Injuries open up opportunties at Kings training camp

The Sacramento Kings ran some five-on-five to close out their third day of training camp, giving interesting insight to a few things.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Oct 3, 2024, 3:26 PM Updated: 3:31 pm

Follow on Google News

Watch: Sacramento Kings To Honor Legendary Coach Rick Adelman During 2026-27 Season | 6 mins

Most NBA training camps are used to get players into game shape. Day four for the Kings ended with some five-on-five, with the media able to witness the final handful of minutes.

Devin Carter (shoulder), Kevin Huerter (shoulder), Jordan McLaughlin (ankle), and Trey Lyles (groin) were all non-participants in that portion of practice.

Head coach Mike Brown previously outlined that Carter does minimal work, mainly just shadowing some people through non-contact actions.

Huerter has participated in some of their drills but is still in a non-contact phase. McLaughlin and Lyles have been seen doing individual workouts, but the media has not seen anything with the team since camp started earlier this week.

Given those inactive, Keon Ellis played with the starters alongside De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis.

Sacramento running some 5-on-5 on training camp day three.

Expected starting five of Fox/Ellis/DeRozan/Murray/Sabonis going against 2nd and 3rd string.

Still no Huerter, Carter, McLaughlin, or Lyles. pic.twitter.com/D7V9xgoxOl

— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) October 3, 2024

Typically, the second unit wears gray practice jerseys while the third string is in blue pennies.

Mason Jones, Isaac Jones, Jalen McDaniels, Isaiah Crawford, and Alex Len were seen in gray.

Boogie Ellis, Colby Jones, Brodric Thomas, Terry Taylor, and Skal Labissere sported the blue.

For unknown reasons, Malik Monk and Orlando Robinson were not seen during the closing moments of their five-on-five drills. They may have been participating before the media was allowed in the facility.

When asked about using this time to gauge players’ conditioning and get guys into game shape, head coach Mike Brown used Monk as an example.

He said the reigning Sixth Man of the Year “looked a little out of shape” on day one, but that was to be expected with a leg injury not allowing him to play five-on-five “the entire summer.”

Training camp was essentially the first time Monk could participate in those types of runs.

“Yesterday and today (Monk) looked really good,” Brown said. “All of our guys need to continue to get in better shape, but that’s part of our job to help them do that, and our guys are leaving it out on the floor. I have no complaints of where we are right now.”

Their slew of injuries gave the staff a chance to examine some of the other players who typically sit deeper in the depth charts or are fighting for a long-term spot in camp.

Teams can bring 21 players into camp, including three two-way contracts, but that number must be trimmed to 18 by the start of the regular season.

That leaves Terry Taylor, Boogie Ellis, Skal Labissiere, and Brodric Thomas as the likely candidates vying for the final spot(s). You could even see any two-way players (M. Jones, I. Jones, Crawford), who were all playing with the second unit, be promoted with another player filling their two-way slot.

“It’s a little tough for (the younger and two-way players) because they’re still trying to get a feel,” Brown said. ” There are some guys that, in my opinion, are doing some nice things.”

He spoke fondly of Taylor’s relentless pursuit of rebounds on both ends and his defense. Boogie Ellis caught his eye with his defense and speed. The Kings coach also mentioned Mason Jones is “starting to understand what his strengths are and how to hide his weaknesses better.”

“As a young guy, even if you don’t quite have it figured out what we’re trying to do offensively and defensively, there are little things that you can do which is always rebound on both ends of the floor, run the floor extremely hard, sit down and guard your guy.”

“Those things can be contagious amongst the younger guys and I would say Terry is probably leading the charge that way. Boogie Ellis is probably a close second behind him. Mason (Jones) is doing some nice things out there. We just have to get the other younger guys to follow suite.”

Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown (10/3/25)

When speaking with reporters, Mason Jones said the starting five has looked good early on. But while filling in for McLaughlin in the second unit, his focus is on pushing the starters.

“I know this is a day-by-day grind,” M. Jones said. “I know when (McLaughlin) comes back, I’m just going to have to continue to take it day-by-day. Right now, I don’t take it as anything. The growth and work I put in this summer, Coach has acknowledged it. Right now, I’m on a great team, but we never know what tomorrow will hold, so I am just taking it day by day and continuing to get better.”

Getting in game shape and returning to a near-clean bill of health are top priorities, but their various injuries have allowed the coaching staff and fellow teammates a solid look at some of the other options fighting to make the rotation (or, in some cases, the roster) in 2024-25.

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.