Emanuel Sharp has wasted no time making his case in Sacramento.
Through two games, the rookie has carved out more trust than Nique Clifford, and the early rotation battle in the Kings’ backcourt is tilting his way. In Friday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, Sharp logged 12 minutes while Clifford got only two.
Sharp finished with five points on 2-for-5 shooting, including 1-for-2 from three. That came after both guards played 17 minutes in Wednesday’s road opener loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The biggest separator so far is obvious: shooting. Sharp has hit 50% from deep in his first two games, while Clifford has yet to knock down a three.
That kind of spacing matters in Sacramento, where the Kings are looking for a reliable floor spacer to pair with rookie Darius Acuff Jr. and star center Domantas Sabonis. Last season, Sacramento tied with the Brooklyn Nets for the worst shooting percentage in the league at 30.4%.
Sharp arrived with a reputation for fearless shot-making, and he kept firing in the preseason, attempting 30 threes across five games. At 6-foot-3, he is undersized, but he makes up ground with relentless pressure on the ball and the kind of hustle that turns possessions.
He also piled up 10 preseason steals, a clear sign of how much disruption he can create on defense.
Doug Christie has made it clear Sharp had to earn everything, and the rookie has done exactly that. Christie also praised him during the preseason, saying he believes he’ll become a fan favorite.
Clifford, though, is still very much in the mix. It’s only been two games, and he has time to push back into the picture.
The second-year guard brings a different set of strengths, starting with experience. He spent the final three months playing more than 30 minutes a night and became a steadier rebounder and passer, averaging more than four in each category.
His defensive numbers picked up as well. Clifford averaged more than one steal in February and March, highlighted by a career-high six steals against the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 23.
He also showed his ceiling as a scorer on Feb. 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, when he poured in a career-best 30 points in Sacramento’s 132-126 loss. Clifford shot 12-for-19 from the field and 5-for-9 from three in that game, the kind of assertive performance he’ll be trying to rediscover this season.
For now, though, Sharp has the edge. And if he keeps shooting the ball like this, Christie may not have much of a choice.
In Other News...
Kings Send A Confusing Message With Nique Clifford
The Kings have locked in Nique Clifford for another season by exercising his third-year team option, a move that keeps the rookie under contract while also putting a spotlight on how Sacramento views its own rotation. Clifford has been one of the quieter positives in the early part of the season when he has been on the floor, with the advanced numbers backing up the eye test, but his minutes have not reflected that impact.
For a team still sorting out its nightly roles, the decision sends a mixed signal: the front office clearly values Clifford enough to keep the door open, yet the coaching staff has not leaned on him much through the early going. That leaves the Kings with a familiar question hanging over the young wings next stretch of development, especially if his production keeps suggesting he deserves a bigger opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Sabonis Is Doing Something Historic For The Kings Already
Domantas Sabonis has wasted no time setting the tone for Sacramentos season. In the first three games, he collected 52 rebounds, a post-merger NBA record that moved him past Moses Malones old mark, and he has opened the year as the leagues rebounds-per-game leader while also handling a big share of the Kings playmaking.
For a team that has already taken some early losses, Sabonis has still given Sacramento a steady offensive hub and a nightly reason to believe the floor is higher than the record suggests. His improved shooting percentages from last season only add to the picture, giving the Kings a centerpiece who is producing at a historic level while the rest of the season is still just beginning. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Veterans Are Suddenly In A Trade Debate Sacramento Can't Avoid
The Kings veteran core is already drawing leaguewide attention, and it is not hard to see why. ESPN analyst Anthony Slater recently framed Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk as players who could come up in trade conversations, with LaVines expiring deal standing out as a particularly movable piece if the market shifts during the season.
For Sacramento, the real issue is bigger than one players value. The front office has to decide how long it wants to keep leaning on established veterans while also making room for younger talent that needs development time, and that balance could shape the roster as the season unfolds. Sabonis and Monk also figure to remain part of that discussion if other teams needs change and the Kings are forced to weigh fit against flexibility. [Read more 🡒]