Georgios Papagiannis’ Agent Speaks Out Against Sacramento Kings
Feb 12, 2018, 12:00 AM | Updated: Jan 4, 2019, 11:23 am
SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 12: George Papagiannis #13 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Phoenix Suns on December 12, 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)
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
by Matt George – Sports 1140 KHTK Reporter
The Sacramento Kings made a handful of moves at the NBA Trade Deadline on February 8th, including sending veteran point guard George Hill to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and young guard Malachi Richardson to the Toronto Raptors.
Maybe the most surprising, and most talked about, move the Kings made last week didn’t involve a trade at all. General Manager Vlade Divac and the Kings organization decided to end their long-term developmental project by waiving the 13th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Georgios Papagiannis.
A shocking pick to begin with, Papagiannis was an uphill battle from the start. Divac insisted that the project, while potentially challenging, was worth the risk because of Papagiannis’ “new Marc Gasol” potential. Needless to say, progress has been slow, if existent at all, and with multiple young pieces on the Kings roster, waiving the 20-year-old big man was a necessary decision.
On Friday, February 9th, less than 24 hours after his client was waived, Papagiannis’ agent Marios Olympios shared his opinion on the state of the Sacramento Kings organization.
“He never got a chance by the Kings. He had a double-double every time he played in the G-League. He had to travel for two-and-a-half hours every time he was assigned to Reno and still he performed. There are many details that prove that he never got a real chance…Georgios ended up in a very disorganized franchise and I think that everyone in the NBA is shocked by the decision made by the Kings. It’s one more proof that something is wrong with the Kings.”
Nobody from the Kings has responded to Olympios’ comments. However, Kings sideline reporter, and former KHTK morning show host, Kayte Christensen, shared her thoughts on the situation during Kings Postgame Live following Sacramento’s loss to the Portland Trailblazers on Friday night.
.@kayte_c GOES IN on Georgios Papagiannis's agent during #KingsPostgameLive 👀 pic.twitter.com/IdNzJitJIM
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 10, 2018
Papagiannis averaged 4.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 12 minutes over his 38 games played with Sacramento.
