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Sacramento Kings Rookie Roundup: Season rankings

By Ryan Ritter

SACRAMENTO, CA - OCTOBER 29: Bogdan Bogdanovic #8 and De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings talk during the game against the Washington Wizards on October 29, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - OCTOBER 29: Bogdan Bogdanovic #8 and De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings talk during the game against the Washington Wizards on October 29, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Sacramento Kings rebuild Year 1 has come to an end. This week, to wrap things up, the Rookie Roundup looks into which rookie had the best overall season.

The Sacramento Kings season has come to an end, finishing 27-55.  With that, the Rookie Roundup serves up its final report of the season.  I thought that it might be interesting this time around to give a full season ranking for each of the four rookies to see how they’ve produced in the first year of the Kings’ rebuild.  Who ended up as the Sacramento Rookie of the Year?  Read on to find out!

(As always, the Rookie Roundup defines the week as Sunday-Saturday.  Thus, this column covers the game against the Spurs and the season finale against the Rockets.)

Bogdan Bogdanovic

Weekly Stats: 7.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.0 stls, 0.0 blks, 30.0% FG, 25.0% 3PT, 0.0% FT

Final Season Stats: 11.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.3 apg, 0.9 slts, 0.2 blks, 44.6% FG, 39.2% 3PT, 84.0% FT

It’s hard to argue that Bogdan Bogdanovic isn’t the Kings’ Rookie of the Year.  His shooting numbers were respectable across the board.  Also, although he got off to a somewhat slow start, once he found a groove, he was fairly consistent throughout the entire season.  His PER (13.5) led all Kings rookies.  His true shooting percentage (.556) also led the Kings’ rookies, and by a wide margin.  Do not forget, he did Sacramento proud on a national stage, winning the Rising Stars Challenge MVP on All-Star weekend.

It was almost a year and a half between when the Kings got the rights to Bogi (June 23rd, 2016) and when he played his first game with the club (October 23rd, 2017).  But by all accounts, he has been worth the wait.  Enjoy your final Rookie Roundup victory, BB.  You earned it.

Related Story: Why Buddy Hield is the future Sixth Man of the Year

De’Aaron Fox

Weekly Stats: 16.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 5.5 apg, 0.0 stls, 0.0 blks, 44.4% FG, 44.4% 3PT, 57.1% FT

Final Season Stats: 11.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.4 apg, 1.0 stls, 0.3 blks, 41.2% FG, 30.7% 3PT, 72.3% FT

It is worth acknowledging that De’Aaron Fox had a fantastic week to finish out the season.  Also, taking everything said about Bogdanovic above into account, where Fox has him beat is in producing highlight reels.  Fox’s shooting remains a serious question mark, despite my claims to the contrary earlier in the season.  On the other hand, Fox has made a name for himself this year for making them when it counts.  His exploits in the clutch have been well-documented, but those highlights also show that Fox is adept at finding other ways to score beside the jumper.  Many believe that Fox can develop into a star, and his moments in end-of-game situations is a significant reason why.  I’m excited to see where his game is at this point next year.

Frank Mason

Weekly Stats: DNP

Final Season Stats: 7.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.8 apg, 0.7 stls, 0.2 blks, 37.9% FG, 36.0% 3PT, 81.7% FT

Unfortunately, Frank Mason fell victim to the injury bug once again this week.  It makes for a somewhat accurate summary of his overall season.  He didn’t get a chance to shine this year, and when he managed to get on the court, he tended to rush things.  His energy and style of game still project him as a potential Sacramento fan favorite. Hopefully, he gets a full summer of healing and conditioning.  Mason managed to have his moments despite the adversity, and I’d love to see what Mason can do with a clean bill of health.

Justin Jackson

Weekly Stats: 0.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.0 stls, 0.5 blks, 0.0% FG, 0.0% 3PT, 0.0% FT

Final Season Stats: 6.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.4 stls, 0.2 blks, 44.2% FG, 30.% 3PT, 72.2% FT

It’s a shame Justin Jackson had the week he did, one in which he did almost nothing at all.  The fanbase seems down on him overall, but I tend to be a little more optimistic than others, if only because I feel he’s been miscast on the team so far.  It’s a drum I’ve beaten before, but starting forward is not a role Jackson is going to be able to stay in for much longer.  It’s not his game, and why Dave Joerger kept him at the starting three for so long (instead of promoting Hield back up to starting two and moving Bogi to three) is a mystery for another time.

Next: 10 greatest individual seasons in Kings history

I hope that this summer, the Kings can draft a potential starting small forward (fingers crossed for Mikal Bridges) and Jackson can comfortably slot down into the reserves.  He is not entirely without value, but I want to see him in a position where he can succeed.

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