Sacramento Kings’ Summer League: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
By Rafe Wong
The Good:
De’Aaron Fox
De’Aaron “Swipa” Fox was everything the Kings could have hoped for as their point guard of the future. Before going down with an ankle injury in his fourth game, Fox averaged 15.7 points, 3 assists, and 2.7 steals per game while shooting 47% from the floor.
Based on Fox’s play in summer league, he has the ability to be a great two-way player at the NBA level. On the offensive end, he a dominant slasher who showed an ability to consistently make mid-range jumpers. On the defensive end, he was pesky against opponents as he forced multiple turnovers gamely.
Kings fans, it looks like De’Aaron Fox is on his way to being a great player and leader!
Justin Jackson
The Kings used the 15th overall pick in this year’s draft on Justin Jackson in the hopes of him becoming a two-way player. If Jackson’s summer league play is a translation to what type of player he can become, the Kings should be excited.
There is a good argument that Jackson was the best player for the Kings during summer league. In the six games he played in, Jackson averaged 16.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Not only was Jackson an offensive force for the Kings, but he also was able to be an asset on the defensive end as well. Kings fans, another player to be optimistic about.
Jack Cooley
Jack Cooley may not be on the Kings’ opening day roster, but he is a player that Sacramento should keep going forward. In this year’s summer league games, Cooley showcased his worth as an asset in the paint. In the five games he played in (limited time), Cooley averaged 9.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Due to his hustle and tenacity on the court, he became a fan favorite in the Kings community quickly.