The new-look Los Angeles Clippers will hold a week-long training camp in Honolulu and play the Sydney Kings of Australia in a Sept. 30 exhibition game at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The training camp will run Sept. 24-30 at the University of Hawaii. Unlike the Clippers’ inaugural appearance in 2017, which drew more than 16,000 over two dates, it will involve just a single game, the Clippers Hawai‘i Classic, which will tip off at 3:30 p.m, the team and sponsoring Hawaii Tourism Authority announced Tuesday.
Prime Ticket and FOX Sports San Diego are scheduled to air the game.
“A week in Hawaii is the perfect way for the Clippers, our fans and our partners to start the season and it’s wonderful for the entire Clippers family to be able to make a difference in the local community while preparing for the season,” said Gillian Zucker, Clippers’ President of Business Operations, in a release.
“The Hawaiian Islands are a favorite destination for travelers from Southern California and Australia, so this matchup against the Sydney Kings gives us an opportunity to expand our reach to potential travelers in two of our key source markets,” said George D. Szigeti, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Under terms of the contract, HTA expects to spend about $720,000 in a deal that includes signage at all Clippers home games, media spots and a “Hawaii Night” at the Staples Center. UH earned approximately $197,000 from hosting last year.
It figures to be a vastly different Clippers team than appeared here last fall. Free agency begins Saturday night and the Clippers have said they expect to be active and also explore possible trades.
Blake Griffin was traded to the Detroit Pistons in January and guard Austin Rivers was traded Tuesday to Washington for center Marcin Gortat.
Center DeAndre Jordan has a Friday deadline by which to decide whether to become a free agent or opt in on next season’s $24 million contract.
The Clippers selected guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Kentucky) and Jerome Robinson (Boston College) with the 11th and 13th overall picks in last week’s NBA Draft.
The Kings play in the professional National Basketball League comprising Australia and New Zealand. Seven-foot center Andrew Bogut, an Australia native who spent 13 seasons in the NBA, is on the Kings roster, as is Dane Pineau, a son of former UH player Brad Pineau (1979-82).
Ticket sales information as well as full details of public and community events will be announced later this summer, the Clippers said.
This year, the Clippers plan to visit and make a technology-based donation to a local school and hold a special event teaching young fans the fundamentals of basketball, a statement said.
