SACRAMENTO KINGS

Mike Brown: DeRozan-Sabonis two-man game can be ‘off the charts’

Oct 4, 2024, 5:23 PM | Updated: 5:24 pm

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 04: Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings goes up for a dunk ...

Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings goes up for a dunk on DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls in the second half at Golden 1 Center on March 04, 2024 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Since the Sacramento Kings acquired DeMar DeRozan via sign-and-trade this offseason, head coach Mike Brown has been consistent with his stance that the six-time All-Star will fit better into their offense than most realize.

Many, including Brown, have mentioned that DeRozan’s offensive schemes with the Bulls are not too unfamiliar to him. The guard played a similar style alongside Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine, and Lonzo Ball in Chicago.

After Friday’s training camp practice, Mike Brown outlined his perspective on the potential success when DeRozan gets to run a pick-and-roll with Sabonis.

“It can be off the charts, mainly because of DeMar’s ability to pass the basketball,” he said. Brown mentioned the common misconceptions about the future Hall of Fame player they acquired but clarified his versatility.

“He can bring it in transition. He can play the pick-and-roll game, and now the DHO game is a different element where he may not be easily blitzed if he has it going. So, once he gets that ball, if you go under and (Sabonis) does the DHO low enough, it’s a wrap.”

“If you chase him over and he gets to his sweet spot, it’s a wrap in terms of scoring. But his added ability of playmaking, whether it’s hitting Domas in the pocket, or because of who he is, the gravity of him touching the paint and drawing somebody else, his ability to spray the basketball, it can be really good for us.”

While DeRozan has plenty of familiarity with the team from assistant coach Jay Triano, who was his first head coach in Toronto, and former teammates Leandro Barbosa, Trey Lyles, and Terry Taylor, he will have to grow accustomed to and optimize the offense Mike Brown has helped create.

Everyone in Kings’ camp seems to believe that will be a relatively seamless transition, but preseason will be an early test of the confidence in their theory.

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

The Kings will go through a week of practice and full-contact workouts before opening up the preseason portion of their 2024-25 schedule at home against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, October 9th.

Be sure to catch all of the action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM with Kings vs. Warriors set to tip off at 7:00 PM PDT.

Sacramento Kings 2024-25 Schedule

Preseason

  • Wednesday, October 9th – vs. Golden State Warriors – 7 pm PDT
  • Friday, October 11th – @ Golden State Warriors – 7 pm PDT
  • Sunday, October 13th – vs. Portland Trail Blazers – 3 pm PDT
  • Tuesday, October 15th – @ Utah Jazz – 6 pm PDT
  • Thursday, October 17th – @ Los Angeles Clippers – 7 pm PDT

Regular Season

  • Thursday, October 24th – vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – 7 pm PDT
  • Saturday, October 26th – @ Los Angeles Lakers – 7:30 pm PDT
  • Monday, October 28th – vs. Portland Trail Blazers – 7 pm PDT
  • Tuesday, October 29th – @ Utah Jazz – 6 pm PDT
  • Friday, November 1st – @ Atlanta Hawks – 4 pm PDT

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