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Kings Positional Breakdown: PG

As the clock struck 12:01 p.m. in New York City on June 30, Darren Collison received a phone call on the west coast.

The Kings were on the line.

“That meant a lot to me,” admitted the sixth-year pro, who most recently played for the Los Angeles Clippers. “It shows that a team is really trying to work with me. They were real aggressive, they told me their future, they told me their plans and I just like every part of their vision. I think they have a really bright future and I think we can do something special.”

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It wasn’t long after free agency began that Sacramento’s General Manager Pete D’Alessandro was making moves. Collison – a 6-foot, 175-pound point guard from Rancho Cucamonga, California – was atop the list thanks to his shifty, fluid offensive prowess and his tenacious defensive presence. 

“We want him to be that guy that brings out the talent from everyone else, while also showing his talent and leadership in the process,” added D’Alessandro.

Collison accepted the Kings offer to move north and take over the team’s starting point guard spot. Almost immediately, No. 7 made his presence felt. He reached out to his new teammates – contacting them through a series of phone calls and text messages – made an appearance in Las Vegas at the team’s mini-camp and met with the coaches. With just a few months to establish chemistry, digest the system and learn the nuances of Sacramento, timeliness has been of the utmost importance. 

“We have a relatively young team and there’s still going to be a lot to learn – there are going to be some road blocks and it’s not going to be easy where we want to go, but I’m excited to take on that role,” admitted Collison.

Although his NBA career has made stops in four cities, the UCLA grad has been fortunate enough to be mentored by the likes of Chris Paul, Byron Scott, Jim O’Brien and Doc Rivers. Last season in Los Angeles when Paul went down with an injury for 18 games, Collison stepped in and averaged 6.5 assists per game during that span and led his team to a 12-6 record. Furthermore, Collison shot 41.7% from three and 48.1% from the field in 35 starts for the Clippers.  

Much like his new backcourt teammate, McCallum has also shined when his name was in the starting lineup. In 10 starts last year, No. 3 averaged 13.8 points, 7.3 assists and just 1.9 turnovers per matchup. At just 23-years of age, the Detroit Mercy product showed growth in 2013-14 finishing the season with eight double-digit scoring games in the final twelve contests.  

“Once you get your opportunity, you make the most of it and try to take advantage of it and run with it – that’s something I did,” stated McCallum. “I want to use that confidence and carry it over into next season as well.”

The Kings coaching staff also saw improvement from their young guard in the offseason. In six Summer League outings, McCallum averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4.1 assists, yet he saved his best for last, scoring a game-high 29 points against Houston en route to Championship game MVP honors. 

Everything was going right for the Motor City native that night as he connected n 9-of-15 attempts from the floor, including a running buzzer-beating three from way beyond the arc.