ESPN

Kenneth Reprado

Beginning on Tuesday, August 2, ESPN will carry the 3rd Annual California Classic starting at 5pm PST when the Los Angeles Lakers play the Miami Heat at Golden 1 Center. Tuesday’s coverage concludes at 8pm PST when the Sacramento Kings face off with the Golden State Warriors. Radio coverage of the Kings game will be provided by KHTK Sports 1140.

Featuring the No. 9 overall pick Davion Mitchell, No. 39 overall pick Neemias Queta, Robert Woodard II, Louis King, and Jahmi’us Ramsey, catch your first glimpse of the 2021-2022 Kings in Sacramento before the new season tips off!

Finally, on Wednesday, August 4, catch both games from Golden 1 Center on ESPNU starting with the Heat taking on the Warriors at 5pm PST. Coverage of the California Classic concludes with the Kings matching up with the Lakers at 8pm PST. The final game will also be aired on NBCSN.

California Classic will also feature a 45-minute post-game concert from two-time GRAMMY® award winner, Shaggy after the games on August 3. At intermission on each day, world-renown DJ Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys will perform.

Get tickets to the California Classic starting at $19 here.

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California Classic to Be Televised on ESPN

Jordan Ramirez

The Rookie of the Year race is coming down to the wire.

In a ranking of the top rookies based on future star potential, ESPN listed Haliburton as one of the best.

"I've been a Haliburton believer since his unheralded freshman season at Iowa State," explained Kevin Pelton. "And yet his NBA performance has still blown me away in terms of his accuracy as a shooter and ability to create problems for defenses in the pick-and-roll game -- two perceived weaknesses entering the draft."

Haliburton is coming off a win over Dallas, registering a double double starting in place of De'Aaron Fox.

Pelton ranked Haliburton as his second-highest rookie based on future potential, while Mike Schmitz had No. 0 as his third-highest ranked rookie.

"The fit with De'Aaron Fox is perfect," writes Mike Schmitz. "And I've heard nothing but rave reviews about how quickly Haliburton was able to change the culture in Sacramento with his intangibles and magnetic personality."

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Haliburton Named 'Future Star' by ESPN

It's no secret that De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton are a dynamic duo.

De'Aaron Fox is still only 23-years-old while Tyrese Haliburton is just 21-years-old.

This week, ESPN released their annual rankings of the NBA's best 25 under 25, a list compiling the top young talent in the Association.

Coming in at No. 6 — ahead of players such as Ben Simmons, Devin Booker and Bam Adebayo — was Fox.

"Fox is one of only seven players in the NBA averaging at least 24 points and 7 assists per game as the leader of a Kings franchise that finally appears headed in the right direction," wrote Mike Schmitz.

"As I outlined last year, the game has slowed down for Fox — he's striking that balance between using his blazing speed and taking what the defense gives him. Once he can get his 3-ball above league average, Fox will be close to unguardable."

"The No. 2 player in my projections for the 2020 draft has lived up to that billing despite sliding to 12th on draft night," said Kevin Pelton of Haliburton, who comes in at No. 21 on the list.

"Haliburton has exceeded expectations with his knockdown outside shooting (42% from 3-point range) and ability to create out of the pick-and-roll — areas that were supposedly concerns."

No. 0 made his debut on the list ahead of players such as John Collins, Lonzo Ball and Collin Sexton.

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ESPN Ranks Fox, Haliburton as Top 25 Under 25

"If it was one thing, it was definitely my free throws," explained De'Aaron Fox.

"Knowing the rate I get to the line at, just knowing if I shot free throws at a higher rate, obviously my scoring would go up and put my team in better positions to win."

Fox is in the midst of another breakout season, finishing the best month of his career with averages of 29.3 points and 6.6 assists on 52 percent shooting.

No. 5 explained why free throws have been just one key factor in his recent surge in scoring.

"We end practices making free throws, making a certain amount in a row. After [Kings Director, Player Development &amp; Assistant Coach Rico Hines] do that, we do two swishes, if I end up missing one that adds a swish at the end of the free throws."

Watch the full interview with Swipa to hear his thoughts on Sacramento's playoff push, his relationship with Tyrese Haliburton and much more.

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De'Aaron Fox Drops By ESPN's The Jump

The reigning Western Conference Player of the Week is making his case for NBA stardom.

Fox's recent play has caught the attention of major basketball pundits, including NBA champion Kendrick Perkins.

During Sacramento's five-game winning streak, Fox has averaged 34.2 points and 5.4 assists on 61.7 percent shooting from the field. Swipa's play has him firmly in the discussion for Western Conference Player of the Month.

Fox is the first Kings player to win Western Conference Player of the Week multiple times in the same season since DeMarcus Cousins in the 2015-16 season.

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Perkins: Fox 'Arguably Playing the Best Basketball' in the NBA

Before the All-Star Game in February, NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson said that De'Aaron Fox deserved to make the team.

Now — this time on ESPN's First Take — Magic Johnson is once again saying that Fox should have made the All-Star Game.

"De’Aaron Fox has exploded, he’s played great," Johnson said. "Matter of fact, I was hoping he would make the All-Star team this year, because he’s played great.”

In the month of March, Fox is averaging 27.7 points, 7.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game on on 48.7 percent shooting from the field.

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Magic Johnson: Fox Should've Been an All-Star

ESPN polled their group of NBA insiders to name the best dunkers for every franchise, with those three Kings being at the top of the list.

Ahead of the 2021 NBA Dunk Contest, Wallace earned 45.8% percent of the vote, Webber allotted 29.2 percent with Smith getting 25 percent.

"Wallace made two appearances in the contest, one as a member of the Kings in 2002," wrote Nick Friedell.

"He always had the hops to get people's attention, but it was the athleticism and ability to contort his body in different directions that created some impressive throwdowns through the years. Wallace's gift was being able to strike at any moment through the air, like his fast-break poster and twirl on Boštjan Nachbar."

Wallace is one of four Kings to participate in the contest, joined by Smith, Ben McLemore and Terry Tyler.

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Gerald Wallace Named Best Dunker in Sacramento History

“The turnaround might have been when two of our games got canceled," Fox explained to Zach Lowe.

"It would have been a back-to-back in Memphis because they had the COVID stuff and those two games got canceled, so we ended up staying home. We had a few extra days of practice, and since then it’s been on an uphill battle."

Swipa had plenty to say about Sacramento's recent winning streak on The Lowe Post this week.

“It’s been great, we’ve been playing well. Defensively, we got so much better. Offensively, I mean I think we were fine," continued No. 5.

"We were in a good place offensively, but defense, if you're giving 120-130 points, you’re not winning games. You’re not gonna win games in this league. After having those two days of extra practice, then we hit the East Coast for a trip. We’ve been well, we’ve been off really well.”

Sactown has won seven of their last nine games, while De'Aaron has won Western Conference Player of the Week and Tyrese Haliburton took home Western Conference Player of the Month.

"Like I said, after those two practices," Fox continued. "Guys have been defending, everybody’s been on one page as far as defense is concerned, and we’ve been able to get those stops when we need it.”