, the wait is over! The Charlotte Hornets are the 2025 NBA Summer League Champions. The Hornets defeated the Sacramento Kings 83-78 to clinch the title on Sunday. It's also the first Summer League championship win for the Charlotte Hornets in their NBA history, finishing with a 6-0 record.
First Summer League championship win for the Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets were without their stars — Liam McNeeley, Tidjane Salaun, and Sion James — once again. They were also without their center, PJ Hall, who signed a two-way deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. Despite all that, the team created history and won the coveted championship.
Kon Knueppel
wins MVP
Kon Knueppel was named the Summer League Championship Game MVP. This was his second MVP title, after being awarded the honor following the ACC Tournament with Duke.
Knueppel posted 21 points and five rebounds in the title game. He also shot 4-for-11 from the 3-point line.
Knueppel, the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, was seen in action with a bandage over his right eye. He received five stitches after taking a hard fall during a game on Saturday.
Apart from Knueppel, Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 15 points, and three other players each scored 11 for the Hornets.
For the Sacramento Kings, who won titles in 2014 and 2021, this was their first defeat in three trips to the final.
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The Hornets' social media handle posted a graphic of their team with "Champions" written over it.
Danielle Stein, a sports anchor, took to social media and said: 'I said before, if we were going to come here, we should win,' said Knueppel in his postgame speech. 'For the first time in franchise history, the Charlotte Hornets have won the #NBA2KSummerLeague. 83-78 final vs. Sacramento Kings. May be Summer League to some, but love how this indicates a culture shift and a desire to win/compete, anchored by their young core and rookies.
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The NBA Summer League is a platform to test out new players like rookies, second-year players, and those from G League teams before they get a chance to join the NBA full-time. Now, the excitement shifts to the upcoming season after this historic win by the Charlotte Hornets. The 2025-26 NBA schedule will likely be unveiled in August — and fans can't wait.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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