#2. Intensity & Hustle
As we mentioned previously, Holmes doesn’t have an extensive skill set on the offensive end, so the trait that truly sets him apart is his intensity and hustle. He has built his young career on battling for rebounds, diving for loose balls, and using his unrelenting motor to help his team in any way possible.
This attribute is highly welcomed in a town like Sacramento with a blue collar attitude and a chip on its shoulder. This has quickly made Holmes a fan favorite as fans will appreciate heart over skill any day of the week.
On the court, it helps the Kings in establishing an identity. While the “grit and grind” mentality has been aided by the arrival of Alex Len, it is Holmes that often sets the tone for the team with his play. While Saturday’s game against the Trail Blazers was a full team effort, there were times when Sacramento fed off of Holmes’ energy in order to maintain their big lead. There will undoubtedly be more moments like this as Holmes receives more minutes and is reintegrated back in to the rotation.
It will be interesting to see how Harry Giles is able to feed off of Holmes, given Giles’ tendency to be a ball of energy himself. They didn’t see much of any playing time together at the beginning of the season, and might not necessarily be sharing the court at all times. But if they are able to play off of each others energies, it could create a problem for opposing front lines.