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Kent Bazemore Becoming Solid Addition To Sacramento Kings

By Anthony Cardenas

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Kent Bazemore #26 of the Sacramento Kings reacts to a play during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Golden 1 Center on February 20, 2020 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 License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Kent Bazemore #26 of the Sacramento Kings reacts to a play during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Golden 1 Center on February 20, 2020 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 License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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Sacramento Kings newcomer Kent Bazemore is making a splash not only with his scoring, but his hustle and consistency as well.

The Sacramento Kings made some mistakes in free agency this last off season, and they admitted to them with their deals at the trade deadline earlier this month. Of the four players that the Kings gave contracts to in the summer of 2019, two of them were dealt before either got to 35 games in Sacramento.

Dewayne Dedmon and Trevor Ariza were shipped off in separate trades around the February 6th deadline, Dedmon back to the Hawks and Ariza to the Trail Blazers. In return, the Kings received Jabari Parker, Alex Len, and Kent Bazemore, the latter of whom is quickly making his mark on the team.

Bazemore began the season with the Blazers after being traded away by the Hawks in the off season. He was struggling to find his spot in Portland, enduring the worst shooting season of his career and his lowest scoring average in five years.

Despite a decrease in minutes, Bazemore has upped his average from 7.9 to 10.4 points per game with Sacramento, and is shooting a hair under 39 percent from deep versus the 32.7 percent he shot in Portland. But it is his hustle and his consistency that is quickly winning over the hearts of the fan base.

More Of Bazemore

Bazemore enjoyed his best statistical game as a King in Saturday’s matinée victory over the Clippers, finishing with 23 points on 54/67/87 shooting splits. He also added four steals and one monster chase down block, giving the bench unit the spark it needed with Buddy Hield scoring in single digits for the first time since before Christmas.

https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/1231347404353372160

This was not Bazemore’s lone solid performance. He has scored in double digits in 6 of his 12 games with Sacramento, including an 18 point game and three 15 point games. He has been as reliable from long range as he has ever been, aside from his career year in 2017-’18 when he shot 39.4 percent.

Bazemore is apparently cut from the same cloth as Harry Giles and Richaun Holmes when it comes to fan favoritism. He has already seemed to embrace the city in his short time in Sacramento, judging from his social media posts after games.

His contract expires after the season, and Bazemore will undoubtedly test the free agent market. The Kings can certainly find a way to afford him, but it would cost them in other areas. But a reliable wing that can back up Harrison Barnes is high on the list of needs for Sacramento, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Bazemore back in purple (red?) next season.

For now, Kent Bazemore seems to be completely bought in to an unlikely, late-season playoff push, which is something that will further capture his approval from Sacramento Kings fans.

Next. 9 Kings Players You May Have Forgotten About. dark

Bazemore and the Kings will take on the Warriors in San Francisco on Tuesday evening at 7pm.

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