LAS VEGAS, NV -- There is an interesting development happening with the Sacramento Kings Summer League team. De’Aaron Fox is playing plenty of minutes as the starting point guard, but he’s also getting a look off the ball alongside fellow rookie Frank Mason.
“I like it, it’s a really good adjustment for me, for us,” coach Jason March said about the dual point guard look during his postgame media scrum. “I could go with it for longer amount of time, but we’ve got other guys out there.”
It’s a valuable experience for both Fox and Mason that may pay dividends during the regular season when veteran George Hill is thrown in the mix. In the battle for playing time, versatility is imperative. If Fox can play a few minutes at both guard positions, it may open up some time for Mason.
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"I think we both create a lot plays for our teammates," Fox said. "We’re both quick and I think we play really we together."
"We do a good job of playing off each other whenever we’re in there together," Mason added.
The duo did a nice job of breaking the Memphis Grizzlies down off the dribble and hitting open shooters on the perimeter. Unfortunately for their assist totals, both Justin Jackson and Buddy Hield had off nights from long range.
“We missed a lot of shots, I give props to Justin Jackson, he went 0-for-9, but he just kept shooting it,” Skal Labissiere said. “A lot of guys would go 0-for-2, 0-for-3 and stop shooting and I’m sure that’s not comfortable for him to keep doing it, but he kept shooting it. That speaks volumes about him. We want him to keep shooting and eventually they’ll start falling.”
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Labissiere was off by one 3-pointer, but who’s counting. Jackson went 0-for-8 from the three and 2-of-13 overall, while Hield went 1-of-5 from deep. It’s hard to create space and driving lanes when the shots aren’t falling.
The Kings get another shot to pick up their first Summer League victory Monday night when they face Lonzo Ball and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Vince Carter sighting
Eight-time All-Star Vince Carter dropped by Cox Pavilion on Sunday to meet some of his new teammates. The 40-year-old drew a huge crowd everywhere he went as fans tried to get autographs. Carter, along with Hill and Zach Randolph are expected to be announced as free agent signings by the Kings Monday in Las Vegas.
Hamstrung in Vegas
Malachi Richardson entered Cox Pavilion wearing a Kings polo shirt instead of his usual warm-up gear Sunday evening. The second-year wing missed the second half of last season with a hamstring tear and on his last shot Friday night against the Phoenix Suns, he felt a spasm in the same hamstring. Sacramento will take a cautious approach to injury, leaving Richardson’s availability for the rest of Summer League is in question.