Category: Sacramento Kings Blog

The Sacramento Kings today signed three free agents — guard Rajon Rondo, guard-forward Marco Belinelli (bell-uh-nell-ee) and center Kosta Koufos (COAST-ah Koo-fuss) — according to Vlade Divac, Vice President of Basketball and Franchise Operations.

Rondo, a 6-1, 186-pound guard is averaging 10.8 points (.470 FG%, .263 3pt%, .609 FT%), 4.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 32.6 minutes per game in 573 career games in nine NBA seasons with two teams (Boston, 2006-07 – 2013-14 and Dallas, 2014-15). Rondo, a four-time NBA All-Star, twice led the league in assists per game (2011-12, 11.7 apg and 2012-13, 11.1 apg). He was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2011-12 and has earned four NBA All-Defensive Team honors, twice on the First Team (2009-10 and 2010-11). With the Celtics, Rondo helped Boston advance to two NBA Finals, including a championship in 2008. Rondo has 22 career triple-doubles in the regular season and 10 in the NBA Playoffs.

An eight-year NBA veteran, Belinelli is averaging 9.4 points (.430 FG%, .392 3pt%, .819 FT%), 2.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 22.8 minutes per game in 502 career games with five teams – Golden State (2007-08 – 2008-09), Toronto (2009-10), New Orleans (2010-11 – 2011-12), Chicago (2012-13) and San Antonio (2013-14 – 2014-15). A member of the 2014 NBA champion San Antonio Spurs, the 6-5, 201-pound Belinelli averaged 11.4 points (career-highs with .485 FG%, a team-high .430 3pt% and .847 FT%), a career-high 2.8 rebounds, a career-best 2.2 assists and 25.2 minutes per game in 80 games of which he started 25 that season.

A 7-0, 265-pound center, Koufos is averaging 5.4 points (.528 FG%, .617 FT%), 4.7 rebounds and 15.3 minutes per game in 424 games in seven seasons with four teams – Utah (2008-09 – 2009-10), Minnesota (2010-11), Denver (2010-11 – 2012-13) and Memphis (2013-14 – 2014-15). Selected by the Utah Jazz in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft, Koufos posted his best statistical season in 2012-13 with the Nuggets, averaging career-highs in scoring (8.0 ppg), rebounding (6.9 rpg) and minutes played (22.4 mpg) while starting in all 81 games he played in.

Kings sign David Stockton through 2015-16 season

The Sacramento Kings announced today that the team has signed David Stockton through the 2015-16 season. The Kings had previously signed Stockton to a 10-day contract on February 20.

A day later, Stockton made his NBA debut at the STAPLES Center against the Los Angeles Clippers. He recorded one point (0-2 FG, 1-1 FT), two rebounds and one assist in seven minutes off the bench in his lone appearance with the Kings.

Stockton, a 5-11, 165-pound guard, averaged 20.1 points (.461 FG%, .398 3pt%, .824 FT%), 4.2 rebounds, 9.4 assists, 2.5 steals and 30.5 minutes per game in 43 contests of which he started 38 for the Sacramento Kings NBA D-League affiliate Reno Bighorns in 2014-15. Stockton recorded two triple-doubles, a 36-point, 10-rebound, 14-assist performance against Idaho on March 22 and a 26-point, 10-rebound, 15-assist effort vs. Bakersfield on March 31. Eight times he scored 30 or more points, including a career-high 44 points on March 4 vs. Rio Grande. He had 21 point-assist double-doubles, including a 37-point, 22-assist game against Texas on March 6. Among D-League leaders, he ranked 11th in scoring, third in assists and second in steals per game. Undrafted, Stockton was selected by the Maine Red Claws in the third round of the 2014 NBA Development League Draft on November 1, 2014. He was later traded to the Reno Bighorns on draft night.

Like his father, Hall of Fame guard John Stockton, he played collegiately at Gonzaga (2010-11 – 2013-14).

Carl Landry suspended one game for leaving bench area during altercation

Sacramento Kings forward Carl Landry has been suspended one game without pay for leaving the bench area during an altercation, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 6:10 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Utah Jazz’s 101-95 win over the Kings on April 5 at Sleep Train Arena.

Landry will serve his suspension on April 7, when the Kings host the Minnesota Timberwolves.

To view the play, click on this link.

Kings sign Sim Bhullar to 10-day contract

The Sacramento Kings announced today that the team has signed Sim Bhullar to a 10-day contract, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro. Bhullar becomes the first player of Indian descent to be on an NBA team’s regular season roster.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Bhullar became the first player of Indian descent to sign with an NBA team when he inked a contract with the Kings on August 15, 2014. The 7-foot-5, 360-pound center was a member of the Kings squad that captured the 2014 Samsung NBA Summer League title in Las Vegas.

Bhullar played for the Kings D-League affiliate Reno Bighorns and averaged 10.3 points (.727 FG%, .600 FT%), 8.8 rebounds, 3.9 blocks and 25.8 minutes per game in 39 games, of which he started 17. He led the D-League in field goal percentage and blocks per game. Bhullar recorded 11 double-doubles this season and had a triple-double with 26 points (12-15 FG, 2-5 FT), 17 rebounds and 11 blocks on February 22 versus the L.A. Defenders.

On February 26, 2015, Bhullar became the first NBA D-League player to make a guest appearance on a late night talk show when he joined the “The Late Late Show” with guest host Kunal Nayyar of “The Big Bang Theory.”

In his two seasons at New Mexico State, the Aggies standout averaged 10.2 points (.633 FG%, .496 FT%), 7.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 2.9 blocks and 25.3 minutes per game in 65 career games. Bhullar was a two-time Western Athletic Conference Tournament MVP, helping the school reach the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and 2014. As a freshman, he was named WAC Freshman of the Year after accruing averages of 10.1 points (.621 FG%, .465 FT%), 6.7 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 24.4 minutes per game for the Aggies. He set a single-season school record for most blocked shots with 85 and his .621 field goal percentage ranked fourth on the NMSU single-season list and first in the WAC in 2012-13.

Kings sign David Wear to 10-day contract

The Sacramento Kings announced today that the team has signed David Wear to a 10-day contract, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

The 6-10, 235-pound forward is averaging 16.3 points (.478 FG%, .394 3pt%, .812 FT%), 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 30.0 minutes per game in 43 contests for the Reno Bighorns, Sacramento’s NBA D-League affiliate. Wear registered career highs of 33 points (12 of 18 FG) on Jan. 3 at Los Angeles Defenders and has hit seven three-pointers in a game twice (Nov. 16 vs. Grand Rapids and Jan. 3 at Los Angeles Defenders).

The UCLA product will wear jersey number 31 and will be available for the Kings contest Tuesday night at Sleep Train Arena versus the Philadelphia 76ers.

The roster now stands at 15 players.

Sacramento Kings hire Vlade Divac

The Sacramento Kings announced today Vlade Divac has been named Vice President of Basketball and Franchise Operations.

In this capacity, Divac’s responsibilities will include advising the Kings front office and coaching staff, assisting the organization’s global branding efforts, augmenting fan outreach initiatives and oversight of player development programs. Additionally, he will facilitate talent evaluation and help foster relationships between the team and a growing pipeline of European athletes.

One of the most respected and revered individuals in franchise history, Divac returns to Sacramento having spent more than a decade serving the NBA and international sporting communities with the same distinction that solidified his reputation as a consummate teammate, player, humanitarian and overall difference-maker on and off the basketball court.

“With an unparalleled philanthropic track record that spans the globe, Vlade Divac is the epitome of our NBA 3.0 philosophy,” said Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé. “He has a unique perspective and global stature that will only further elevate our organization around the world.”

“It’s a great honor returning to the city that has provided a lifetime of unforgettable experiences,” said Divac. “Sacramento and the Kings organization were always in my thoughts and I often dreamed of having a role in helping our amazing fans realize the ultimate NBA prize. I’m thankful to Vivek for the opportunity and look forward to creating more special memories here.”

“Over the past year that I have gotten to know Vlade, he has proven himself as an ambassador to the Sacramento community,” said Kings General Manager Pete D’alessandro. “The organization is fortunate to have him as an advisor. I look forward to his contributions, especially with respect to his knowledge of the international game.”

Divac, 47, has served in a variety of administrative and leadership roles since retiring from professional basketball in 2007. In addition to his philanthropic efforts focused on helping children in his native country and other reaches of the globe, he was named President of the Serbian Olympic Committee in 2009. Under his guidance, Serbian athletes have enjoyed greater success and the country is experiencing a resurgence on the international stage.

In 16 NBA campaigns with Los Angeles, Charlotte and Sacramento, Divac averaged 11.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game over 1,134 contests. He is only one of four players in league annals to accrue at least 13,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists, 1,200 steals and 1,600 blocked shots, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin Garnett with that distinction. His six seasons in a Kings uniform marked the most successful period in team history, including a league-high 61 wins in 2001-02 and a trip to the Western Conference Finals. His name adorns the franchise record book in several key categories, ranking third all-time during the Sacramento-era in rebounds (3,538) and blocked shots (523), ninth in points scored (5,176), seventh with 454 games played, eighth in free throws made (1,209) and eighth in steals (453). Divac’s jersey was retired by the Kings in 2009.