By: Jacob Moreno

Sacramento Kings forward De’Andre Hunter had not played competitive basketball since Feb. 6, but you wouldn’t have figured that at Daskalakis Athletic Center on Thursday night.

The Philadelphia native played in the Danny Rumph Classic for the first time, suiting up for Rumph Center in the second game of Thursday’s slate. But Hunter, a seven-year NBA veteran, participated, not to stay in shape throughout the offseason, but to give back to the community that shaped him into who he is today.

“I [played] just because I grew up watching all the Rumph games,” Hunter said. “I used to see the NBA players come back and that’s the people I wanted to see. I know it’d be a lot of kids here, so I just try to pay that back.”

Poetically, Hunter competed against his former teammate Tyrese Martin, an Allentown, Pennsylvania native, who represented TBB. The two played for the Atlanta Hawks in the 2022-23 season and the way they traded buckets on Thursday night was reminiscent of old times.

“That’s my dog,” Hunter said. “We played ones all the time. In practice, we’d go against each other, so I know how good he is, you know what I could do so it’s just fun—it’s competition.”

Hunter initially struggled to find his footing, scoring seven points in the first half, but the final 20 minutes were a different story. He tallied 14 of his total 21 points in the second half, displaying the scoring ability that has defined his basketball career. 

The 28-year-old put on quite the show for his friends and family in attendance as Rumph Center defeated TBB 90-82. They’ll play in the winner’s circle on Friday and whether or not Hunter suits up, he was impressed with the atmosphere.

“It was a good game,” Hunter said. “It wasn’t no b*******, so it was fun.”

He grew up in Lawncrest, a Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood, and attended Friends’ Central School in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Hunter budded into a four-star recruit and thrived at Virginia for two years before the Hawks selected him fourth overall in 2019. 

The forward hasn’t had an opportunity to be close to home since joining the professional ranks. He played in Atlanta for five seasons before it dealt him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2024-25, who shipped him to the Kings on Feb. 1. So putting on for his hometown meant everything to him.

“I’m always representing,” Hunter said. “Philly always show love and support, so like I said, I just try to pay that back when I can.”