Davion Mitchell will have an integral role in the Kings' rotation, but the No. 9 overall draft pick still is getting his bearings as he sets out on his first NBA training camp.
"Getting to know everyone, getting to play with different people, different lineups," Mitchell told reporters Wednesday. "It's been fun though, we've been going hard, going at each other every day, and making each other better."
A national champion in college at Baylor, Mitchell joined the Kings with a clear emphasis in mind, shoring up what was one of the NBA's worst defenses in recent history a season ago. The nickname "off night" isn't just anointed on anyone, as Mitchell's elite on-ball defense was one of his most appealing traits coming out of school.
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Mitchell recognizes the external noise around him and the Kings after such a frustrating season last year, but is focused on taking things one day at a time in his rookie campaign.
"Just try to take every day 1-0, go every day 1-0 and do what I can do for our team to win," Mitchell said.
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The prospect of coach Luke Walton rolling out three-guard lineups featuring the trio of recent lottery picks has scintillated Kings fans, and Mitchell said the potential groupings with De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton are a work in progress.
NBA
"We got to do a better job playing off each other, but we're still learning each other's game, we're moving the ball well, still trying to pick each other's brains, telling them to do this that, what spots we need to go on, but we're learning," Mitchell explained about the early work on the three-guard sets.
Both Fox and Haliburton have praised Mitchell for his work ethic over the summer in preparing for camp, and he will get his first chance to wear a standard Kings uniform in a live game with the preseason opener on Monday, Oct. 4 against the Phoenix Suns.