Doug Christie didn’t need Emanuel Sharp to light up the scoreboard Monday to see something worth liking.
Sharp’s preseason debut for the Sacramento Kings ended in a rough shooting night - he went 2-for-11 in the blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers - but the second-round pick still made an impression with the kind of effort coaches notice immediately. Christie said he loves everything about Sharp and believes he’ll become a fan favorite.
The biggest reason is simple: Sharp kept competing. He shot when he was open, never stopped moving, and stayed active on defense. One play in particular stood out when the 22-year-old dove on a loose ball, forced a Lakers turnover and created an extra possession for Sacramento.
That edge has followed Sharp everywhere. At Houston, his college coach Kevin Sampson built that kind of mindset over four years with the Cougars, a program that led the Big 12 in points allowed for three straight seasons: 57.6 in 2023-24, 58.7 in 2024-25 and 62.3 last season. Sharp was part of that defensive backbone, finishing his college career with 1.1 steals.
The same energy has shown up since he turned pro. Sharp averaged 2.8 steals in the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer Leagues, reinforcing the idea that his defense translates no matter the setting.
For Sacramento, that matters. Fans in that building know how quickly a stop can flip the mood, especially when the crowd starts chanting “DEFENSE” and the arena comes alive after a big play. Sharp’s route to minutes in Christie’s rotation looks tied to exactly that kind of response.
The Kings need it, too. Their defense has never been the team’s calling card, and the numbers have only gotten worse over time. Sacramento finished with the third-worst defensive rating in NBA history.
There is reason to believe the group should look better. Keegan Murray and De’Andre Hunter are expected back healthy, and general manager Scott Perry added Ben Simmons in early September to give the roster another versatile defender.
Even with those pieces in place, Sacramento still lacks true point-of-attack resistance. The Kings have size on the wings, but not much depth to pressure ball handlers. Nique Clifford is currently the best option in that role, and Sharp is making his own case as another answer after consistently bothering guards in college and in the summer league.
That’s why the Kings’ 45th pick has drawn so much offseason praise. Some around the team see him as the 2026 draft class’ best defender, an instant-impact player and even a potential All-Rookie sleeper. Christie’s reaction Monday suggested the same thing: Sharp may have missed shots, but he didn’t miss his chance to show what he brings.
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