The Kings added two Ron Artest reunion dates Wednesday after announcing they will face the Houston Rockets twice in the exhibition season.
Artest's departure can't officially be recognized until today, but many fans already have circled the three regular-season games against the Rockets on the Kings' schedule.
The first of the Kings' eight exhibition games is in Portland, Ore., against the Trail Blazers on Oct. 7.
The Kings face Oklahoma City, formerly the Seattle SuperSonics, Oct. 10 at Arco Arena before traveling to Las Vegas to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 12.
The Kings have four home exhibitions, one of which is in Stockton. Sacramento faces the Los Angeles Clippers and their new star, Baron Davis, on Oct. 15 at Pacific's Spanos Center in a rematch of a 1988 exhibition game at the Stockton facility. The Clippers won that contest 125-115 in front of 2,817 fans.
The Kings held training camp at Spanos Center during the mid-1990s.
Mitch Germann, the Kings' vice president of business communications, said the organization is holding the game in Stockton because of the long-term relationship with Pacific and fans in that area. Germann said the Kings hope to return to Stockton in the future.
"We have a lot of support and a following in Stockton," Germann said.
The Kings follow the Stockton game with a trip to Houston to face the Rockets on Oct. 17. They close the exhibition season Oct. 23 by hosting the Rockets at Arco.
Artest's regular-season return to Arco is April 9 if the trade becomes official, as is expected today.
The Kings begin the regular season with a four-game trip that starts Oct. 29 at Minnesota.
Call The Bee's Melody Gutierrez, (916) 326-5521.
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