Amid a challenging season, Daeqwon Plowden shines as a beacon of hope for the Sacramento Kings. Despite the team's tough 128-97 loss to the Houston Rockets, Plowden's performance offers a silver lining. The Kings, now at 13-47, have struggled, losing 17 of their last 18 games, but Plowden's emergence is a storyline worth following.
Standing at 6-foot-4, Plowden contributed nine points, two rebounds, and two steals in 27 minutes against Houston's strong defense. As a two-way contract player, he's showing versatility on offense with room to grow, averaging 6.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists over his first 11 games.
Plowden's rise through the ranks has put him in the conversation for a full-time contract with the Kings, who have until the end of the season to decide. His impressive G-League performance, where he averaged 22.5 points and 7.3 rebounds on a remarkable 67.1% true shooting percentage with the Stockton Kings, has earned him significant playing time during this turbulent season.
His potential as a three-and-D player could make him the next to secure a standard deal, following rookie center Dylan Cardwell's recent contract. However, questions remain about Plowden's NBA efficiency. The transition from G-League to NBA is significant, and while Plowden has shown he can score in the G-League, his NBA shooting percentages tell a different story.
This season, he's shooting just 23.4% on 4.3 three-point attempts per game, though he's shown flashes of brilliance. His career-high 19 points, including 4-for-9 from beyond the arc, played a crucial role in breaking the Kings' 16-game losing streak with a win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Plowden's confidence and willingness to take catch-and-shoot opportunities are encouraging signs of his adaptation to the NBA level. While efficiency remains a concern, there's hope he can improve his shooting consistency in the coming weeks. Plowden aims to prove he's more than just a standout in the G-League and can hold his own in the NBA.