Emanuel Sharp hasn’t needed the shots to fall to make his point in Sacramento.
The Kings rookie has been one of the most noticeable players on the team’s Summer League roster through two California Classic games, even with the efficiency numbers lagging behind the rest of his production. Sharp is averaging 15.5 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block per game, and the reason he keeps popping is simple: he keeps doing the things that travel.
Selected 45th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, the former Houston guard has leaned into defense, effort and energy while he works through the early swings of NBA Summer League. That approach has kept him productive even though he’s shooting just 30.8% from the field and 28.6% from three-point range.
“I go into the game, and whatever the game plan the coach has, I just try to follow that,” Sharp said. “You can’t control whether my shots are going in.
Some games it’s going to be going in, some games it’s not. But I can always control my defense, how hard I’m playing, my energy, my enthusiasm for my teammates, being a good teammate.”
That mindset has shown up in the way he’s played. When the jumper hasn’t cooperated, Sharp has kept pressing on the defensive end, moved the ball, attacked the glass and stayed active instead of drifting out of the game.
“I feel like how hard I play can cover up for some of my missed shots,” Sharp explained. “I get it back on defense, moving the ball to my teammates, rebounding. Just playing my game, playing hard, and having fun.”
Sacramento has reason to appreciate that kind of edge. The Kings finished last in the NBA in both three-pointers made and attempted last season, so a rookie willing to keep firing is part of the appeal, even if the percentages haven’t caught up yet. Sharp took nine threes in his Summer League debut and then let it fly 12 more times against Golden State.
His college coach, Kelvin Sampson, has been watching the transition with plenty of interest. Last week, Sampson said Sharp was one of his favorite players from their five years together at Houston and noted how hard Sacramento worked to get him.
“Emanuel specifically was a great story,” he said. “I’m glad Sacramento drafted him because they were really interested in him. They called multiple times.”
Sharp left Houston as the program’s all-time leader in three-pointers, grew into one of the Big 12’s top two-way guards and averaged nearly 16 points per game as a senior while helping the Cougars reach the 2025 national championship game.
Sampson said the biggest change came on defense.
“Emanuel’s the epitome of a two-way player,” Sampson added. “He wasn’t a very good defender when he got here, but now he’s got NBA teams recognizing him as a good defender.”
He also pointed to the fit in Sacramento, where the Kings were looking to add toughness and dependable bench help.
“One of the things Sacramento wanted was to get tougher,” Sampson added. “Have a guy come off the bench that could go in and be dependable, but also can make shots.”
Sharp’s path included injuries early in his career, but he steadily built himself into one of Houston’s leaders by bringing toughness, effort and consistency on both ends. That same formula is what he’s carrying into Sacramento now, shots or no shots.
In Other News...
Sabonis Trade Talk Just Got A Lot More Complicated For Kings
Domantas Sabonis has been in the middle of Sacramento trade chatter since the end of last season, but the Kings latest roster work has made that conversation a lot less straightforward. General manager Scott Perry has spent the summer reshaping the roster through the draft and free agency, and the result is a team that may no longer need to treat Sabonis as only a traditional starting center.
That shift matters because Sacramento is still trying to sort out its payroll and has been active in exploring moves involving other veterans. If the Kings can keep the books flexible and find the right balance around him, Sabonis could end up fitting in a different way than expected, which is why the question now is not just whether he can be moved, but whether the new version of the roster makes it smarter to keep him around for another season. [Read more 🡒]
DeMar DeRozans Kings Exit Suddenly Feels A Lot More Real
DeMar DeRozans time in Sacramento already had the feel of a short-term arrangement, and now the market around him is starting to look even more fluid. The veteran wing is a free agent, and NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that his next stop could be shaped by where LeBron James lands, with teams like the Warriors, Cavaliers and Heat among the clubs that could pivot to DeRozan if they miss on their bigger target.
For the Kings, the bigger picture is less about adding another name and more about how they manage the roster and the books from here. DeRozan is widely expected to end up on a veteran minimum deal elsewhere, which makes his exit feel less like a surprise than the next step in a summer that has steadily pointed him toward a new opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Fans May Not Like Where DeMar DeRozan Could Land Next
The Warriors have spent the early part of free agency chasing a dream scenario, with Stephen Curry reportedly meeting with LeBron James in June to discuss the possibility of bringing him to Golden State. For Sacramento, the more immediate part of the story is DeMar DeRozan, who was recently waived by the Kings and is now on the open market after another stop in a long and productive career.
If James winds up elsewhere, Golden State is expected to keep shopping in the veteran lane, and DeRozans name has surfaced as a possible fit. For a Kings team that just moved on from him, it is another reminder that his next landing spot could still matter in the Western Conference, especially if a contender decides his scoring and experience are worth the gamble. [Read more 🡒]