It didn’t take long for Kevin Huerter to understand what it was like to be a Sacramento King.
Huerter admitted earlier this week that in just nine games with Sacramento, he already has noticed a difference in how Kings games are officiated.
And on Friday morning, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons weighed in on Huerter’s comments.
“Just seeing this… [I] agree with Huerter,” Simmons wrote on Twitter. “The Kings get treated in close games like they’re the ‘72 USA Olympic hoops team.”
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
The Kings fell victim to two atrocious missed calls within a six-day span when the NBA's Last Two Minute Report admitted it missed a traveling violation on Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro’s game-winner and then two games later, said Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson fouled Huerter behind the arc which should have resulted in three free throws and a chance at overtime.
But the missed calls resulted in two losses within three games and now, the Kings stand at 4-6 on the season instead of 6-4. Of course, there’s no telling how the Kings would have fared in either of the two hypothetical overtime scenarios, but the fact that they didn’t even get a chance has hurt Sacramento in ways it's unfortunately used to, and something Huerter is quickly adapting to.
Huerter compared his first few games in Sactown to his 274 games with the Atlanta Hawks.
NBA
RELATED: Spida praises Keegan, 'hungry' Kings after win over Cavs
"It hurts me to say this, but yes," Huerter said Wednesday on Sactown Sports 1140 AM. "Honestly. That is something that within the first [nine] games has been noticeable.
"I won’t say which teammates, but a couple of teammates that have been here said, 'Things are different here in Sac,' " Huerter said. "We don’t get many calls. You’re going to realize in every game that things are different, and honestly it is something I’ve felt so far."
Even though snubbed from potential dubs, Huerter and the Kings have their heads held high early in the season. And although difficult, they aren't playing the blame game when they've got bigger fish to fry, such as making it to the playoffs for the first time in 17 seasons.