Reno Bighorns: Game Preview at Rio Grande Valley Vipers
By Tyler Watts
The Reno Bighorns travel to take on the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on November 13, 2016. This article examines everything Kings’ fans need to know about tonight’s game.
The Sacramento Kings’ D-League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, open their season today against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The D-League is a great way for young players to get some playing time and improve their game.
Let us now move ahead and talk about the notable players suiting up for the Reno Bighorns tonight.
Notable Bighorns
Georgios Papagiannis
The number 13 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft should get his first shot at big minutes and big production. He was found only 6 minutes on the court with the Kings, so far. That is why the Kings moved him and the other rookies to the D-League.
Skal Labissiere
The Bighorn I am most looking forward to watching is Skal Labissiere. At only 20, he seems like he could grow into the prototypical stretch four. He was the 28th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. I am excited to see him get big minutes on the court tonight.
Below is a highlight video from Summer League to give you a glimpse at what Skal brings to the court.
Malachi Richardson
Malachi Richardson was the 22nd overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. My colleague, Rafe Wong, wrote a great article about what to expect from Richardson this season here. I am excited to see if Richardson can get his big offensive game fired up and really light up the scoreboard tonight.
Isaiah Cousins
The Kings second round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft will suit up for the Bighorns tomorrow as well. I am hoping, he is the primary point guard and gets big minutes in tonight’s game.
Lamar Patterson
Patterson played a good bit for the Atlanta Hawks last season and then spent training camp this year in Sacramento. He could prove to be a big scorer in the D-League, so he is worth monitoring for certain.
Rio Grande Valley Vipers’ Scouting Report
The Rio Grande Valley Vipers feature some exciting talent. P.J. Hairston, a former first round pick and NBA veteran, should lead the team. Second round picks Chinanu Onuaku and J.P. Tokoto should provide a little spark. I am excited to see how Gary Payton II looks for the Vipers’. He is the son of NBA legend Gary Payton and an exciting point guard prospect in his own right.
This section will expand as the season goes on, but without any games played it is hard to be certain who will get minutes and production for either team.
What to Watch for?
Future of the Kings
The one and most important thing I will be watching for in this game are how the Kings rookies look in an extended opportunity. This is their chance to go out and play the DeMarcus Cousins or Rudy Gay role in the D-League. It will be interesting to see who seizes that opportunity and who falters.
Summary
There you have it, a brief preview of tonight’s Reno Bighorns contest. If you tune into this link around game time, you should be able to watch the action yourself. The game starts at 4pm Pacific time, so if you are having a nice Sunday at home and want to watch some basketball tune in and enjoy a Bighorns game.
Next: Opinion: Should the Sacramento Kings Trade Willie Cauley-Stein?
Please check back to A Royal Pain for everything you need to know about the Sacramento Kings this season. Thank you for reading.