"There probably won't be a lot of playing time for second-year center Hassan Whiteside, but coach Keith Smart said now is the right time for Whiteside to return from the NBA Development League.

Whiteside was recalled from the Reno Bighorns on Friday and was inactive Saturday when the Kings hosted the Warriors. Whiteside had been assigned to the Bighorns on Jan. 1.

Smart said it is important that Whiteside start learning the new system the Kings are running. Whiteside was sent to the Bighorns with rookie Tyler Honeycutt four days before Smart replaced fired Paul Westphal.

"If there's an opportunity or a window to bring him up and he gets a chance to be on the floor, gets a chance to play, I don't want him to be completely in the dark," Smart said.

Whiteside averaged 7.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots in 18.9 minutes per game for the Bighorns. He started five of the 11 games he played in.

Whiteside said his time with Reno was beneficial because it allowed him to play when he might not have appeared in any games with the Kings."