Kings Guard Gaming to Host “Play with the Pros” Matchups with Stockton Kings Players, Local Social Media Influencers and Fans

Today, Kings Guard Gaming announced a new activation called “Play With the Pros” – a series of NBA 2K20 games with teams comprised of King Guard players, Stockton Kings players, local social media influencers or fans. The first matchup will take place tonight, Wednesday, April 15, featuring Kings Guard’s guard Waseem “Seemo” Talbert taking on Stockton Kings guard Cody Demps at 6 p.m. PT. Fans can catch the games onTwitch.tv/KingsGuardGG.

“The entire Kings organization is committed to staying connected with our community during this time of social distancing,” said Sacramento Kings President of Business Operations John Rinehart. “The Kings Guard Gaming players are looking forward to interacting in a new way with fans, the Stockton Kings and social media influencers while providing exciting, live-action for everyone to watch.”

In a first for an NBA 2K team affiliate, this effort follows a similar format as the recent NBA 2K League’s “Three for All” Showdown tournament which featured fan-formed teams, G League players, WNBA players, NFL players, top female 2K players and NBA 2K League players. “Play With the Pros” games will take place every Wednesday and Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. PT through the end of April – with matchups being announced at noon ahead of the scrimmage. Fans interested in participating should have either an Xbox or PlayStation, the NBA 2K20 game and the ability to play online, follow @KingsGuardGG on Twitter and Instagram and sign-up on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

This effort is the latest in the Kings organization-wide “In This Together” initiative to use their platform for social good and spread acts of kindness – or “Kings-ness” – through efforts that support, uplift, entertain and educate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent highlights from this initiative include:

• Sacramento Kings guard Cory Joseph and his family’s donation of face shields through Operation Canadian Shield to help protect thousands of frontline workers in hospitals that provide care for COVID-19 patients in his native city of Toronto, Ontario. This donation was made in collaboration with fellow Canadian and Kings chief of staff and assistant coach Roy Rana, Frontier, Sunnybrook Foundation and University Health Network.
• Kings forward Harry Giles’ special invitation to Sophie, the little girl whose reaction to the NBA’s postponement of the team’s March 11 game against the New Orleans Pelicans, with a special video message inviting her and her younger brother to a future Kings game.
• Teammates Harrison Barnes, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Aaron Fox and Richaun Holmes joint donation of more than 1,000 meals to families and children while supporting local restaurants.
• Partnership between players Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nemanja Bjelica and General Manager Vlade Divac’s foundation to fund the purchaseof ventilators, masks and supplies to support hospitals and medical institutions that are providing critical care and trauma services in their native Serbia.
• The organization’s announcement earlier this month that the team’s former arena in Natomas will serve as a surge field hospital to provide care for mild to moderate COVID-positive patients, along with the Sacramento Kings Foundation’s donation of $25,000 to area community organizations providing food services and relief and 100,000 medical-grade masks to state and local hospitals and healthcare institutions with a shortage of supplies.
• Kings and Legends Hospitality donation of nearly 5,000 pounds of prepared and perishable food to the Sacramento Food Bank and the Sacramento County Office of Education to help feed individuals in need and families impacted by school closures.
• Ongoing interactive and educational efforts using social media, including player Q&As, exercise videos and basketball skill drills,healthy tips and more.

To learn more, visit Kings.com/Together.

For more information or to keep up on the latest Kings Guard Gaming news, visit KingsGuard.gg or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook – @KingsGuardGG.