Reggie Evans defends during a pickup game with teammates. Marshall Sele/Sonics Photos

"It’s something I’ve been trying to do with this team, and we are seeing the direct result of the coaching staff really talking to our players about the importance of the off-season," Sonics Coach Nate McMillan said last summer. "I think it will pay off."

Each of the last two years, the majority of the players the Sonics have under contract, along with several players expected to be invited to training camp, have arrived in Seattle at least two weeks before training camp, allowing them use of The Furtado Center, the Sonics and Storm's training facility. Many players, of course, spend much of their off-season in Seattle, working out at The Furtado Center and taking advantage of the Sonics weight room. But things really intensify as camp approaches and getting into shape for McMillan's practices becomes a concern.

"I'm going to work as hard as I can, I'm going to put in as much work as I can now, getting ready for training camp, because from what they're telling me, I could work 12-hour days from here until training camp and I still wouldn't be ready for it," rookie center Robert Swift said after starting informal practices with his teammates, having returned from the NBA's Rookie Orientation.

There is unanimous agreement amongst Sonics players with their coach that the workouts are worthwhile.

"I think it's very important," said forward Rashard Lewis. "We pretty much have the same team, but we added some players. I think it's very important for us to get a feel for each other and learn how each other plays. We have a lot of young guys, but we need to learn each other as well as possible before the season gets started. We can know who likes the ball where, what type of shots I like, what type of shots Ray (Allen) likes, or even Luke (Ridnour). I think it's good for everybody to know everybody's strengths and weaknesses."

That's particularly true in the case of a player like Ridnour, who could inherit the starting point guard position this season after starting just six games as a rookie. Building rapport with his teammates, on and off the court, is important for Ridnour, and he points to the off-court aspects of the workouts as equally valuable.

"Playing is real good too," Ridnour said, "but (more important is) just getting that respect that, 'Yeah, we're here early, we're serious about this season and we're trying to turn things around.'"

In all likelihood, no Sonics player benefited more from the informal workouts than Swift, whose learning curve is steep as he makes the transition from high school to the NBA. After primarily playing smaller opponents in high school, any experience Swift gets working against seven-footers and with NBA-caliber athletes is helpful at this point.

"That's great right now, because I get a chance to play against Jerome James every day, play with and against Ray Allen, all the players," Swift said. "I'm getting a little feel for my teammates and also getting a feel for the competition, what it's going to be like."

Is coming in early valuable? The facts seemed to speak for themselves last season. Despite the Sonics preseason schedule being abbreviated because they opened the season in Japan and the loss of Allen to ankle surgery, the Sonics started the season 6-2. Obviously, there were many reasons for that, but getting to camp ready to go played a role and the Sonics can hope for the same this year.