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Sacramento Kings season report card: Skal Labissiere

By Rafe Wong

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 31: Skal Labissiere #7 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 31, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 31: Skal Labissiere #7 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 31, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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How did Skal Labissiere perform during his 2017-2018 campaign? This article will give readers a better perspective of Labissiere’s game as well as a grade for his season.

This article continues A Royal Pain‘s series where the squad will grade how each player on the Sacramento Kings performed during the 2017-2018 season. With that being said, let us jump onto how Skal Labissiere played.

Offense

For the season, Skal averaged 8.7 points and 1.2 assists per game. Compare those numbers to his rookie season, his stats dipped a little which is not ideal.

But with that being said, however, I thought this year Skal was able to improve as a stretch four. His jump shot became a staple in his offensive game which resulted in him making 44.8% of his shots from the floor. Although his field goal percentage declined from last season, it is a result of him taking more shots outside the paint, in my opinion.

Skal was also able to add the three-point shot to his game, which was nonexistent last season, and ended up making 35.3% of the 51 shots he attempted from the area.

If there was one part of Labissiere’s game that he should focus on this summer it should be to get stronger. Skal has shown that he has good post-up skills and touch around the rim, but his lack of strength prevents him from succeeding in that area of the court.

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Once Labissiere puts on the muscle, he will not get so overpowered by his opponents in the paint and he will have an easier time getting shots up near the rim. Having this in his offensive arsenal will result in the 6’11” forward becoming a two-way offensive threat which the Kings definitely need going forth.

Defense

Defensively, Skal had a so-so year. For the season, he averaged 4.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per contest while recording a defensive rating of 110.4 which was ranked fifth amongst his teammates who played more than ten games.

Labissiere showed flashes of being a good rim protector and rebounder throughout the season, but his lack of strength made him a liability. Many times during the year, I would see Kings’ opponents target Skal as they would force him to guard their big man in the paint which usually led to easy scores.

Skal definitely has the athleticism and length to be a good interior defender, but if he does not get bigger in size, he will always be a vulnerable spot in the Kings’ defense. But when the time does come when he gets stronger, which I believe will eventually happen, it will help out both his and the Kings’ defensive efficiency immensely.

Final Thoughts

This season, Labissiere endured a roller-coaster ride as he constantly was moving back and forth between the Kings and Reno Bighorns and his playing time with the Kings was unpredictable by the game. Because of this, I was not too worried about his numbers dipping compared to last year.

Overall, Skal made progress on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he got a little closer to becoming the stretch-four that Sacramento needs on their roster. And defensively, his motor allowed him to have some success as a rim protector and rebounder.

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The main hurdle for Labissiere will be to get stronger for next season. Once he is able to gain more muscle and fill out his body is when I believe Kings fans will see the two-year player become more effective and consistent on both ends of the floor.

Grade: C

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