The Charlotte Hornets’ run through Las Vegas ended the way too many of their Summer League games did: with a loss, this time a 92-90 setback to the Sacramento Kings in Friday night’s consolation game.
Charlotte had to claw back from a 15-point hole and actually seized control in the fourth quarter. A Hannes Steinbach free throw put the Hornets ahead by six with 7:42 left, but Sacramento answered with a 6-0 burst to retake the edge.
The Hornets still had openings to tie it and even move in front late, but missed free throws from Tidjane Salaün and Michael Ajayi helped close the door. Charlotte finished at 71% from the line, while the Kings were better at 81%.
Emanuel Sharp led Sacramento with 16 points, and he was one of six Kings to score in double figures as they avenged last year’s Summer League title-game loss to Charlotte.
The Kings came out sharper from the start, building a 12-point lead after the opening quarter. Their defense made life miserable for the Hornets all night, holding Charlotte to 18.5% shooting from three and 41% overall from the field.
Even in defeat, Charlotte had some bright spots. Four Hornets reached double figures, and Steinbach was the biggest one.
The 2026 No. 14 pick opened fast, scoring nine of Charlotte’s first 11 points, and finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds. It was his third double-double of tournament play and his second straight.
Christian Anderson also turned in his best showing of the summer. After a rough stretch, the 2026 No. 18 pick responded with 18 points, eight assists and four rebounds while keeping his turnovers down to two.
Salaün added 18 points, Wyatt Fricks scored 11, and Ajayi nearly posted a double-double with nine points and rebounds, plus four assists.
Charlotte went 1-4 in Las Vegas and dropped its final four games. The Hornets’ only win came against Orlando in their first game of the event last week. Sacramento finished Summer League play at 2-3.
In Other News...
Hornets Just Made A Defining Coby White Decision
The Hornets spent the offseason reshaping the roster, but one of their clearest moves came with Coby White. Charlotte re-signed the guard and, in the process, signaled that he was part of the plan regardless of how the rest of the backcourt picture shook out. President of basketball operations and general manager Jeff Peterson said White was a priority signing independent of LaMelo Balls status, a notable detail given how much the team has changed around him.
With Ball now gone to Minnesota, White is positioned to step into a larger role as Charlotte sorts through the rest of its new-look lineup. Petersons comments suggest the Hornets viewed White as more than a fallback option, and that the front office would have pursued the move with or without the trade that altered the depth chart. For a team that made several trades and draft picks this summer, keeping White in place looks like one of the decisions that will define the next phase. [Read more 🡒]
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McNeeley spent time handling more of the offense, James worked through facilitation duties, and Kalkbrenner was used in ways that tested his ability to create from the post while bringing more force around the rim. Hannes Steinbach and Tidjane Salaun were also part of the mix, with Steinbach leaning into physical play and Salaun focused on defensive execution, while undrafted signee Michael Ajayi gave the Hornets another promising look with his defensive versatility. The challenge now is turning those flashes into something more defined before the summer closes. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Rookies Ended Summer League With Hope For One And Questions For Another
Hannes kept giving Charlotte a reason to feel better about its rookie class in Las Vegas, finishing Summer League with another strong showing that underscored why the Hornets have been intrigued by his blend of size, touch and physicality. He has been steady enough all week to stack productive nights, and his latest effort only reinforced the idea that he can impact a game in more than one way.
Anderson, meanwhile, showed flashes of the playmaking that made him worth watching, putting together a useful scoring and assist line in the finale. The issue for Charlotte is still the same one it has been tracking throughout Summer League: the production is there in spurts, but the efficiency has not consistently followed, leaving the Hornets with a clearer read on his upside than on how quickly he can settle into a reliable role. [Read more 🡒]