Kevin Huerter: ‘We just have to figure out a way to get more consistent’

Mar 1, 2024, 12:36 PM

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 25: Kevin Huerter #9 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on February 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 123-107. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Sactown Sports writer

Kevin Huerter, acquired by the Sacramento Kings via trade in the 2022 offseason, joined The Point Forward podcast with Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner earlier this week to discuss his NBA journey.

Huerter shared some of his background towards the beginning of the interview, including playing baseball and basketball in high school, where he was teammates with now-MLB players and twins Ian and Ben Anderson.

As their conversation continued, his trade from the Atlanta Hawks to the Kings came up. It was his moment of learning that the NBA was a business.

“It’s good moving from Sacramento to Atlanta,” Kevin Huerter said. “Sacramento, it’s pretty easy to lock in here, become a really good basketball player. Year six in the league I think you learn different things along the way. I think, for me, the routine is everything. Trying to stick with and be consistent with your lifting, your treatment, your recovery, there’s so much of that that goes unnoticed but over the course of the season you need to keep up with everything.”

It’s been an up-and-down season for the Kings this year, and Huerter discussed those ebbs and flows. “We have a team that on some nights I think we can beat anybody,” he said. “And then we’ve lost to the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards at home, both of them this year. On different nights, we can get beat by anybody.”

“We’ve beat Denver three times this year,” he continued. “That’s the type of stuff that doesn’t make sense. If you ask me today who’s the best team in the league I’m saying Denver or the Celtics and we’ve beaten one of them three times, but like I said we’ve gone the other way and Portland beat us by 20. Detroit beat us, almost beat us twice, and the Wizards beat us. We kind of have to figure some stuff out here but we have a talented group that I think can beat anybody, we just have to find a way to get more consistent.”

He expressed confidence in the current iteration of the Kings, but “everything has to do with matchups” in the postseason. His first year with the Kings ended with a postseason loss to the Golden State Warriors in a seven-game series, including the final game with Stephen Curry contributing 50 points. “That just proved his greatness in one series,” Huerter said.

With how different of style the Hawks and Kings play, he has a unique perspective functioning in both styles. The variance between Trae Young and De’Aaron Fox as players is a notable difference.

“(Young) is just an absolute menace on offense,” Kevin Huerter said. “A guy that can take over your game and a guy that can break scouting reports, similarly to De’Aaron when I got here. De’Aaron winning that Clutch Player of the Year Award last year, all that does for me is solidify his ability to get his shot when he wants to.”

“(Fox) is really unbelievable,” he continued. “For me, he’s a top-three point guard in this league for sure. I think defensively when he’s locked in and he wants to be — his hands and his ability to get steals and back tip it when he’s guarding the ball or pressure the ball when he’s on — I know it’s impossible to do as an NBA player, as an All-Star for 48 minutes of a game, but he can snap his fingers, and he’s the biggest flip a switch guy in this league. When he wants to guard, when he wants to put effort on that side of the ball and really try to lock someone up, he’s unbelievable. I think that’s the biggest difference is his ability to be elite two-ways on the ball.”

It’s high praise for Fox from his starting backcourt partner. The Point Forward episode provided great insight into Huerter’s journey to the NBA, his time in Sacramento, and his mindset as a player.

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

Sacramento will finish this tough two-game trip on Friday night when they face the Western Conference’s top seed, the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Kings have split the first two matchups against Minnesota this season, with the road teams winning each matchup thus far. On November 24th, Sacramento handed the Wolves their first home loss behind a significant effort from De’Aaron Fox (36 points, seven rebounds, 12 assists).

In the most recent meeting between the two West foes on December 23rd, Minnesota defeated the Kings by a final of 110-98 at Golden 1 Center.

Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Timberwolves coverage, beginning at 3:30 PM PST on Game Night before a 5:00 PM PST tip-off from Minneapolis.