Sacramento Kings Report Card: Skal Labissiere
By Rafe Wong
This article is part of a series that A Royal Pain is writing where we grade each player on the Sacramento Kings individually.
For this article specifically, we will evaluate the performance of Skal Labissiere. We will grade Labissiere based on his offensive, defensive, and overall performances for the 2016-2017 season.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: For this series, the players on the Kings will be graded on a curve, meaning that the grades handed out to each player say more about their ranking on the team rather than their actual performance grade.
Offense: B+
At only the age of 21, Labissiere surprised the basketball world with his offensive ability. Although a rookie, Labissiere was able to showcase go-to moves scoring the ball like his midrange stroke and his interior half-hook shot (which he can shoot with either hand).
As a result of Labissiere’s impressive rookie campaign, he was able to average 8.8 points per game while shooting 53.7% from the floor and 70.3% from the free-throw line. Labissiere was also ranked the sixth best player on the Kings in offensive efficiency with a rating of 108.9 (per Basketball RealGM).
Defense: C
There were many times within the season where Labissiere was exposed as a defender by his opponents. As a result, Labissiere finished the season recording a defensive rating of 112.9 which was ranked ninth amongst his teammates (per Basketball RealGM).
More from A Royal Pain
- 3 Ways Chris Duarte improves the Kings chances in 2023-24
- 5 Players the Sacramento Kings never should have signed
- Bleacher Report crazily lists Kings’ All-Star as “most overrated NBA player”
- Kings and Heat fans clash on Twitter to debate All-Star players
- Sacramento Kings’ Chris Duarte playing in 2023 FIBA World Cup
Skal did, however, improve his defense as the season went on. After the All-Star break concluded, Labissiere then recorded a defensive rating of 111.7 which was ranked fifth amongst his teammates (per Basketball RealGM).
Also, Labissiere did a solid job in the rebounding the basketball despite his lanky frame. For the year, Labissiere recorded a total rebound percentage of 14.6% which was ranked third amongst his teammates (per Basketball RealGM). One of those teammates was two-time All-Star and former King DeMarcus Cousins.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Labissiere’s play and potential gave Kings fans something to look forward to in the future. His offensive game seems to be in the making of reaching star level and there is hope his defense will catch up once his body fully fills out.
Despite being a rookie and 21 years of age, Labissiere showed to the world that he can play at a high-level and could possibly be the forward that the Kings can utilize for the long haul for their franchise.