SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 05: Richaun Holmes #22 of the Sacramento Kings celebrates after a teammate scored a basket against the Charlotte Hornets during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center on November 05, 2021 in Sacramento, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Things are not going particularly well for the Sacramento Kings. They became the first team to part ways with their coach this season when Luke Walton was fired and Alvin Gentry was handed the reins on an interim basis.
Through the first quarter of the season, the Kings are 7-12, and just snapped a four-game losing streak. It’s quickly looking like it’ll be another year outside the postseason picture for Sacramento.
Top 3 Sacramento Kings players off to a hot start this season
Despite the Kings’ team struggles, some individual players are still off to a hot start. In fact, one player even ranks among the league leaders in total win shares (more on him in a bit).
It can be a little difficult to get excited about Kings basketball right now. This is a franchise that was supposed to be on the up-and-up in its rebuild by now. Instead, a playoff drought that somehow stretches back all the way to 2006 looks like it will continue for another year.
Still, there are reasons to be pumped about the future of this franchise. For starters, Davion Mitchell is looking like a shrewd draft pick after his own hot start to the season, particularly on the defensive end.
Players like Richaun Holmes and Harrison Barnes are also among those who have looked good in spurts. The team is developing young guards like De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, as well, who could play a major role in the future of the franchise.
They even have some players on the team preaching accountability, like center Tristan Thompson. It takes players like that to change a culture, which the Kings need.
Here are three Kings off to a hot start in 2021-22.
Kings are 7-12, and just snapped a four-game losing streak. It’s quickly looking like it’ll be another year <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/26/top-sacramento-kings-hot-start/"https://www.nba.com/standings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">outside the postseason picture</a> for Sacramento.</p>
<h2>Top 3 Sacramento Kings players off to a hot start this season</h2>
<p>Despite the Kings’ team struggles, some individual players are still off to a hot start. In fact, one player even ranks among the league leaders in total win shares (more on him in a bit).</p>
<p>It can be a little difficult to get excited about Kings basketball right now. This is a franchise that was supposed to be on the up-and-up in its rebuild by now. Instead, a playoff drought that somehow stretches back all the way to 2006 looks like it will continue for another year.</p>
<p>Still, there are reasons to be pumped about the future of this franchise. For starters, Davion Mitchell is <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/26/top-sacramento-kings-hot-start/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/26/sacramento-kings-davion-mitchell-pick/">looking like a shrewd draft pick</a> after his own hot start to the season, particularly on the defensive end.</p>
<p>Players like Richaun Holmes and Harrison Barnes are also among those who have looked good in spurts. The team is developing young guards like De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, as well, who could play a major role in the future of the franchise.</p>
<p>They even have some players on the team <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/26/top-sacramento-kings-hot-start/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/20/nba-rumors-sacramento-kings/">preaching accountability</a>, like center Tristan Thompson. It takes players like that to change a culture, which the Kings need.</p>
<p>Here are three Kings off to a hot start in 2021-22.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/26/top-sacramento-kings-hot-start/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 3 </a>
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<img class="wp-image-436482 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/26/top-sacramento-kings-hot-start/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1065,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1230884270.jpeg" alt="Sacramento Kings" width="1600" height="1065" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1230884270.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1230884270-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 30: Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings reacts after hitting a three pointer in the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on January 30, 2021 in Miami, Florida. 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 Eric Espada/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Top 3 Sacramento Kings players off to a hot start this season: 3. Buddy Hield</h2>
<p>A bench role appears to suit the sharpshooter just fine. In the early going, Buddy Hield is putting up better numbers than last year, despite not taking the court at the beginning of a majority of games so far.</p>
<p>In 19 games, Hield is averaging 17.1 points per game, a slight increase from the 16.6 points per game he averaged as a full-time starter in 2020-21. He is improving on his scoring numbers despite a decline in playing time to the tune of nearly six minutes per contest.</p>
<p>Most of Hield’s numbers are within a close margin of last season’s numbers, with the exception of his assist totals, which are down more noticeably. Hield is averaging just 2.0 assists per game, his lowest mark in five years.</p>
<p>As per usual, Hield’s scoring comes courtesy of a seemingly limitless green light from beyond the arc. Hield has ranked second in the NBA in each of the last two seasons in three-point field goal attempts and ranks there once again this season. He’s hitting 39.9 percent of his threes, which would be his best percentage since 2018-19.</p>
<p>Intriguingly, Hield ranks 17th in the league in offensive box plus/minus. It would be the first time he ever finishes in the top 20 in the NBA in the statistic if he keeps it up. Not sure it makes up for his minus-2.2 defensive box plus/minus, though.</p>
<p>Hield may be a liability on defense, but he can be one of the most exciting players on the West Coast if he keeps up his scorching start on offense.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/26/top-sacramento-kings-hot-start/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 2 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-437071" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/26/top-sacramento-kings-hot-start/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1347816990.jpeg" alt="Sacramento Kings" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1347816990.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1347816990-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings. Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images</p>
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<h2>Top 3 Sacramento Kings players off to a hot start this season: 2. Harrison Barnes</h2>
<p>We’ve already <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/26/top-sacramento-kings-hot-start/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/05/sacramento-kings-barnes-hottest/">covered the hot start</a> for Harrison Barnes once before, but it’s worth looking at him again, as he remains one of the best players on the Kings.</p>
<p>At 29 years old, Barnes is arguably having the best season of his career. He’s averaging 19.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, hitting 39.8 percent of his three-point attempts. The scoring average is close to a career-high, while the rebounding average is the best of his career.</p>
<p>Barnes has morphed into a better shooter during his Kings tenure, and this year, that success is manifesting itself into a career-best .635 true shooting percentage. The mark ranks 18th in the NBA.</p>
<p>For the second straight season, Barnes has also rooted the deep two out of his arsenal. Just 0.04 percent of his attempts are from that distance, a year after 0.03 percent of his attempts were from there.</p>
<p>Barnes appears to be adjusting well to his role, playing mostly at the power forward position. Prior to this year, he never played more than a third of his minutes with the Kings at the position. This year, he’s playing over 80 percent of his minutes there.</p>
<p>Despite being a lottery selection in 2012, Barnes has never made an All-Star team. His season might not rise to that level yet, but the former North Carolina Tar Heel is sniffing the accolade with his hot start.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/26/top-sacramento-kings-hot-start/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 1 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-434079" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/26/top-sacramento-kings-hot-start/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1309794431.jpeg" alt="NBA Free Agency" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1309794431.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1309794431-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images</p>
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<h2>Top 3 Sacramento Kings players off to a hot start this season: 1. Richaun Holmes</h2>
<p>Is Richaun Holmes the best center in the NBA? No, he’s not. But the numbers he’s quietly putting up in Sacramento are worthy of much more recognition.</p>
<p>The Kings center is as close as he’s ever been to the elusive double-double average. Holmes is putting up 14.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He’s also averaging one block per contest, just for good measure.</p>
<p>Holmes has averaged double-digit scoring in each of his first two seasons in Sacramento, but 14.4 points per game would mark a career-high. He’s getting it done on his most efficient shooting ever, too, hitting 69.4 percent of his field goal attempts.</p>
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<p>The center is proving to be a much-improved shooter from the free-throw line, too. He’s hitting 85.1 percent of his 2.6 attempts per game, the best percentage of his career.</p>
<p>A quick look at the league leaderboard sees Holmes’ name etched throughout. His 9.8 rebounds per game rank 14th in the league, his field goal percentage ranks second, and his 70.1 percent effective field goal percentage does too. Holmes’ 23.0 PER ranks 14th, he’s top 20 in win shares, offensive win shares, and win shares per 48 minutes.</p>
<p>This is not to say Holmes is perfect, of course. He’s still committing a ton of fouls – his 57 so far rank in the top 10 in the league. The more Holmes can stay on the court, the better for the Kings.</p>
<p>Regardless, Holmes is proving to be one of the better players in the league so far this season. The big man is already 28 years old, so he may not get much better than this, but this is plenty good enough for the Sacramento Kings.</p>
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