The Sacramento Kings are still weeks from training camp, but a handful of their young players are already doing the kind of work that can quietly matter later: getting on the floor together and building some early chemistry.
That was the takeaway from footage Matt George of Sactown Sports recently broke down from Rico Hines’ open gym runs in Southern California. Darius Acuff Jr., Emanuel Sharp, Nique Clifford, Alex Karaban and Dylan Cardwell were all part of the 5-on-5 action, giving Kings fans a glimpse of several young pieces sharing the court before the real grind begins.
Hines, who once served as a Sacramento Kings assistant coach and now works as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers, has long been known for hosting these runs with NBA players. But George said seeing five Kings youngsters voluntarily working together stood out to him.
“What it says to me is something that stuck with me this summer,” George said. “Dylan seemed to really put the onus and responsibility for that change on the young guys.”
Cardwell had already made his feelings clear during the California Classic, where he spoke about wanting to help build a new culture in Sacramento. George sees this open-run gathering as an early sign that message is taking hold.
“I think it’s really, really cool,” George said. “I imagine it’s got Scott Perry, Kings general manager Scott Perry, grinning from ear to ear. I’m sure Doug Christie is fired up about it too.”
Sharp, the second-round pick, drew some of the strongest praise from George. The shooting touch that showed up during the California Classic and Summer League was still there, and still coming with no hesitation.
“Emanuel Sharp is still letting him fly and knocking down threes with no hesitation,” George said. “I’m convinced Emanuel Sharp is going to make it very difficult on Doug Christie to not give him rotational minutes.”
George did note the obvious caution that comes with judging open-gym basketball, but Sharp’s confidence as a shooter has him believing the rookie could push his way into Sacramento’s rotation.
Acuff also caught George’s eye, especially for how comfortable he looked in a loose, fast-moving setting. His passing, ball-handling and shot creation all popped, and George pointed to multiple possessions where Acuff attacked downhill and finished with a midrange jumper.
“Open gym style basketball just speaks to Darius Acuff Jr.,” George said.
The footage also showed Acuff and Cardwell continuing to work as a two-man unit, including an alley-oop connection between the two. George thinks that kind of chemistry could matter as Sacramento looks for ways to create space for its young point guard.
The challenge for Acuff will be translating that easy flow into an NBA offense where he won’t always control the ball. Even so, George left the session encouraged.
“Darius Acuff Jr. looks so natural in that kind of freeform style,” George said. “He was slinging dimes all over the place.”
For a Kings team trying to shape a new identity, the fact that its young players are already choosing to get together before camp is a promising first step.
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