Empty the Bench

By Brian Spencer

You’re starting to hear more about the maturing, improving Oklahoma City Thunder (11-9, 8th best in the West), and deservedly so. We’re fans. But there’s another cellar dweller from last year that warrants pause, attention, and a place under the national spotlight too.

Young, scrappy, rough around the edges, and absolutely brimming with hope and potential: you need to check out these Sacramento Kings.

Well, actually, if you’re not a League Pass subscriber, don’t live in the greater Sacramento area, or don’t want to bother looking for safe streams online (ahem), there’s only one more chance this entire season to catch them: on ESPN a week from tonight at 10:30pm. Meanwhile, you’ll have 19 more opportunities to watch the stalwart poster boys of drab basketball, the San Antonio Spurs, on national television between now and mid-April. Nine. Teen. Go figure.

The Kings. We’re more and more impressed with each passing game. We already knew these kids were alright, but I’m starting to think they’re more than alright. That they could still realistically be in playoff contention come April. There’s a lot to like here, even in a tough loss like Tuesday night in New Orleans, which they dropped by 2 points, 96-94, after Andres Nocioni choked at the free-throw line with 1.1 seconds left. (He bricked the first one, and was then called for a lane violation after stepping into the lane too early on his second shot, which he was trying to miss. Hornets color announcer Gil McGregor: “One toe over the line, sweet Jesus.”)

Jason Thompson, the spry 6-11 power forward with All-Star potential, fouled out with 3:42 left, but not before hanging 20 points and 9 boards on the Hornets. Third-year center Spencer Hawes (still only 21 years old) was solid in the middle, the role players chipped in, and your 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year, Tyreke Evans, again shouldered the load and almost single-handedly won the game on the road.

With the Hornets stretching the lead to 6 points with under 2 minutes left, Evans took over, scoring 9 consecutive points for the Kings, including a steal and a 3-point play on a drive to the hole that all at once showcased Evans’ strength, size, speed, and confidence. He’s the team’s difference maker now. It’s his team, already, and he’s embracing the moment with subdued swagger. He finished with 25 points, 9 assists, 5 boards, and 1 steal, and has now scored at least 20 points in 13 of his first 18 games in the NBA (12 of his last 14). At the moment, Evans has a cakewalk to the ROY honor. Says Sactown Royalty scribe Tom Ziller: “There’s no need to wrap Evans in a tortilla, or cover him in cheese. I can just say TYREKE EVANS and people all across the world will know just what the ufck I’m talking about.”

Tonight, his late-game heroics came up short, and the Kings fell to 9-11. It would have been a nice win, but it’s only one game of what’s going to be an ongoing learning process for a franchise that’s well on its way to digging itself out of the rebuilding rubble from the past few seasons. Evans, Thompson, Hawes, Donte Greene, Omar Casspi… they’re on the right track. A shame most people won’t have the chance to see this work in progress continue to iron out the kinks.

Tyreke Evans Photo Credit: Icon SMI