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The Los Angeles Lakers will be getting some extra reps this summer as the Sacramento King announced they will be hosting inaugural California Classic Summer League at Golden 1 Center starting on July 2 and the Lakers will be participating.
Along with the Lakers, the four-game tournament will feature the Golden State Warriors, the Miami Heat and the host city’s Kings. This tournament will be one of three Summer League tournaments this year along with the Utah Summer League and the Las Vegas Summer League, which all 30 teams will participate in for the first time in league history.
The Lakers will look to defend their Las Vegas Summer League title, but they’ll also try and be the first ever California Classic champions. However, they’ll be missing a few key players from their title run last summer.
Both Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma have been ruled out of this year’s Summer League by Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson while Josh Hart and Thomas Bryant are expected to play. The Lakers’ Summer League roster will also likely feature whoever the team picks in the draft with the No. 25 and No. 47 picks.
Tickets for the California Classic will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, May 17.
It’s not going to be easy, but there’s at least a possibility the Lakers will win two of the three Summer League championships this season. Do they hang banners for those at STAPLES Center?