NBA

Sacramento Kings Exercise Option On Chimezie Metu For 2022-23 Season

Jun 29, 2022, 4:15 PM | Updated: Jul 14, 2022, 3:06 pm

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 23: Chimezie Metu #7 of the Sacramento Kings jogs across the court in...

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

The Sacramento Kings have guaranteed Chimezie Metu’s $1.9 million contract for the 2022-23 season,  Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

New Kings head coach Mike Brown has ties to the 25-year-old from their time with the Nigerian men’s basketball team. The 6’9 forward enjoyed a career year in 2021-22, starting in a career-high 20 games under former head coach Luke Walton and interim head coach Alvin Gentry.

Chimezie Metu’s 2021-22 season

  • 60 games
  • 8.9 PTS
  • 5.6 REB
  • 1.0 AST
  • 0.9 STL
  • 0.5 BLK
  • 45% FG
  • 30% 3PT
  • 78% FT
  • 21.3 MIN

(Bold/italic font = career-high)

By Role

  • Starter (20 games): 10.2 PTS, 6.9 REB, 1.3 AST, 42% FG, 22% 3PT, 25.9 MIN
  • Reserve (40 games): 8.3 PTS, 4.9 REB, 0.9 AST, 47% FG, 36% 3PT, 19.0 MIN

By Minutes

  • 30+ minutes (7 games): 14.0 PTS, 8.9 REB, 1.4 AST, 49% FG, 16% 3PT, 33.5 MIN
  • 20-29 minutes (30 games): 9.8 PTS, 6.3 REB, 1.1 AST, 44% FG, 32% 3PT, 23.5 MIN
  • 0-19 minutes (23 games): 6.1 PTS, 3.6 REB, 0.6 AST, 44% FG, 32% 3PT, 14.3 MIN

From an eye test, Metu seemed to be a more efficient player when used in that 20-29 minute range off of the bench.

At his best, Metu is a lengthy wing that possesses the ability to rebound at an above-average clip (9.4 rebounds per 36 minutes) and act as a bucket-getter that won’t shy away from firing off open-to-moderately open looks.

Metu’s points of interest on his shot-chart:

  • 38% from the right-corner three this season (Hello, Mavs buzzer-beater)
  • 49% from three-to-10 feet away from the basket
  • 71% at the rim

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