Report: Kings rookie Devin Carter to make Sacramento debut against Memphis

Jan 3, 2025, 10:49 AM

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Devin Carter during a media day photo shoot at Sacramento Ki...

Devin Carter during a media day photo shoot at Sacramento Kings Practice Facility on September 30, 2024 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by John Todd/Getty Images)

(Photo by John Todd/Getty Images)

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Sactown Sports writer

The Sacramento Kings are finally getting some roster help in the form of their 2024 NBA Draft lottery pick, Devin Carter, who will reportedly make his NBA debut Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies in Golden 1 Center.

He’s played two games with the Kings G-League affiliate in Stockton since returning from shoulder surgery this offseason. He excelled during those games.

Ironically, the first start for Devin Carter will come against the Memphis Grizzles, where his dad, Anthony, is currently an assistant coach. ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first to break the news.

Sacramento Kings rookie Devin Carter, the No. 13 overall pick in the NBA Draft, will be available to make his season debut tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies and his father, assistant coach Anthony Carter, sources told ESPN. Carter underwent left shoulder surgery in July.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 3, 2025

Despite being 6’2, his 6’9 wingspan and vertical matching Malik Monk’s allow him to make atypical plays for a guard, blocking perimeter shots and grabbing rebounds at a high rate.

That will present an interesting question for interim head coach Doug Christie, who already has a slew of guards at his disposal between De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Huerter, and Keon Ellis.

We’ll see where Carter’s minutes come from, but Stockton head coach Quinton Crawford spoke highly of the lottery pick’s versatility after Thursday night’s game.

“Anytime you can guard multiple positions in this league, you’re valuable,” Coach Crawford said about Devin Carter. “His wingspan, his recovery speed, his ability to rebound… to me that makes him very versatile and useful.”

More Kings coverage from Sactown Sports

In light of Mike Brown’s recent firing, one former Sacramento Kings player has shared his thoughts on his time with the former NBA Coach of the Year winner.

Sasha Vezenkov, the sharpshooting forward who spent his lone NBA season with Sacramento during the 2023-24 season, recently spoke of Brown in an interview with BasketNews’ Edvinas Jablonskis.

Brown was fired by the Kings last week amid a five-game losing streak that dropped Sacramento five games under the .500 mark for the first time in nearly three years.

Vezenkov, who returned overseas to the EuroLeague this past offseason following a tumultuous experience with the Kings, told Jablonskis that while he respected Brown’s basketball knowledge, he did not have the best experience with him in Sacramento: