Marquel Sutton: Kings fans welcomed me with open arms
Marquel Sutton discusses his Sacramento Kings Summer League experience, earning fans' respect, embracing his role & showcasing his versatility.
Watch: Marquell Sutton says Kings fans 'are definitely one of the best fan bases' in basketball | 9 mins
Marquel Sutton wasn’t selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, but the Sacramento Kings Summer League forward has quickly made a name for himself with his energy, versatility, and relentless effort.
The 6-foot-8 forward joined Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas after an impressive showing with Sacramento.
Sutton, who transferred to LSU for his senior season after beginning his collegiate career at Omaha, averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Tigers before signing with the Kings following the draft.
His impact has carried over into Summer League. Through seven games between the California Classic and Las Vegas, Sutton has averaged 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.6 steals while shooting 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc.
Sutton said playing in front of Kings fans during the California Classic was one of the highlights of his young professional career.
“They welcomed us with open arms. This is definitely one of the best fan bases,” Sutton said. “The crowd was crazy. I love the fans, and I appreciate them for supporting us.”
Marquel Sutton beats the shot clock buzzer from deep šÆ
He’s got 14 PTS in the California Classic! pic.twitter.com/fpKlmDy6m7
ā NBA (@NBA) July 5, 2026
More on Marquel Sutton
Despite the excitement, Marquel Sutton admitted Summer League is a whirlwind. With only a handful of practices before games begin, building chemistry becomes just as important as learning the playbook.
“We play more games than we practice, to be honest,” he said. “It’s really just connection that we have off the court and also on the court.”
As an undrafted player fighting for an opportunity, Sutton knows exactly what the Kings coaching staff wants to see. Rather than chasing statistics, he’s focused on bringing consistent effort every time he steps on the floor.
“I feel like you’ve got to have a lot of energy. I bring a lot of energy, a lot of toughness, especially on the defensive side. I take pride in that.”
That mentality has helped him carve out a key role in Sacramento’s rotation. Sutton described himself as a player capable of impacting multiple areas of the game.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Marquel Sutton #10 of the LSU Tigers reacts against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
“I’m energetic. I’m definitely versatile. I can guard a lot of positions. I can score inside and out. I do whatever it takes to win.”
His lone season at LSU also helped prepare him for the next level. After primarily playing power forward earlier in his career, Sutton spent much of the year on the wing in the SEC, expanding his skill set.
“I definitely learned a lot about myself,” Sutton said. “Just learning to be on the perimeter more. I feel like it was definitely a great switch moving to the SEC.”
Be sure to check out the full interview with Marquel Sutton on the Sactown Sports YouTube pageĀ or theĀ Sactown Sports app.
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What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?
With Summer League in the rearview, the Sacramento Kings will head into the dog days of summer and the NBA offseason looking to stabilize its roster for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Will general manager Scott Perry make any more significant moves? How will this roster look come the start of training camp this fall?
Stay tuned into Sactown Sports all offseason long for Sacramento Kings updates, analysis, and much more.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings Offseason Schedule
- August TBD – 2026-27 NBA Schedule release
- Late September – NBA training camps begin
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Comments
1 Comments
Happy to see Sutton did good in the last game of SL. Pretty good stat line in 23 mins as the starter, efficient shooting to go with it....hope he can secure a two-way!
All the other starters were really good too and Lahkin played well in limited time off the bench. Was crossing my fingers Ralph could've done gotten a few more minutes and did a bit better...being that it was the final game of the summer. Don't know if he got enough of a chance to show what he can do, but hope Stockton can possibly give him a chance to make their team.