Alex Karaban’s Summer League run ended on a high note

Alex Karaban’s performance in NBA Summer League got off to a forgettable start in Las Vegas, but the two-time NCAA champion finished on a high note that has Sacramento Kings fans feeling confident in what lies ahead.

Karaban, the 29th pick in June’s 2026 NBA Draft, missed the California Classic in Sacramento due to spraining his ankle in practice during the days leading up to the July 4th weekend showcase, but recovered in time to suit up in Vegas.

Joining forces with seventh overall pick Darius Acuff Jr. and 45th pick Emanuel Sharp, with now-sophomore-talents Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud, and Dylan Cardwell, Karaban got a chance to get to know his new teammates during his week of Summer League action.

While the numbers don’t jump off the page, Karaban’s finish to the week helped patch up a rough opening, one that Sacramento hopes will translate to the regular season come this fall.

Here’s a look at how Alex Karaban performed at Las Vegas Summer League.

Alex Karaban, the 29th overall pick, led the Kings in scoring tonight at @NBASummerLeague!

21 PTS (team-high)
8 REB
5 3PM (game-high) pic.twitter.com/sPLNUwxOlp

— NBA (@NBA) July 16, 2026

NBA Summer League Recap: Alex Karaban

Sacramento was high on Alex Karaban in the weeks leading up to last month’s NBA Draft, and Perry felt it was necessary to trade up from 34th to select the UConn product at 29th.

Karaban missed the entire California Classic due to an ankle injury, but returned to debut in Las Vegas.

The two-time NCAA champion struggled out of the gates, but put together an impressive performance during Wednesday’s game against Boston, scoring 21 points and grabbing eight boards while shooting five-of-seven from three-point land.

Two days later, Karaban scored 14 points on six-of-12 shooting from the field, raising his average to 8.4 points over his five games played.

You could tell that Karaban felt more comfortable as the week unfolded, especially once he had the ball in his hand more and was able to initiate some of his own offense.

Against Boston, the rookie put on a show from beyond the arc, giving fans a glimpse of what it could look like during the regular season when Acuff and Domantas Sabonis, the likely table-setters on offense, have a shooter like Karaban to feed on kick-outs.

Alex Karaban had his best performance of Summer League tonight.

He had a team-high 21 pts (5/7 3P) in 26 mins. Said he’s been “getting more comfortable.”

“I’ve got to let it fly… it’s been an adjustment for me with the pace of the game, the athleticism.” pic.twitter.com/yGkS6azROF

— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) July 16, 2026

During his time in Vegas, Karaban averaged 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.4 steals per game while shooting 38 percent from the field and 33 percent from downtown.

Karaban finished his Summer League on a high note, and you can see why Perry likes the idea of having the 6’8 forward on the roster.

Defense, like many players on the Kings, will be an area to keep an eye on, but Alex Karaban provides Sacramento with another floor-spacer, one who also possesses plenty of experience in winning environments–something that Perry appeared to prioritize by selecting three rookies that played under legendary coaches at winning programs.

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What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?

The start of the 2026-27 season is quickly approaching for Alex Karaban and the Sacramento Kings.

Sacramento will begin training camp in late September as they prepare to begin preseason play on Monday, October 5th when they face Luka Doncic and the new-look Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center.

Be sure to stay tuned into Sactown Sports all offseason for roster updates, schedule announcements, analysis, and much more.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings Offseason Schedule

• August TBD – 2026-27 NBA Schedule release
• Late September – NBA training camps begin

Sacramento Kings 2026-27 Preseason Schedule

• Monday, October 5th vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7 P.M. PST)
• Thursday, October 8th @ Los Angeles Lakers (7:30 P.M. PST)
• Saturday, October 10th @ Golden State Warriors (5:30 P.M. PST)
• Tuesday, October 13th vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7:00 P.M. PST)
• Friday, October 16th @ San Antonio Spurs (7:00 P.M. PST)

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