On a team drowning in guards, it can be hard to stand out as a shooting guard or a point guard. But that is exactly what Keon Ellis did in the final game of the preseason, giving fans a preview of what kind of performance they might be in for this season.
Out of the 18 players signed to the Kings roster between regular and two-way contracts, 10 of them are guards. That means 56% of the team are guards, many of whom are shooters without a defensive focus. This is particularly true of the veterans.
This is the team imbalance that has been dragging the franchise down for years. Head coach Doug Christie is trying to bring a defensive focus to the team. That's a tall order considering the bulk of his roster are shoot-first guards. The centers and forwards tend to play the same way.
Regardless, that means the competition at the guard positions is fierce, to say the least. Every chance a guard gets to take the court is a chance to step up and stand out, particularly in the preseason, which sets the tone for the regular season. And Keon Ellis finally took his shot.
Keon Ellis makes a statement
Ellis made appearances on the court in all four of the Kings' preseason matchups. In the first game against the Toronto Raptors, Ellis was relatively quiet. After 16:26 minutes, he scored eight points, paired with one rebound and one steal.
The next two games were a step back as his time was cut in half during each outing. Ellis got outshone by the team's rookies, particularly Nique Clifford, who was an absolute revelation for the Kings throughout the preseason. Clifford even got the start in the last preseason game.
It wasn't just Clifford who closed out the preseason on a high note. Ellis also had a big game, playing more than 26 minutes and picking up 20 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. All of the injuries that benched several starters gave Ellis a chance to shine, and he took it.
This is the version of Keon Ellis that fought his way from being an undrafted player to the G League to a spot on an NBA roster. If he can maintain an on-court presence even close to that level, it will be a great season for Ellis and maybe a better one for the Kings than some people think.