Category: Sacramento Kings Blog

The Kings have signed center Georgios Papagiannis (YOUR-gos Pa-pa-YAHN-iss), guard Malachi Richardson (Mal-ah-kai) and forward-center Skal Labissiere (Skal La-bee-SEE-AIR) to contracts.

On June 23, the night of the 2016 NBA Draft, Sacramento acquired the draft rights of Papagiannis and Labissiere and the rights to Bogdan Bogdanovic (boag-DAHN boag-DAHN-O-vitch) and a future second-round selection from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the draft rights to Marquese Chriss, who the Kings selected out of Washington with the eighth overall pick. The Suns selected Papagiannis (13th overall) and Labissiere (28th overall) in the first round before trading their draft rights to the Kings.

Papagiannis, who became the highest drafted Greek player ever, played for Panathinaikos (Greece) for four seasons (2011-12 – 2012-13 and 2014-15 – 2015-16). In 2015-16, the 7-foot-1 center averaged 6.4 points (.678 FG%, .667 FT%), 2.6 rebounds and 11.4 minutes per game in 21 contests. He played high school basketball in the United States at Westtown School in West Chester, Penn., in 2013-14, before returning to Greece.

Labissiere, a 6-foot-11 forward-center, posted averages of 6.6 points (.516 FG%, .661 FT%), 3.1 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 15.8 minutes per game in all 36 games while starting 18 of them for the 2015-16 Kentucky Wildcats. He became the highest drafted Haitian player since Samuel Dalembert, who was selected 26th overall in the 2001 NBA Draft.

On July 7, the Kings acquired the draft rights of Richardson from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for forward Marco Belinelli. The 6-foot-6 Richardson was selected by the Hornets in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft. Richardson averaged 13.4 points (.369 FG%, .353 3pt%, .720 FT%), 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 34.4 minutes per game in starting all 37 games in which he played in as a freshman at Syracuse. An ACC All-Freshman team selection, Richardson finished with 79 three-pointers, the third-best total by an Orangeman freshman.

The Sacramento Kings have added two members to Head Coach Dave Joerger’s staff, naming Bob Thornton an assistant coach and Larry Lewis as a player development coach.

Thornton arrives in Sacramento with more than 30 years of basketball experience as a player, coach and personnel scout, having spent the previous five seasons in Memphis alongside Joerger after four years as an advance scout for the Oklahoma City Thunder (2007-2011). His coaching resume includes two seasons as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls (2002-04) and Minnesota Timberwolves (2005-07) and as head coach for the Huntsville Flight of the NBA D-League (2001-02) and the Continental Basketball Association’s Quad City Thunder (2000-01).

Selected by the New York Knicks in the fourth round of the 1984 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles native played eight seasons in the league and three overseas in Italy before breaking into the coaching ranks as an assistant with Chapman University in 1997.

Lewis joins Sacramento’s bench after spending the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers in a similar capacity. Prior to his elevation to the Lakers, he served two seasons as an assistant coach for the L.A. D-Fenders of the D-League. In his first year as a coach after a long international playing career, Lewis helped the franchise post the best regular season record in D-League annals (38-12) and earn eight NBA call-ups. Named an assistant on the D-League Select Team in 2012, he played a central role in the D-Fenders capturing the Development Champion Award, bestowed on the team that best embodies the D-League’s goals of developing talent via call-ups and player assignments.

In addition to his experience on the sidelines, Lewis’ eclectic international playing career spanned 19 seasons and four continents, including stops in Argentina (2011), Spain (2001-11), Japan (1996-2000), Cyprus (1996), Great Britain (1993) and the Dominican Republic (1992). He also played one season in the United States Basketball League with Sarasota (1996), in the CBA with the Harrisburg Hammerheads and Rapid City Thrillers (1994-95) and for the silver medal winning Team USA in the Pan American Games (1995).

A Morehouse College alumnus, Lewis turned professional in 1992 when he was drafted by the Albany Patroons of the CBA.

The Sacramento Kings today signed free agent guards Arron Afflalo and Garrett Temple and forwards Matt Barnes and Anthony Tolliver, according to Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Vlade Divac.

“Adding these skilled veterans shores up our depth and experience at several positions,” said Divac. “We’re excited to welcome each of them to the Kings family.”

Entering his tenth NBA campaign, Afflalo has accrued career averages of 11.6 points (.452 FG%, .385 3pt%, .820 FT%), 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 28.7 minutes per game in 648 contests (489 starts) with the Detroit Pistons (2007-08 – 2008-09), Denver Nuggets (2009-10 – 2011-12 & 53 games in 2014-15), Orlando Magic (2012-13 – 2013-14), Portland Trail Blazers (25 games in 2014-15) and New York Knicks (2015-16). He has shot 40 percent or better from beyond the arc in five seasons and at least 38 percent in eight, earning the reputation as a reliable shooter. The UCLA alum enjoyed his finest statistical output in 2013-14, posting 18.2 points (.459 FG%, .427 3pt%, .815 FT%), 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 35 minutes per game, finishing eighth in the league in three point shooting.

As a Bruin, Afflalo finished his career in Westwood as one the program’s best players in recent memory, helping guide UCLA to the NCAA tournament in each of his three seasons, culminating in PAC-10 Conference Player of the Year honors as a junior in 2006-07.

Barnes returns to the Kings as a 13-year NBA veteran after spending the 2015-16 season with the Memphis Grizzlies. As a reserve, he registered career highs in field goal attempts per game (9.1), free throw percentage (.804) and tied a career-best with 5.5 rebounds per contest. The Sacramento native rejoins his hometown team after donning a Kings jersey during the 2004-05 campaign. In 855 NBA contests, Barnes has accrued averages of 8.3 points (.440 FG%, .335 3pt%, .742 FT%,), 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 23.6 minutes per game with the Los Angeles Clippers (2003-04 and 2012-13– 2014-15), Sacramento (2004-05), New York Knicks (six games in 2005-06), Philadelphia 76ers (50 games in 2005-06), Golden State Warriors (2006-07 – 2007-08), Phoenix Suns (2008-09), Orlando Magic (2009-10) and Los Angeles Lakers (2010-11 – 2011-12).

Also a former Bruin standout (1998-2002), all four of Barnes’ seasons in Westwood ended in NCAA Tournament berths, including Sweet 16 appearances in his last three years.

Tolliver, a 10-year league veteran and a former NBA D-League All-Star, joins the Kings after appearing in a career-high 72 contests for Detroit last season. Known as a hard-working, tough competitor, Tolliver went undrafted as a senior out of Creighton University in 2007 before parlaying stellar play in the D-League and German Bundesliga into a contract with San Antonio in 2008.

The Springfield, Missouri native has accrued career averages of 6.0 points (.409 FG%, .357 3PT%, .770 FT%), 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 19.6 minutes per game in 455 contests with San Antonio (2008-09), Portland (2009-10), Golden State (2009-10), Minnesota (2010-11 – 2011-12), Atlanta (2012-13), Charlotte (2013-14), Phoenix (2014-15) and Detroit (2014-15 – 2015-16). He registered his best three-point shooting percentage in 2013-14 when he shot .413 from beyond the arc.

Tolliver enjoyed a four-year career at Creighton, where he earned first-team all Missouri Valley Conference honors as a senior (2006-07), helping guide the Blue Jays to a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the second time during his collegiate career.

Temple arrives in Sacramento after spending the previous four seasons (2012-13 – 2015-16) with the Washington Wizards, where he posted 4.6 points (.396 FG%, .338 3PT%, .719 FT%), 1.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 17.4 minutes per game in 258 contests. He amassed career highs last season in several key categories, including scoring average (7.3 points per game), games played (80), games started (43), rebounds (2.7), and assists (1.8). For his career, the LSU product has averaged 4.5 points (.393 FG%, .335 3pt%, .700 FT%), 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 16.3 minutes per game in 309 career contests with the Houston Rockets (2009-10), Sacramento (2009-10), San Antonio Spurs (2009-10 – 2010-11), Milwaukee Bucks (2010-11), Charlotte Hornets (2010-11) and Washington (2012-13 – 2015-16).

A Baton Rouge, Louisiana native, Temple became LSU’s all-time leader in minutes played (4,432), breaking a record set by Howard Carter in 1983. He also earned All-SEC Defensive team honors and was named to the coaches All-SEC second team, posting 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game in 35 contests as a senior.

The Reno Bighorns today named Darrick Martin as the team’s new head coach, according to General Manager Peja Stojakovic.

Martin, 45, joins the Bighorns after spending the 2015-16 season as a radio analysist for the UCLA Men’s Basketball broadcast. Prior to starting his career in the booth, Martin spent three seasons as an assistant coach at St. John’s University, where he served under Steve Lavin.

A 13-year NBA veteran that appeared in 514 games, Martin began his NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves (1994-95, 2003-04) before joining the Vancouver Grizzlies (1995-96), Los Angeles Clippers (1996-99, 2004-05), Sacramento Kings (1999-01), Dallas Mavericks (2001-02) and the Toronto Raptors (2004-08). Martin joined the Minnesota Timberwolves as an assistant coach and player development specialist at the conclusion of his playing career.

Today, the Sacramento Kings unveiled a new uniform system for the 2016-17 season, featuring the team’s recently released logos.

“Our bold modern look represents our commitment to Sacramento and the pride of this region,” said Kings President Chris Granger. “Sacramento Proud will be on display at home, on the road and across the globe.”

Here is how the Kings describe their new uniforms:

The four new uniforms – home, away, global and city – showcase updated emblems and a refreshed color palate. The classic Baby Blues, worn from 1985-1990, as well as for select home games last year – will return as a part of the team’s ongoing salute to the origins of the team.

At the center of the home, away and city jerseys, the team’s new crown serves as a reminder of the foundation of the team. The city jersey proudly features Sacramento’s oft-referenced acronym – SAC – in bold granite lettering, representing the organization’s deep connection to its city.

The clean, tri-colored side stripes on the shorts – inspired by the Kansas City-era Kings – are tapered for a modern look. At the base of the shorts for all three uniforms, the city logo serves as a reminder that when you root for the Kings, you root for Sacramento.

A bold, black global jersey features the team’s global crest, a symbol of leadership and strength. The granite pattern – a continuous “S” inspired by an emblem on our city’s flag – runs horizontally through the jersey to reflect the inseparable link between the team and its community. The design runs through the shorts up to a single granite stripe, reminiscent of the team’s first black uniforms in 1994. The primary emblem on the shorts is inspired by the classic Kings logo, reimagined to reflect the civic and franchise pride that has grown over the last 31 years.

Each jersey is united by the team’s beginnings in Sacramento, as a baby blue band runs along the base of the collar, while three baby blue stiches that run perpendicular to the seam on the right side of the jersey stand for the three elements that form the soul of our franchise: our city, our pride and our foundation. At the base of the jersey, a baby blue “Sacramento Proud” tab is embedded to serve as a reminder that each jersey is more than a uniform – it is a symbol honoring our city every time the team takes the court.