2013-14 Season

Kings Rocket Department

It's good to be back for another season, Kings fans!

What a way to start off the year – knowing we'll be in Sacramento forever – we have a new ownership group, which includes Vivek and Shaquille O'Neal, and a new coaching staff.

Our Home Opener is just a couple days away, and I can't wait for tip-off. There's going to be a lot of excitement and energy with a packed house, and I'm sure a lot of special guests will show up, as well. Having our first game of the season in Sacramento is going to be really special, and we're going to come out and make sure we start off the year with a 'W.'

With eight of our first 10 games at home, we have to take care of home cooking and take full advantage of the early-season schedule. We definitely want to establish Sleep Train Arena as one of the toughest places to play for visiting teams.

For the first time in my career, the majority of my teammates and I were in town for voluntary workouts a month before the start of training camp. It was a very positive experience, with a focus on defense. Guys know they can score, but we have to get stops and finish possessions with rebounds.

Practice has been really intense. We start in the morning, go over film if we had a game the night before and always make adjustments. Coach Malone had so much success in Golden State, and he's trying to bring that same defensive mentality to this young team. For the past few years, we haven't been good in that department, and he's definitely trying to change those ways. His main message is that for us to be a winning team and win close games, we have to be good on both ends of the court.

Preseason is obviously different from the regular season, but we've shown we have a lot of energy and young talent. We have a lot of new offensive sets to learn and a lot of new faces to integrate, so I think for the most part, we've played very well. We've lost a couple of winnable games and had some great wins, but most importantly, we're getting better every day and can only go up from here.

Now that I've had a chance to practice and play alongside them, I'm even more excited about how much our new additions can come in and help us. Greivis is a pass-first, big point guard who's been in the League for a few years and has been on Playoff teams. He brings a great, positive mindset. Luc is a defensive-minded guy who's athletic and can guard the best wing player on any opposing team.

It's unfortunate that Carl is sidelined with a hip injury, but I've played with him before in Sacramento and know much he brings to the table. He played a major role in Golden State and on other teams in the past, so he can definitely lead us with motivation and encouraging words while he recovers.

As for our rookies, I see a lot of confidence in both. Ben has a ton of upside, and he's starting to learn the NBA game and find success by letting the game come to him. The same goes for Ray – he's picking and choosing his spots and not forcing shots. He's been solid in the minutes he's played, and he can be a good point guard in this league. The more games they have underneath their belt, the more confident they'll be going forward.

I want to wish "Sign Lady" a speedy recovery. I hope she gets healthy very soon and is back at Sleep Train Arena as soon as possible. She's definitely part of the Kings Family and has been the heart and soul of the team for a long time.

I held my first annual JT Elite Basketball Camp in Rancho Cordova over the summer, and it ended up being a huge success with over 300 kids attending. I'm looking to add two additional weeks of camp next summer, so stay tuned for updates on my site: JT34.net. As always, if you'd like to donate to my foundation, make sure to visit thejasonthompsonfoundation.com.

After a very successful summer overall – during which I worked extensively on my game – I'm excited for the regular season to start and I hope you all are ready to cheer us on! We have high expectations for ourselves and expect to be a really good team this year.

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JT’s Blog: New Season, New Focus

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento Kings announced single game tickets for the "Top-10" most sought after games will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Oct. 10. The featured tagline for the day is "Top 10. 10/10. 10am." Fans can buy tickets to all 44 pre-season and regular season games by clicking here, calling Ticketmaster or by visiting the Sleep Train Arena box office.

"It's going to be a memorable season. Everyone knows full season ticket sales have been strong all summer, and we expect more of the same when we release the top games for individual sale," said Sacramento Kings President and Chief Operating Officer Chris Granger. "We encourage people to buy early, secure their seats, and not be on the wrong side of a sold-out game."

The Top-10 games, which include special themes and fan giveaways, feature the highly anticipated home opener versus the Denver Nuggets, two November games against the Los Angeles Clippers, two clashes against I-80 rivals, the Golden State Warriors, one showdown with Western Conference foe Oklahoma City Thunder, a holiday matchup with the reigning NBA Champions, Miami Heat, two contests versus the Los Angeles Lakers, and a nationally televised game on ESPN versus the Detroit Pistons.

"We've had some fun with ESPN's recent ranking of the Kings," said Granger. "We said then, and we'll say now, 'The Best Fans Await You.' We can't wait for the loudest, most passionate fans in the NBA to show ESPN, and the world, what Sacramento basketball is all about."

On Oct. 16, Kings players, Luc Mbah a Moute and Carl Landry, and Kings coaches, Corliss Williamson and Micah Nori, will man the phones in the ticket office starting at 1 p.m. Fans can call 888-91-KINGS for a chance to talk with them about the upcoming season.

October 30 vs. Denver Nuggets ("Long Live the Kings" Home Opener, Purpleout, purple T-shirts, commemorative pins, purple glow sticks)

November 1 vs. Los Angeles Clippers (Blackout, fans and team in black)

November 15 vs. Detroit Pistons (Nationally televised on ESPN, New Era. New Swagger.)

November 29 vs. Los Angeles Clippers (Black Friday Storm, black winter scarves)

December 1 vs. Golden State Warriors (Purple Reign, purple noisemakers replicating the sound of pounding rain)

December 3 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Thunder vs. Thunder, LED thunder sword noisemakers)

December 6 vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Winter Whiteout, white T-shirts, holiday giveaways)

December 27 vs. Miami Heat (Kings welcome the 2013 NBA Champions)

February 19 vs. Golden State Warriors (I-80 Series continues, Sacramento poster)

April 2 vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Bollywood vs. Hollywood, Bollywood-themed entertainment, multi-colored rally towels)

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Sacramento Kings Put Top-10 Games on Sale Thursday

--Roster of 18 begins Training Camp at Santa Barbara on Tuesday--

SACRAMENTO, Calif. ---- The Sacramento Kings finalized their 2013-14 training camp roster with the free agent signings of forward DeQuan Jones, center Hamady Ndiaye, and guard Brandon Heath. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed. The roster of 18 players open training camp on Tuesday, October 1 at 10 a.m. at Pavilion Gym in the Recreation Center located on the University of California, Santa Barbara campus. The Kings will practice through Saturday, Oct. 6 before traveling to Oakland for the team’s preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena on Monday, Oct. 7.

For daily practice times in Santa Barbara, media members can contact Chris Clark of the media relations department.

SACRAMENTO KINGS 2013-14 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER

15 - DeMarcus Cousins (C) 6-foot-11, 270 pounds | 08/13/1990 | Kentucky/USA | 3 yrs

7 - Jimmer Fredette (G) 6-foot-2, 195 pounds | 02/25/1989 | Brigham Young/USA | 2 yrs

42 - Chuck Hayes (F) 6-foot-6, 250 pounds | 06/11/1983 | Kentucky/USA | 8 yrs

8 - Brandon Heath (G) 6-foot-4, 203 pounds | 03/01/1984| San Diego State/USA
 R

0 - DeQuan Jones (F) 6-foot-8, 230 pounds | 06/20/1990 | Miami (Fla.)/USA | 1 yrs

24 - Carl Landry (F) 6-foot-9, 248 pounds | 09/19/1983 | Purdue/USA | 6 yrs

20 - Trent Lockett (G) 6-foot-5, 210 pounds | 12/10/1990 | Marquette/USA | R

33 - Luc Mbah a Moute (F) 6-foot-8, 230 pounds | 09/09/1986 | UCLA/Cameroon | 5 yrs

3 - Ray McCallum (G) 6-foot-3, 190 pounds | 06/12/1991 | Detroit/USA | R

16 - Ben McLemore (G) 6-foot-5, 195 pounds | 02/11/1993 | Kansas/USA | R

55 - Hamady Ndiaye (C) 7-foot, 235 pounds | 01/12/1987 | Rutgers/Senegal | 2 yrs

25 - Travis Outlaw (F) 6-foot-9, 207 pounds | 09/18/1984 | Starkville HS (MS)/USA | 10 yrs

9 - Patrick Patterson (F) 6-foot-9, 235 pounds | 03/14/1989 | Kentucky/USA | 3 yrs

5 - John Salmons (F-G) 6-foot-6, 207 pounds | 12/12/1979 | Miami (Fla.)/USA | 11 yrs

22 - Isaiah Thomas (G) 5-foot-9, 185 pounds | 02/07/1989 | Washington/USA | 2 yrs

34 - Jason Thompson (F-C) 6-foot-11, 250 pounds | 07/21/1986 | Rider/USA | 5 yrs

23 - Marcus Thornton (G) 6-foot-4, 205 pounds | 06/05/1987 | Louisiana State/USA | 4 yrs

10 - Greivis Vasquez (G) 6-foot-6, 211 pounds | 01/16/1987 | Maryland/Venezuela | 3 yrs

Corliss Williamson (College – Arkansas)

Assistant Coach/Director of Player Development: Dee Brown (College - Jacksonville)

Assistant Coach/Assistant Director of Player Development: Ryan Bowen (College – Iowa)

Director of Sports Medicine: Pete Youngman (College - Ithaca)

Head Athletic Trainer: Manny Romero (College - Loyola Marymount)

Director of Athletic Performance: Chip Schaefer (College – Utah)

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Kings 2013-14 Training Camp Roster

The newly-hired Kings Director of Athletic Performance dishes on his excitement about joining Sacramento, working with Hall of Famers including Michael Jordan and much more.

From Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on the six-time NBA champion Chicago Bulls to Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant on title-winning L.A. Lakers squads, veteran athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach Robert "Chip" Schaefer has worked with many of the game's biggest stars.

In addition to familiarity and long-held respect for Kings Director of Sports Medicine Pete Youngman and Head Athletic Trainer Manny Romero, Schaefer chose to bring his 25 years of basketball experience to the new-era Kings to contribute to a winning culture.

"I think this is an opportunity (in which) the organization is going through a renaissance period," he says. "To be part of building something with new ownership, new management, new coaches – new everything – was very, very exciting and made it very attractive to me."

In a recent Q&amp;A with Kings.com, Schaefer – whose role as Director of Athletic Performance includes design and implementation of strength and conditioning programs, as well as assisting with injury prevention and health maintenance – evaluates the team's roster, reflects on working with numerous Hall of Famers and much more.

How did you first get started in the athletic training field?

"When I started college, I thought I wanted to go into teaching and coaching. There was a very popular television show back in the '70s called 'The White Shadow,' which was ironically about an ex-Chicago Bull who had a career-ending injury and found himself out in Los Angeles teaching life lessons though basketball and coaching. I thought that's what I wanted to do. Part of the curriculum at the University of Utah – where I did my undergrad – was an introductory course in athletic training – basic ankle-taping and injury evaluation. Just from that one course, I thought, 'This is it – this is what I want to do. I love this.' I enjoy helping people, I enjoy the sports science and the medical side, so it was just a natural fit.

"I've been an athletic trainer, as well as a strength and conditioning coach over the last three decades. I've always been passionate about exercise and the performance aspect of (sports)."

The NBA teams you've been a part of have won 11 titles in 20 seasons. How would your characterize your career to date?

"(The words) 'blessed' (and) 'privileged' come to mind. Just working with very, very talented people – I didn't do anything to deserve it. Life takes twists and turns, and sometimes they're fortunate and you find yourself in an opportunity that becomes available.

"Twenty-three years ago, I was the head athletic trainer at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and the head athletic trainer job with the Chicago Bulls came up – things just sort of fell into place ... I had the good fortune that Summer League at that time was being held at Loyola Marymount, so the Bulls sent their team out there, along with (Head Coach) Phil (Jackson) and the coaching staff. They didn't have an athletic trainer, so they asked me to cover the team. A big door opened up for me, and I decided to perform over that two-week span.

"I had the chance to go home – literally home. The Bulls practiced in the town of Deerfield, just north of Chicago – I graduated from Deerfield High School and grew up in that town. It was really a wonderful opportunity to go home to my family and friends.

"After eight really successful years with the team there, I decided to move back to Southern California … six months later, where does Phil Jackson land? He lands back in Southern California! Sometimes life takes these interesting twists and turns. I just had great fortune.

"I was blessed to bear witness to the success of a few franchises over a 20-year span. Over 20 seasons, (we) went to the Playoffs 19 times, the Finals 13 times and won 11 championships. I was able to be a small part of it, which (was) a real privilege."

You've worked with numerous Hall of Famers. Who are some players you've enjoyed working with throughout your career?

"I can count on one hand the number (out of) the hundreds I maybe haven't enjoyed working with – I've really enjoyed them all. Life is a rich tapestry and a tapestry is made up of all different personalities, from the really outgoing and verbose, to the more quiet, introspective personalities. The two teams I've worked with in the past, the rosters were full of people who are mature, hard-working and disciplined, who don't need to be motived externally. That always made my job really easy, whether it was trying to help a guy rehab an injury or trying to take his strength to the next level."

What comes to mind when you reflect on your time working with Michael Jordan?

"It's hard to pinpoint just one story – obviously so many are well-documented from when he played sick or injured. Both Michael and Kobe (Bryant) just love to compete and their determination is unbelievable.

"(The Bulls) had a back-to-back situation where the first game was in Portland and the second game was in Sacramento (during the 1991-92 season). The first night in Portland, Michael pump-faked under the basket, and Buck Williams bit on the pump-fake and came down on top of him. As a result, Michael suffered a pretty severe low back strain. After the game, he just locked up – he couldn't move. He was so immobile, he couldn't shower – he stayed in his uniform.

"I treated him on the flight, all through the night and the next day. He was just determined to play – he loved playing against Mitch Richmond. He also had a tremendous sense of obligation to fans and to not disappoint them. He played a terrific game that night – (30 points on 13-for-21 from the field) – and it's just one of many, many examples where his determination to play came out and he wasn't going to be denied."

How will your prior experience help with your role in Sacramento?

"What I hope is – whether I deserve it or not – at least in the beginning, I'll come in with some credibility. But I'll be judged critically here, as well … I have to produce like I would anywhere else.

"I do think (my experience) helps a little bit. Most of these guys are students of the history of the game. (They'll) appreciate, I think, whatever experiences I have to share, and hopefully, on some level, it can help in their development, as well. (When) you do something for 20 years, you have a head full of experiences, so if there's a situation where I can maybe recall with one of the players, 'Oh, I went through a similar thing with Horace Grant in '93 and here's what we did to get him back and improve,' that's something the player may react to, as opposed to someone … (who's) new to the NBA.

"One of the things that's helped me a lot is my M.A. is actually in counseling, and I've raised two people into adulthood. Even spending a year-and-a-half with college athletes (at the University of California, Santa Barbara), I think in its own way helped me a lot. I like to develop the appropriate kinds of relationships with players where they trust me and feel they can come to me if they have issues.

"(I hope to) provide a nice place where they feel they can come and get their work done, and (feel) whatever it is we're doing together is going to help not only prolong their careers, but keep them healthy and on the court all year, work hard in practice every day and be successful."

What have been your impressions of the talent and work ethic of Kings players?

"I'm just in Week 1 – literally my third day here – and there have been a lot of guys who've shown up to work this week. I was just saying earlier, I can't recall in 20-plus years, seeing this many guys come in and work this hard, this much before the start of training camp. I think it bodes really well, and I think people are very anxious to work with (Head) Coach (Michael) Malone and his coaching staff and hopefully with me, as well, in my particular area."

"I've obviously seen a number of these guys over the last several years. I can even remember DeMarcus Cousins in his rookie year and you could just see the talent was there. We had Isaiah (Thomas) in for a pre-Draft workout (with the Lakers) – I remember being really impressed with his athleticism. I've had the pleasure of working with Carl Landry over the last couple of days … I remember he and Chuck Hayes a couple of years ago really gave us fits when they were in Houston. They took us to seven games in the second round (of the 2009 Playoffs) – they really battled and had a lot of toughness, and hopefully that'll transcend to the younger players. I remember having John Salmons in for a pre-Draft workout and being impressed with him – (I've followed) his career. So I think you have a (mix) of some veteran players and some youth and athleticism.

"Rome wasn't built in a day. People talk about cultural changes and hopefully those things are going to take place very quickly. I can tell already from the effort and energy this team is going to be a much-improved, terrific defensive team (which will) get stops and compete on every possession – you can already see it even after three days of voluntary workouts. It's a long way to get to the top, but you have to start with a single step, and I think those things will start happening the first day of training camp."

How would you characterize your day-to-day responsibilities during the season?

"I think health is always first and foremost. (I'll be) working in conjunction with Manny, Pete and the team doctors, always trying to stay on top of whatever health issues a player may have and addressing those things with integrative programs that involve what we call prehabilitative exercises – stretching, isolated strengthening and things like that – as well as some performance-enhancement work that will take place before and after practice. I know Coach Malone will want me to warm up and activate the team before practice every day.

"I don't have a problem with players who like to do their training before or after practice … I'm easy either way on that. Then, (my role includes) however else I can fit in, (such as) sharing experiences from the past."

Do you prepare workout programs tailored to each player's specific needs?

"I think it's very important that programs are individualized – (players) have individual needs (and) individual health backgrounds. First and foremost, we want people moving well. You'd often equate it to a car that has a bad alignment – you drive 1,000 miles, you're going to make those problems even worse. So we want to make sure the body is functioning and movement is fluid and efficient. After that, we can start working on the higher-level performance (areas).

"There are going to be very individual needs, so you may have 13, 14, 15 different programs completely. With some players, it might be more of a fitness thing (where) they're trying to increase their endurance and their ability to keep making hard efforts throughout the game … it may have nothing to do with increasing their bench press (but) has to do with their metabolic output. Maybe someone else on the roster does need to gain 15 or 20 pounds of lean mass – they would be on a program where we'd be focusing on their diet and the appropriate type of strength training to make those increases.

"The other thing is communicating on a daily basis with Coach Malone and the coaching staff, where they may see certain physical deficiencies in a player. They may come and say, 'We notice so-and-so isn't moving laterally very well – can we do anything about it?' Then, I can start targeting those specific needs. On top of that, I like to think after a couple of decades of this, I have a pretty educated eye, too, and I can see where people are deficient."

How important is rest and recovery with the demands of an NBA schedule?

"There aren't many things that are more important, especially with players who are playing heavy minutes. That rest, recovery and regeneration start the minute the game ends.

"(Management) is done through working with the coaching staff (on) scheduling of shootarounds and practices to allow players time to rest and recover. It's our job to rehydrate them, provide the appropriate nutrients to replenish depleted muscle glycogen stores, as well as make sure they get plenty of macro and micronutrients to keep their immune systems strong. The best way to do that is through a healthy diet that's full of nutrient-dense foods that provide all those things and allow for the tissue to recover and regenerate."

What kind of food and supplements do you typically recommend?

"I like to see players focus on lean protein choices, whether it's chicken, turkey, fish or lean cuts of beef. When it comes to carbohydrates, I prefer they go with whole grain to get the benefits of those nutrients. Then, of course, a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables that provides all the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that keep the immune system strong.

"I think in terms of supplements, we'll always provide extra protein supplements for guys after practice and after games. There's sort of a nutrient window I believe in – that first 15 to 30 minutes after the end of activity where a lot of the research has shown the body is really receptive to taking those nutrients. We'll obviously provide good multivitamin sources for guys. A lot of the protein supplements provide all the vitamins and minerals that are necessary, as well."

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Kings Q&A: Chip Schaefer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Sacramento Kings today announced an early release of individual-game tickets for 34 contests at Sleep Train Arena during the upcoming 2013-14 season, set to go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. The remaining 10 games will be available for purchase on Oct. 10.

Fans can purchase tickets by visiting the Kings box office, logging on to Kings.com/tickets, or by calling 888-91-KINGS to speak with a ticket sales representative.

Typically not released until October, early availability of individual-game tickets for 34 games allows fans an opportunity to witness the new-look Kings in marquee matchups against many of the league’s brightest young stars and championship-caliber teams. The on sale includes more than 25,000 value-priced seats starting at just $10 each.

Thanks to strong support from the Kings fan base spurring a robust and consistently enthusiastic demand for full season tickets, Sacramento continues to rank No. 1 in the NBA in new season ticket sales. As a result of this unprecedented interest, supply of individual game tickets in certain locations will be very limited. Fans looking to secure any of these 34 games and the additional top-10 contests slated for release on Oct. 10 are encouraged to place a $150 deposit for a newly-released partial season plan.

Tuesday’s early release of 34 regular season games offers fans a chance to see DeMarcus Cousins, Isaiah Thomas and all their returning favorites together for the first time with offseason acquisitions Greivis Vasquez, Luc Mbah a Moute and Carl Landry. Additionally, three exhibition preseason contests at Sleep Train Arena will also be available, providing Kings faithful a look at rookies Ben McLemore and Ray McCallum as they prepare for Opening Night on Oct. 30.

For more information about individual-game tickets, partial season plans or how to ensure priority seating in the new Downtown arena by becoming a full season ticket holder, fans can visit Kings.com/tickets or call 888-91-KINGS today.

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2013-14 Kings Individual-Game Tickets on Sale Tuesday

--Team will play eight of its first 10 games at Sleep Train Arena, including Blackout Season Opener vs. Denver--

SACRAMENTO, CA ---- The Sacramento Kings will begin the 2013-14 regular season with a Blackout Home Opener when they play host to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, Oct. 30, marking just the second instance in the last 10 seasons in which the Kings will commence a season in Sacramento. The team's schedule features eight of the first 10 contests at Sleep Train Arena, including outings versus the L.A. Clippers (Friday, Nov. 1), Atlanta Hawks (Tuesday, Nov. 5) and Brooklyn Nets (Wednesday, Nov. 13).

Sacramento will be featured on national TV six times during the 2013-14 campaign, including an ESPN broadcast originating from Sleep Train Arena when the Kings take on the Detroit Pistons on Friday, Nov. 15. The team also makes five appearances on NBA TV, highlighted by three outings from Sleep Train Arena, including a contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, Jan. 12 and a pair of tilts versus the New Orleans Hornets on Monday, Dec. 23 and again on Monday, March 3. Sacramento also plays to a national audience on the road when they battle the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, Nov. 8 from the Rose Garden and at Madison Square Garden versus the New York Knicks on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

In addition to the abovementioned contests during Sacramento's opening home stand, notable teams making early-season appearances at Sleep Train Arena include the Golden State Warriors (Sunday, Dec. 1), Oklahoma City Thunder (Tuesday, Dec. 3), Los Angeles Lakers (Friday, Dec. 6) and Houston Rockets (Sunday, Dec. 15).

The back-to-back defending NBA Champion Miami Heat visit Northern California for their lone stop at Sleep Train Arena on Friday, Dec. 27.

April 16 marks Fan Appreciation Night at Sleep Train Arena as the Kings welcome the Phoenix Suns to Sacramento for the pair's regular season finale.

Fans looking to secure a seat this season and establish priority for the new downtown arena are encouraged to call 888-91-KINGS or visit Kings.com/tickets for plans starting at just $15 per game. Launched yesterday, the team's "SacramenTENS Assist" campaign ensures that 10 percent of all season ticket sales through Oct. 10 are donated to one of 10 local charities. The Kings currently rank No.1 in the NBA in new season ticket sales, with great seats still remaining.

KEY FACTS ABOUT THE SACRAMENTO KINGS 2013-14 SCHEDULE

By month, the schedule breaks down as follows:  October (1 home, 0 away = 1 total), November (8 home, 5 away = 13 total), December (8 home, 8 away = 16 total), January (8 home, 8 away = 16 total), February (5 home, 7 away = 12 total), March (6 home, 10 away = 16 total), April (5 home, 3 away = 8 total).

By day, the schedule breaks down as follows: Monday (4 home, 2 away = 6 total), Tuesday (7 home, 6 away = 13 total), Wednesday (9 home, 8 away = 17 total), Thursday (1 home, 0 away = 1 total), Friday (8 home, 10 away = 18 total), Saturday (4 home, 8 away = 12 total), Sunday (8 home, 7 away = 15 total).

The Kings longest homestand is five games on two occasions (Saturday, Nov. 9 thru Tuesday, Nov. 19) and (Thursday, Jan. 2 thru Sunday, Jan. 12).

Sacramento embarks on six road trips of three or more games in length—the longest is a seven-game, 12-day sojourn with stops in Milwaukee (Wednesday, March 5), Toronto (Friday, March 7), Brooklyn (Sunday, March 9), Detroit (Tuesday, March 11), Philadelphia (Wednesday, March 12), Chicago (Saturday, March 15) and concluding in Minnesota (Sunday, March 16). The team also departs for a six-game journey from Tuesday, Jan. 14 thru Wednesday, Jan. 22, with tilts against Indiana, Minnesota, Memphis, Oklahoma City, New Orleans and Houston.

Of the 19 sets of back-to-back games, 10 are of the away-away variety, three are away-home and six represent the home-away category.

Sacramento will host six Sunday afternoon games with a start time of 3 p.m. versus Memphis (Nov. 17), Golden State (Dec. 1), Houston (Dec. 15), Cleveland (Jan. 12), Milwaukee (March 23) and Dallas (April 6).

The Kings 41-game home schedule features 20 weekend contests (Friday, Saturday &amp; Sunday affairs).

Sacramento defeated the Golden State Warriors 94-92 in last year's season opener at Sleep Train Arena—marking the seventh consecutive win in a home opener dating back to the 2006-07 campaign.

Sacramento took an 93-87 loss to the Chicago Bulls in last year's road/season opener at the United Center on Halloween night.

The Kings have played Denver in the season opener just once during the Sacramento-era, when Wayman Tisdale (21 points) and Lionel Simmons (16 points, 10 rebounds) helped defeat the Nuggets 109-100 on Nov. 5, 1993.

2013‑14 Season

JT’s Blog: New Season, New Focus

Sacramento Kings Put Top-10 Games on Sale Thursday

Kings 2013-14 Training Camp Roster

Kings Q&A: Chip Schaefer

2013-14 Kings Individual-Game Tickets on Sale Tuesday

Kings to Open 2013-14 Season at Home