Kings News

Nocioni's DUI arrest extends Sacramento Kings' streak of bad news
Comment
November 6
Sacramento Bee
 
"The arrest of Sacramento Kings forward Andres Nocioni early Thursday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence is just the latest chapter in a three-year span of bad news and bad luck that have cast a shadow on the franchise. Nocioni, 29, was arrested by Sacramento police and booked into Sacramento County jail at 3:30 a.m., a posting on the jail's Web site shows. He was released Thursday morning on $1,482 bail and practiced with the team in the afternoon. "I want to apologize to Sacramento Kings owners, coaches, general manager, players, fans and especially my family," Nocioni said. "I have two kids so this is not a good example for my kids. I'm really sorry for what has ..."
Martin may be out 6-8 weeks
Comment
November 6
Sacramento Bee
 
"Kevin Martin leaned against the wall in the Kings' practice facility Thursday afternoon, still very much in shock, his damaged left wrist dangling at his side. Hours earlier, an MRI revealed that the league's third-leading scorer – and the Kings' best player – sustained a hairline fracture Monday night in a collision with the Memphis Grizzlies' Allen Iverson. Martin was presented with three options, all of them terrible: He can wear a soft cast and attempt to play, risking further injury and possibly a complete break. He can undergo surgery and have a screw inserted to stabilize the bone, with recovery projected at six to eight weeks. Or he can have the arm casted and hope that the wrist ..."
Kings forward Nocioni arrested on DUI
Comment
November 5
Sacramento Bee
 
"Sacramento Kings forward Andres Nocioni has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Nocioni, 29, was arrested by Sacramento Police and booked into Sacramento County Jail at 3:30 this morning, according to a Sacramento County Jail Web site. A Sacramento police spokesman said that at about 2 a.m. an officer noticed a motorist southbound on 15th Street near L Street whose vehicle was weaving within its lane. The officer stopped the car near Ninth and L streets."
Kings wilt in fourth quarter, fall to Atlanta
Comment
November 5
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Southern California sensibilities were not to be found. Kings coach and Torrance native Paul Westphal wasn't laid-back, easygoing or anywhere close to a SoCal state of mind as he stood at the postgame podium. He gave short answers, stood rigid and allowed long pauses before addressing a number of questions about his team's 113-105 loss to Atlanta at Arco Arena on Wednesday. No one else may expect much from his team, but he expected more. "I told them (in the locker room), 'If I didn't think they were any good, I wouldn't be upset,' " Westphal said. But he does. And he was. Facing a team considered by most to be the best of the rest in the Eastern Conference, the Kings faded late in a ..."
Kings sign guard-forward Udoka; Mason in trouble?
Comment
November 5
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Kings have signed guard-forward Ime Udoka to an undisclosed contract, team basketball president Geoff Petrie announced Wednesday afternoon. Udoka, 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, has played for four NBA teams in five seasons. He averaged 6.0 points and 1.0 assists in 227 career games with the Lakers (2003-04), Knicks (2005-06), Trail Blazers (2006-07 and Spurs (2007 to 2009)."
Hawks win on road again, knock off Kings 113-105
Comment
November 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"This could become a familiar formula for the Hawks this season, this multi-faceted offensive attack that keeps other teams guessing where the daggers are coming from next. One minute it's captain and All-Star Joe Johnson, the next it's sixth-man Jamal Crawford or Mike Bibby or Josh Smith and on and on. Were they to sprinkle a little defense in there somewhere, Hawks coach Mike Woodson would have to get as worked up as he did Wednesday night at Arco Arena, when the Hawks toyed with the Sacramento Kings before putting them away late for a 113-105 win. It was the second straight impressive road win for the Hawks (4-1), a team that struggled with games like these a year ago. Improved mental ..."
Martin questionable for tonight
Comment
November 4
Sacramento Bee
 
"After having the best game of his career in the Kings' home-opening win Monday, shooting guard Kevin Martin is questionable for tonight's game against Atlanta. Martin missed shoot-a-round with a swollen left (non-shooting) hand and will be a gametime decision. He injured the hand during Monday's game when he landed on it after a fall, and sat out much of the Tuesday practice session icing it. X-Rays were taken but were negative."
Thompson tries to limit fouls
Comment
November 4
Sacramento Bee
 
"Jason Thompson fouled out nine times as a rookie, and he's still learning to avoid fouls in bunches in his second season. Thompson fouled out late in regulation in Monday night's 127-116 overtime win against the Memphis Grizzlies and had five fouls Saturday night at San Antonio. Keeping Thompson on the floor is a must if the Kings are to improve their rebounding from last season, when they ranked second-to-last at 39.1 per game. For his part, the 6-foot-11 Thompson is still learning how to play physically without drawing whistles. "With my mentality, I don't like giving up easy (baskets)," Thompson said. "But I've learned if you get one (foul), and it's early in the game, you don't want ..."
Extra effort wins home opener
Comment
November 3
Sacramento Bee
 
"Kevin Martin hit the three-pointer on the left wing, then returned up the Arco Arena floor once again. It was the right kind of groundhog day for the Kings' shooting guard, yet another possession in which the basket looked as big as the ocean and his sharpshooting ways buoyed his team. The late overtime shot put the Kings ahead by four points Monday night in what became a 127-116 win over Memphis before an announced sellout crowd of 17,317 in their home opener. And Martin, who played all but 34 seconds and finished with 48 points in 52 minutes, barely made it until the end. "I just had to do everything I needed to do for us to win," Martin said. "Coach (Paul Westphal) said at the ..."
Kings entertain, provide flashes of hope at Arco
Comment
November 3
Sacramento Bee
 
"It began 25 years ago, these Kings in Sacramento. Gregg Lukenbill in his red sneakers. David Stern arriving in his limousine. Jerry Reynolds in the old, old, old Arco Arena, holding the assistant's clipboard and leading the cheers. It was loud. It was sold out. Just like Monday night. Those Kings of Reggie Theus, Mike Woodson and Larry Drew went on to secure a playoff berth, which Paul Westphal's squad will do this season only if the rest of the Western Conference slides into the ocean. That doesn't mean debacle, though. That doesn't mean awful. This year's home opener - the thriller of a 2009-10 Arco tipoff that ended with the Kings outlasting the Memphis Grizzlies in overtime - was ..."
Evans, Mayo bring versatile games, Westphal says
Comment
November 3
Sacramento Bee
 
"Some of the questions surrounding Kings rookie guard Tyreke Evans before last June's NBA draft had to do with whether he was a point guard or shooting guard and if he had a consistent jump shot. Some of the same things were said about Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo before the 2008 draft. Things worked out fine for Mayo, who averaged 18.5 points and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. Mayo and Evans made headlines nationally as high school underclassmen. But Kings coach Paul Westphal hadn't considered any similarities between Mayo and Evans before Monday's home opener against the Grizzlies. Westphal sees more similarities not related to their play. "The fact that they're both ..."
Grizzlies fade in overtime, lose to Kings, 127-116
Comment
November 3
Memphis Commercial Appeal
 
"Allen Iverson finally made his Grizzlies debut after a month-long recovery from a partially torn hamstring. He joined a team Monday night that is badly in need of a few repairs on defense as the Griz were unable to dethrone the Sacramento Kings in their home opener. Kevin Martin scored 48 points and Sacramento buried 14 3-pointers to beat the Grizzliess, 127-116, in overtime at Arco Arena. The Kings bench also outscored the Grizzlies reserves 67-14. Iverson had 11 points off the bench for the Griz but he logged just 18 minutes. Zach Randolph led the Griz with 30 points and 16 rebounds. O.J. Mayo added 22 and Rudy Gay chipped in 21 as Memphis had six players score in double figures. But for ..."
Kings' Nocioni is all business, not buddy-buddy
Comment
November 2
Sacramento Bee
 
"Kings small forward Andres Nocioni and San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili stood on the AT"
Westphal brings unconventional style to Kings bench
Comment
November 2
Sacramento Bee
 columnist Ailene Voisin
"Almost a decade removed from his last NBA head coaching job, Paul Westphal had dropped out of the conversation; he no longer was pursued or perceived as one of the league's coveted candidates. So he did the wooing. He sent the flowers. He made the phone calls. He spoke with the owners and was passed along to Geoff Petrie. When front-runner Kurt Rambis vacillated during contract discussions, Westphal pounced. Here I am, he persisted. Grab me. "I just wanted to make my case to somebody who was in a position to hire me," said Westphal, who makes his regular-season Arco Arena coaching debut tonight. "It was time for me to get back into coaching. I have a passion for the game, for the ..."
Another very scary night
Comment
November 1
Sacramento Bee
 
"The night forever will be remembered for Manu Ginobili's heroic and hilarious bat slap. On Halloween, of all nights, the flying rodent that had already twice interrupted play and spooked players, coaches and officials at the AT&T Center learned the hard way that the Argentine exterminator takes no guano. Late in the first quarter of what would eventually become a 113-94 rout over the Kings, the San Antonio guard tracked the bat with his eyes and let loose an open-palmed left hook that netted the creature and slammed it to the floor. Unfortunately for the Kings, the Spurs did the same to them. Lost amid the comedy of horrors was the way in which the Kings lost their way again, allowing a ..."
Mistakes show through Hawes' big numbers
Comment
November 1
Sacramento Bee
 
"Even Spencer Hawes knew the numbers were deceiving. The Kings' third-year center had 22 points and 10 rebounds in a 113-94 loss to San Antonio on Saturday, but much of it came after the game was out of hand. Still, Hawes could use any kind of momentum at the moment. And this served as momentum. "Given the outcome, it's hard to look at my performance and be too excited about it," Hawes said. "I guess individually it's a step in the right direction. But we've still got a lot of things to work on." His spirit, for one. Hawes expected to be a starter this season, so the adjustment to coming off the bench continues to be a major one. Kings coach Paul Westphal has decided to use Sean May at ..."
No Place Like Home
Comment
October 31
New Orleans Times-Picayune
 
"The goal for the Hornets in Friday night's regular-season home opener against the Sacramento Kings was simple: improvement. Specifically, Coach Byron Scott wanted to see better play from his team on the defensive end, where in Wednesday night's opening loss to the San Antonio Spurs, they seemed to become demoralized after numerous misadventures on the offensive side that, in turn, created stagnancy on defense resulting in a 113-96 loss. If the last 1:26 of the game was any indication, consider it mission accomplished. The Hornets shut down the pesky Kings over that stretch, forcing a 24-second violation and getting two huge blocked shots from center Emeka Okafor as New Orleans took a ..."
Nocioni encouraged despite Kings' loss
Comment
October 31
Sacramento Bee
 
"Andres Nocioni was happy. And that, given the current context, was quite a revelation. The Kings small forward has become the unofficial pulse of his team's competitive heart, though not necessarily in the healthiest way. He fumes in practice if a play doesn't meet his standards, sometimes lamenting his presence on the team because he has no interest in being part of a group that doesn't reflect his relentless personality. The Kings lost 97-92 to New Orleans on Friday night. And Nocioni was happy. "If we still play like this, we're going to win games for sure because I think we played really, really hard today, but we just didn't close the game," Nocioni said. "It's a huge difference. I ..."
Ex-King Diogu fits as a Hornet
Comment
October 31
Sacramento Bee
 
"Ike Diogu wasn't playing for the Kings or New Orleans on Friday night, so the in-person comparison with Sean May must wait. Yet, while the former Kings power forward - now a Hornet - was sidelined by a left knee injury, that hardly has stopped him from impressing his new team. "Guys are coming off the (practice) court talking about how he's a beast, (saying) 'He's kicking our (butt) with one leg,' and he has been," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "So I would love to see him with two good knees because I think he could be a big-time asset for us." Contrary to the Kings, of course. Diogu signed a one-year deal worth the league minimum of $884,881 after the Kings showed no interest in ..."
Cal Expo extends NBA arena-plan agreement
Comment
October 31
Sacramento Bee
 
"Cal Expo officials on Friday agreed to extend their formal agreement with the National Basketball Association to continue working on plans for a new fairgrounds and arena on Expo grounds. The existing "letter of understanding" was set to expire next month. The NBA had requested the six-month extension. The project, in concept, involves building an arena for the Sacramento Kings basketball team, a modern fairgrounds and opening much of the rest of the Expo site for redevelopment as a mixed-use community. Expo officials say their next step is expected to be a public outreach effort to find a developer to help finance and build the facilities."
Udrih might get off the bench tonight
Comment
October 30
Sacramento Bee
 
"There is a saving grace for Beno Udrih. His role reversal may be reversed. The Kings point guard, who started 72 games last season, did not play in the season-opening loss at Oklahoma City. But coach Paul Westphal said that could change as early as tonight against New Orleans. "The rotation will be different every night, just because you have different problems every night - you have different matchups," Westphal said Thursday. The starting lineup, however, will remain unchanged. Despite the Kings' underwhelming first quarter against Oklahoma City, Westphal will forge ahead with a frontcourt that includes veteran Sean May at power forward and Jason Thompson at center. The duo did little ..."
Olé! Kings should show interest in defense
Comment
October 30
Sacramento Bee
 
"Let's try not to jump off the bridge, yet. The Bay Bridge is still under repair, and the Guy West Bridge is too short. One game does not a season make, but the knee-jerk reaction to the Kings' season-opening loss at Oklahoma City on Wednesday is, naturally, to be frustrated. Yes, Omri Casspi looked very good. But beyond him, there were a lot of issues. The biggest concern should be the lack of defense. No team in an opening game should be faced with a first-quarter deficit of 17 points. That speaks to a lack of effort and preparation. I don't expect Rome to be rebuilt in a day. But there could be more than what announcer Gary Gerould called "matador defense.""
The only first that concerns Casspi is season-opening loss
Comment
October 29
Sacramento Bee
 
"Omri Casspi was ecstatic that this game was history, but not in the way one might think. Though the rookie small forward became the first Israeli player to participate in an NBA regular-season game, he was happy to put the Kings' 102-89 loss behind him. There was no silver lining because of his achievement, Casspi said as he sat at his locker shaking his head. Nor was there solace that he was the only bright spot, scoring 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting in 19 minutes off the bench. "We didn't play well at all, and I don't know what's the reason for it," said Casspi, who had 13 of his points during nine minutes in the second half after a quiet first half. "We need to find a solution, because ..."
Kings aren't OK in season opener
Comment
October 29
Sacramento Bee
 
"The route from Memphis, Tenn., to Oklahoma City is a simple and relatively short one - Interstate 40 West for some 500 miles. Tyreke Evans' road from the University of Memphis to NBA prominence, on the other hand, might be longer and substantially more complicated. The Kings' rookie guard and resident reason for in-house optimism certainly was an impact player in Wednesday night's 102-89, season-opening loss to the Thunder, but not quite in the way his new bosses had envisioned. The comfort level was gone, along with the swagger. "Two-Easy," as Evans has been known since dominating the prep ranks in Chester, Pa., and later in his spectacular solo season at Memphis, had the hardest of ..."
Kings seek a fresh start
Comment
October 28
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Kings played their best game of the exhibition season six days ago in a road victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ford Center. It was the Kings' only road win of the exhibition season. When the team returns to Ford Center for tonight's regular-season opener in Paul Westphal's debut as the Kings' head coach, it will look to get off on the right foot for the first time in six years. The Kings' last season-opening victory came in 2003 in LeBron James' pro debut. It also marked the last time Sacramento opened the season at Arco Arena. The Kings opened the past five seasons with losses on the road. They are a combined 2-14 on those opening trips. Sacramento travels to New Orleans and ..."
May just wants minutes
Comment
October 26
Sacramento Bee
 
"The King that started the final two exhibition games at center really isn't all that concerned about starting. After playing in just 82 of a possible 246 games in three seasons, Sean May just wants to play. So as coach Paul Westphal remained mum Sunday as to what the starting lineup for Wednesday's season opener in Oklahoma City would be, May wasn't overly concerned about starting. He's just happy to be healthy after being dogged by knee injuries for four seasons in Charlotte. "Whether I come off the bench or start, it doesn't really affect me either way," May said. "For me it's the minutes, knowing that you're going to play every night and that you're in the rotation. If he sees fit for ..."
Do the Kings have a plan?
Comment
October 25
Sacramento Bee
 
"Take solace in this, Kings fans: Geoff Petrie knows this hasn't gone as planned. It's the purple elephant in the room at One Sports Parkway, a beast so big it could cover all the empty seats at Arco Arena. It didn't help that Petrie changed the rebuilding plan a few times along the way. Nor was the country's economic downturn or the owners' battered bottom line particularly advantageous. Despite the uncertainty surrouding the organization - from his own status to the ever-present arena issues - the Kings' basketball president insists the team is worth watching again. The Kings were good before, and Petrie is confident they'll be good again. "It's really hard to just turn a team around on ..."
Leading Off: Kings should be fun to watch
Comment
October 25
Sacramento Bee
 
"Welcome to the ground floor. Welcome to the bottom line. Welcome to the Kings' 2009-10 season. As they start this rebuilding project, which is chronicled in six pages inside this section, I am more than intrigued by what's building at 1 Sports Parkway. I am - dare a sports editor say this? - optimistic. Yes, I was skeptical about the cut-rate hiring of Paul Westphal (where is Avery Johnson?). I wasn't an immediate fan of draft selection Tyreke Evans (who is Ricky Rubio?). But I like the direction and makeup of this team. I like the hustle it's showing. And I like what Westphal is saying. The Kings will win 25 games. There will be ups and lots of downs. But I'm optimistic they will be fun ..."
Westphal happy with preseason
Comment
October 25
Sacramento Bee
 
"When Kings coach Paul Westphal addressed his team after Friday night's loss to Utah that concluded the exhibition season, he didn't talk about the 2-5 record or the 17 missed free throws in the finale or even the 20 turnovers. He talked about the value of steady progress and the importance of improvement. And so far, he informed his players, they're coming along just fine. "I told them after the game that I'm very proud of them," he said. "The things we've needed to improve, we've improved. We've improved our field-goal defense, we've really improved our rebounding, and now we have to keep that up. "(The Jazz is) one of the most physical teams in the league. And after they pushed (us) ..."
Tyreke Evans: Already, he gets the point
Comment
October 25
Sacramento Bee
 
"Tyreke Evans wouldn't tell you the transition to the NBA has been easy. But it sure has looked that way. Evans is already too strong for your average point guard in the post. And he's deceptively fast in transition. He hasn't been around long, but Evans already has the look of a player who can fill the Kings' leadership void. "I think players in this league get as much responsibility as they can handle, for the most part," said Kings coach Paul Westphal. "And so far, (Evans) hasn't come up against an obstacle that he hasn't handled very well. He certainly makes mistakes and has things to work on, but in general he's showing he belongs out there, and he'll take the appropriate steps when ..."
Q
Comment
October 24
The Oklahoman
 
"Oklahoma State product Desmond Mason, a fan favorite while playing for the inaugural Thunder team and the Hornets' two seasons in Oklahoma City, signed a one-year deal with Sacramento. Mason is projected as a starter when the Kings and Thunder open the regular season Wednesday in the Ford Center. ?How disappointed were you the Thunder didn't offer you a contract? "I wish we could have worked something out. But it is what it is. I've been around long enough to know how the business works. I'm not going to hold it against them. But no question, I love playing here."?How is your knee? "It's great. I'm still working to get my timing back around the basket, shaking off the rust. Outside of ..."
Kings struggle at line in loss to Jazz
Comment
October 24
Sacramento Bee
 
"It could be Jake Voskuhl, someone else, or perhaps no one at all. But the Kings' 95-85 loss to Utah in their exhibition finale Friday night at Arco Arena made one thing clear: They could use another big man. After the free-throw lessons, that is, as they hit just 28 of 45 while falling to 2-5 in the exhibition season in front of an announced crowd of 11,104. The Kings' frontcourt deficiency was clear even before tipoff, when coach Paul Westphal described the ways in which he's trying to make the most of his undersized front line. For the second game in a row, he started 6-foot-9 Sean May at center instead of 7-footer Spencer Hawes next to forward Jason Thompson. "When we start Spencer and ..."
Oklahoma City cheers for Mason
Comment
October 23
Sacramento Bee
 
"Desmond Mason was the last Kings starter introduced Thursday night, and he received loud applause in a region that knows him well. Mason played college basketball at Oklahoma State. He was with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008-09 before sustaining a season-ending knee injury in late January. Mason also played in Oklahoma City from 2005 to 2007 when the town became a second home for the displaced New Orleans Hornets after Hurricane Katrina. So it was a nice time for Mason, who chatted with old teammates and friends before and after the Kings' 104-89 exhibition win at Ford Center. Mason said the fans have always been great in Oklahoma City. "We got great support with the Hornets and great ..."
Rodríguez shows he's capable when called on
Comment
October 23
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Spanish point guard the Kings acquired the day of the NBA draft wasn't ballyhooed teenager Ricky Rubio. It was guard Sergio Rodríguez, dealt to the Kings after three seasons in Portland in a swap of second-round picks and cash considerations. Rodríguez remained a mystery for much of the exhibition season. He'd played 42 minutes in five games. Rodríguez got his chance Thursday and turned in a performance that suggests he shouldn't be stuck at the end of the bench. Rodríguez led a group of reserves in the second quarter who helped turn the game into 104-89 rout of the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Ford Center. The Kings outscored the Thunder 36-25 in the second quarter. For the game, ..."
Bobby Jackson to announce retirement
Comment
October 23
Sacramento Bee
 
"If Bobby Jackson picks his wardrobe appropriately today, he'll stand at the Arco Arena podium and formally announce his retirement in a three-piece suit and sneakers. He's leaving behind a 12-year playing career and joining the Kings in a varied capacity that often will involve business attire, but the player in him is far from gone just yet. And if the moment is truly destined to capture the spirit of one of the Kings' most popular players of all time, it will be the pair of Nikes with the cut-off hi-tops. He used scissors to create a unique size and spark eye-rolls from the company's reps last season because, well, they just didn't get the job done in their original form and he wasn't ..."
Rodríguez shows he's capable when called on
Comment
October 23
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Spanish point guard the Kings acquired the day of the NBA draft wasn't ballyhooed teenager Ricky Rubio. It was guard Sergio Rodríguez, dealt to the Kings after three seasons in Portland in a swap of second-round picks and cash considerations. Rodríguez remained a mystery for much of the exhibition season. He'd played 42 minutes in five games. Rodríguez got his chance Thursday and turned in a performance that suggests he shouldn't be stuck at the end of the bench. Rodríguez led a group of reserves in the second quarter who helped turn the game into 104-89 rout of the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Ford Center. The Kings outscored the Thunder 36-25 in the second quarter. For the game, ..."
Oklahoma City cheers for Mason
Comment
October 23
Sacramento Bee
 
"Desmond Mason was the last Kings starter introduced Thursday night, and he received loud applause in a region that knows him well. Mason played college basketball at Oklahoma State. He was with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008-09 before sustaining a season-ending knee injury in late January. Mason also played in Oklahoma City from 2005 to 2007 when the town became a second home for the displaced New Orleans Hornets after Hurricane Katrina. So it was a nice time for Mason, who chatted with old teammates and friends before and after the Kings' 104-89 exhibition win at Ford Center. Mason said the fans have always been great in Oklahoma City. "We got great support with the Hornets and great ..."
May still seeking role in Kings lineup
Comment
October 22
Sacramento Bee
 
"Sean May is the lone big man the Kings added in free agency, but as recently as last Saturday May wasn't sure where he fit on the team. Sacramento had just played the Golden State Warriors and May saw very limited playing time against a team anyone looking to grab a lot of rebounds would love to face. Playing six minutes left May asking questions. In a game before that against the Los Angeles Lakers, May played just four minutes. May, who is looking to prove he can be a legitimate force after three seasons in which injuries derailed him in Charlotte, had played a lot more in the first two exhibition games, including starting the first one. He played 23 minutes Oct. 7 against Portland ..."
Westphal: Hawes growing into role
Comment
October 22
Sacramento Bee
 
"When it comes to the Kings' starting center, there will be the ups and downs of youth. Spencer Hawes, 21, is in his third season. It's easy to forget had he not left the University of Washington early for the NBA draft that this would be his senior season for the Huskies. So for every impressive blocked shot there might be some of what happened to Hawes on Tuesday night in Phoenix. Kings coach Paul Westphal removed Hawes during the first quarter after defensive mistakes allowed Channing Frye to get going offensively. There figure to be moments like that from Hawes. "I think Spencer is a young, talented player that just needs to be allowed to grow," Westphal said. "He's working on things ..."
Rookie proves to Westphal he's 'ready'
Comment
October 22
Sacramento Bee
 
"It's not easy for a rookie to gain the confidence of his head coach, but Jon Brockman has by doing what earned him a huge following in college. The rookie power forward from the University of Washington was wildly popular because of his gritty style and knack for rebounding. Brockman is finding that style works in the NBA, even if at 6-foot-7, he's on the shorter side of interior players. Brockman has managed to impress his coach in limited minutes. "There's really no situation where I don't feel he won't get his share of rebounds," Kings coach Paul Westphal said. "It's other situations, like, Is he guarding a guy that's too quick for him or too big for him in the post? But as far as him ..."
Kings trim roster to 14 players
Comment
October 21
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Kings trimmed their roster to 14 players Wednesday afternoon, cutting seven-year NBA veteran center-forward Melvin Ely and guard Lanny Smith, the team announced. Both players saw limited playing time in this exhibition season. Smith played in just two games, scoring one point a a free throw, and Smith played just three minutes at Portland in the Kings' first preseason game."
Suns offer Kings tough test of Carril's lessons
Comment
October 20
Sacramento Bee
 
"The refreshing taste of victory against Golden State on Saturday served as a reminder to the Kings that hustle and rebounds can generate a lot of goodwill. And then there's Pete Carril, the Hall of Fame coach who douses that good cheer by reminding all comers that this is still very much a work-in-progress process: The Kings have one triumph in four exhibition attempts. There are three more exhibition games this week as the crash course session begins on tightening up a player rotation as the season opener at Oklahoma City looms. When Carril stopped scrimmage Monday afternoon to make a point, everyone listened, including head coach Paul Westphal, who hustled over to absorb the tutorial. ..."
Kings' tall guards Martin and Evans pose problems for foes
Comment
October 19
Sacramento Bee
 
"By Don Nelson's count, there are 16 NBA teams that could ultimately allow the Golden State coach to use his diminutive guard combination of Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry this season. If that's the case, it's welcome news for the Kings. If that many teams have backcourts so small that Ellis and Curry (both 6-foot-3) can survive defensively, it also means 6-7 Kevin Martin and 6-6 Tyreke Evans of the Kings can look forward to just as many nights of mismatch mania, as they had in Saturday night's 101-94 win over the Warriors at Arco Arena. While this likely was the most extreme example, it was exactly what the Kings envisioned when they drafted Evans fourth overall out of Memphis in June. His ..."
Greene working hard on shot selection
Comment
October 18
Sacramento Bee
 
"Donté Greene took the ball on the right wing midway through the second quarter against Golden State, peeked at the rim and looked as if he just might fire away. But the Kings small forward didn't, and instead found Spencer Hawes with an entry pass down low that led to an interior dish to Jason Thompson and an uncontested dunk in Saturday's 101-94 victory at Arco Arena. And Kings coach Paul Westphal, one could assume, was surely tempted to let loose with a "Hallelujah!" from the bench. Greene's sometimes-reckless shot selection was a point of contention for former coaches Reggie Theus and Kenny Natt, and is threatening his role again with Westphal. That much was clear in Tuesday's ..."
King of the paint -- 20 points, 20 boards for Thompson
Comment
October 18
Sacramento Bee
 
"One thing was cleared up Saturday night. Jason Thompson doesn't want to know his stats during the game. And yes, that includes good stats. After one quarter Thompson had already notched a double double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and some teammates and coaches let him know he was doing a good job. "I'd rather someone not tell me so I can keep getting more boards," Thompson said. Thompson didn't stop. By the end of the night Thompson had 20 rebounds to go with 20 points, five assists and two blocked shots in the Kings' 101-94 exhibition win over the Golden State Warriors at Arco Arena. It was the first exhibition win for the Kings (1-3). Thompson's game was indicative of what the Kings ..."
Jackson keeps his composure in loss
Comment
October 18
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Kings spoiled Stephen Jackson's amicable return from a two-game suspension for "conduct detrimental to the team," beating the Warriors 101-94 at Arco Arena on Saturday. "Sometimes I might say some things that people don't expect, because it's what is on my mind," Jackson said. "But I know the difference between right and wrong, and I know what I have to do to build my reputation in this league as a player and as a man. "I think keeping my composure is going to help me in being a great basketball player." Jackson, who had totaled only 59 preseason minutes, played the entire game and kept his promise "to be quiet and play." He had 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and couched ..."
Kings coach Westphal praises Udrih for versatility
Comment
October 17
Sacramento Bee
 
"When Beno Udrih was asked recently about his play this exhibition season, he simply said he's "just trying to play hard." So far, playing hard has yielded positive returns for Udrih. Although he appears to have ceded the starting point guard position to rookie Tyreke Evans, Udrih has earned praise from Kings coach Paul Westphal for his steady play. Udrih has found a role coming off the bench, backing up Evans or playing with him. Westphal has said Udrih has played well in that role. Udrih, however, isn't patting himself on the back. "I'm just trying to play hard and help my team get better," Udrih said. Udrih has been efficient, making 60 percent of his shots in three exhibition games to ..."
Mason to make Kings debut
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October 15
Sacramento Bee
 
"Desmond Mason declared himself pain free and even knocked on wood - courtesy of a nearby table - in hopes of staying that way. Mason was scheduled to start the Kings' exhibition opener Oct. 6 in Portland, Ore., but was a late scratch. He had landed awkwardly in practice the day before the team left for Portland and had suffered back spasms. The injury also kept him out of the next night's game against the Trail Blazers at Arco Arena. Mason said he's "95 percent" and excited about playing in tonight's exhibition game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas. The forward, who will start tonight, hasn't played in a game since a knee injury ended his season with Oklahoma City late last ..."
Mayor begins push to sell out Kings' first two home games
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October 14
Sacramento Bee
 
"When it came to Arco Arena these past few years, the only talk of magic arose when Disney on Ice came to town. The Kings' gradual decline didn't spark such a description, with the team's record only part of the problem as the lack of a new venue continued to put the organization's future in doubt. But some of the region's most influential men gathered Tuesday to sprinkle pixie dust on the organization, collaborating on an effort dubbed "Operation Sellout" with the hopes of helping the Kings get off the ground again. The program's objective is to sell out the Kings' first two home games Nov. 2 against Memphis and Nov. 4 against Atlanta. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson asked his local A-list ..."
Teams work on zone defense
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October 13
Sacramento Bee
 
"During Paul Westphal's last stint as a head coach, which ended 15 games into the 2000-01 season, teams didn't openly discuss their zone defenses. The NBA eliminated "illegal" or zone defenses the following season. Westphal spent much of Monday's practice installing the Kings' offense against zones and zone defense. But that's really nothing new, Westphal said. "Everybody's always played a zone," Westphal said with a smirk. "It just depends on what you call it. It depends on what the rules happen to be that year." Mayor and Kings collaborate - Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and a "prestigious group of Sacramento business leaders" will announce today at Arco Arena a plan to sell out the ..."