Summer Training

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Summer Training: Justin James

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Summer Training: Harry Giles

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Summer Training: Richardson

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Summer Training: Labissiere

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Summer Training: Moreland

Steven Wilson

In their fourth game overall and first of Summer League Playoffs, the eighth-seeded Kings face the 24th-seeded Timberwolves Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at Cox Pavilion.

“It will be an exciting challenge for us,” said Kings Assistant Coach Tyrone Corbin after Wednesday’s practice. “We’ll have to change some things, especially with the way they post up their big guys [to ensure we] have help there and not leave shooters on the perimeter.”

Minnesota, who’s led by 6-foot-11 forward Gorgui Dieng and 7-foot-1 center Kyrylo Fesenko, earned an 86-77 victory over Phoenix – the tournament’s ninth seed – Wednesday morning to advance to its round with Sacramento.

Dieng and Fesenko combined for 30 points against the Suns, while their rookie teammate, Zach LaVine, recorded a team-high 20 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field.

Now, it’s up to the Kings to tame the Timberwolves.

“The tournament starts for us [now],” said Ray McCallum. “They’re a good team – they went 0-3 [to start Summer League], but they had a big win [Wednesday]. Once it comes to tournament time, everyone comes to play and we’ll be ready.”

With two wins to date, McCallum and Co. have put the team in prime position to make a strong tournament run, wrapping up the eighth seed and earning back-to-back days off on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sacramento appears to have hit its stride on offense, scoring 22 or more points in four of its last five quarters, while having five players score in double-figures in two-straight games.

“After our last game, I think we have good chemistry and everything’s moving in the right direction,” said the Kings starting point guard.

Many could point to McCallum’s distribution and overall offensive prowess as a key reason Sacramento was successful Monday against the D-League Select team. The second-year guard tallied 10 points, but more importantly, involved his teammates with 12 assists.

“[On Monday], we all had games that we were happy and pleased with,” stated the Michigan native. “That’s the way we have to play for the rest of this tournament if we want to win.”

While Thursday’s game against the Timberwolves is another chance for McCallum and company to take the court, the game will have added significance for rookie Nik Stauskas, who will be facing-off against two former teammates in Glenn Robinson III and Jordan Morgan.

“I haven’t seen them in a while, so it will be cool to see them and then go up against them,” said the University of Michigan product.

No. 10 has been effective for the Kings thus far, averaging 13 points and two assists per game. The team’s 2014 draftee attributes his early success to being patient and listening to the coaching staff – knowing they’ll put him in optimal position.

“I’m all about efficiency,” said Stauskas. “It’s been my thing for my whole career – I don’t need a lot of shots, I don’t need a lot of touches, but I try to be efficient when I do get the ball.”

The Kings guard has heeded and sought advice from veteran players like Rudy Gay – who practiced with the squad on Wednesday – in a search to continue to enhance his game.

“I tried to talk to him as much as I could and pick his brain,” stated Stauskas. “He’s had a lot of success in the NBA, so any kind of knowledge I can get from him would be great.”

The Ontario native hopes the advice pays dividends as he and his teammates prepare for their next Summer League showdown.

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Young Kings Primed for Wolves

sacjwise

Kings Summer League invitee MarShon Brooks has a clear outlook as he sets his sights on Week 2 with the squad.

“I know exactly what’s expected of me – I know my strengths, I know my weaknesses, I know what [the coaches] want to see – so I just have to execute,” stated the 6-foot-5 shooting guard, who’s played for four organizations over his NBA career.

Saturday in Las Vegas, No. 0 was all over the court as he aimed to make a difference throughout Sacramento’s morning session.

During the box-out defensive drills, Brooks sprinted sideline to sideline before aggressively boxing out his opponent. Then, during the full-court 4-on-3 situational drills, he jumped in passing lanes, pushed the ball ahead on the fast break and dove into chairs on the sideline to save possession.

All of it, he says, is just another day on-court.

“I am trying to make a team, so I just have to play hard,” he stated. “[The Kings] have two young shooting guards, so I just have to try to teach them everything I know that I picked up over the last three years and throughout the League… [I’m here to] just compete and give them everything I have to offer.”

With three years of experience, Brooks knows a Summer League opportunity with the black-and-purple isn’t just a chance to make Sacramento’s roster, but an opening to impress the entire League.

After being selected with the 25th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, the Long Branch, N.J. native was immediately traded to his hometown team. With the New Jersey Nets, he went on to start 47 games and average 12.6 points per contest before earning NBA All-Rookie Second-Team honors.

Brooks remained close to home for one more season – as the Nets moved to Brooklyn – before rejoining the Celtics. His time in Boston was again short lived, as he was traded to Golden State and later to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he finished the 2013-14 campaign.

Despite his travels, one constant has remained – something that stood out to Coach Malone.

“He’s a professional scorer,” said the Kings leader. “I mean the guy can score the basketball. He has an NBA skill and it’s to put the ball in the hole, and he’s shown it in a very short NBA career [so far].”

The Providence alum brings a scoring punch to a young, dynamic backcourt.

“Our first priority is Ben [McLemore], Nik [Stauskas] and Ray [McCallum], so MarShon has to fit in when he can,” admitted Malone. “But when he’s in the game, we need him to be aggressive within the offense.”

Friday night against San Antonio, Brooks finished with five points off the bench, including two of which came on a two-handed slam in the second quarter as he weaved through three defenders and drove the ball home.

“Nik made the play for me,” said the veteran guard. “He drew some attention from me with the pump-fake, then he swung it. The hole just opened up.”

With Charlotte on the horizon for the Kings Summer League team, Brooks won’t have to wait long for his next opportunity to get the crowd buzzing. Tip-off for Sunday's game against the Hornets is slated for 3 p.m.

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MarShon Looks to Make Impact

समर ट्रेनिंग: भुल्‍लर

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