After a strong run with the Stockton Kings in the 2022-23 season and a strong showing for the Kings Summer League squad in 2023, Sacramento signed Jordan Ford to a two-way contract last fall. The former Folsom High Bulldog appeared in just 6 games (and 22 total minutes) for the parent club, and ended up spending most of the 2023-24 season playing in Stockton, averaging 15.5 points and 4.2 assists on 49% shooting and 43% from deep in the G League regular season. Unfortunately, a hip injury kept Ford on the bench for the end of the G League season, where Stockton lost to the Oklahoma City Blue in the Western Conference Finals.
While Ford’s deep shooting ability makes him a logical fit for Sacramento as a reserve guard—he technically led the Kings in 3 point success (66.7% on 2/3 from deep on the season)—he only got on the floor for a handful of minutes in November and December, and Mike Brown went with the rest of the rotation to handle the guard minutes. Between Davion Mitchell, Keon Ellis, Chris Duarte, and Colby Jones, the Kings didn’t have the most season-long consistency from their reserve guards, but all (sans Duarte, but Brown clearly disagrees with me) made their case for more minutes ahead of Ford.
Ford’s future with his hometown squad is logically unclear. He seems an ideal guard to lead their G League squad, but the Sacramento Kings always had others higher up the depth chart. In addition to their 13th overall pick, the Kings also have the 45th pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft, and Monte McNair showed last summer that he’d prioritize selecting a 2nd round prospect (Jalen Slawson) who was willing to sign to a two-way contract over others who wanted guaranteed roster spots. We’ll have to see if the Kings have interest in bringing Ford back this summer.
