Following Saturday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors, the Sacramento Kings found themselves being praised by Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant.
Klay Thompson, who banked the game-winning layup with 5.8 second left, spoke highly of the Kings and their young guys who gave them a hard time. The 28-year-old sharpshooter pointed couldn’t help but notice Sacramento’s playing style and high level of composure, which he said is rare for a young team.
“It’s different than what I’m used to and they’re playing the right way,” Klay Thompson told reporters following the game, per James Ham of NBC Sports.. “Their ability to share the ball, they had 28 assists and only eight turnovers, that’s a great ratio. They seem very composed for a young team as well. They’ve got a bright future. They’ve got a lot of great young pieces. It’s good to see them playing the right way.”
Meanwhile, Warriors forward Kevin Durant specifically mentioned De’Aaron Fox as the player who stood out the most for him. The two-time NBA Finals MVP had high praises for Fox and even claimed that the 20-year-old rising stare can change the Sacramento franchise.
“That is the type of player he is, no-nonsense, come to work type of player. He is going to play for his teammates. He didn’t shoot the ball well tonight, but you can tell he dictates the pace and he made Quinn (Cook) work all night,” Kevin Durant said.
“They got a nice team. They just young right now, but they are going to be really good in the future”
As Durant mentioned, Fox had one of his worst shooting nights on Saturday, going 3-14 from the field on his way to nine points. However, Fox did have nine assists and showed an advanced understanding of how to work and find his teammates open for easy points in just his second season.
Not to be forgotten is Kings rookie big man Marvin Bagley III, who is averaging 12.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 50.8 percent from the field. Bagley had 20 points and 17 rebounds (seven offensive rebounds) against the Warriors in the Kings’ 116-117 loss.
The culture developed by Kings head coach Dave Joerger is undoubtedly paying off now. Joerger produced gritty and efficient teams with the Memphis Grizzlies prior to his start with Sacramento, and it certainly looks like the Kings have been made in that same mold. Sacramento is currently eight in the Western Conference with a 10-9 record.
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