http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jul-13-Thu-2006/sports/8471827.html
VEGAS SUMMER LEAGUE: Amundson right at home
Ex-UNLV star earns invite to training camp with Kings
By STEVE CARP, REVIEW-JOURNAL
When Louis Amundson was forced to miss UNLV's Senior Day regular-season finale on March 4, he figured he would never play in the Thomas & Mack Center again.
But after a strong showing in the Vegas Summer League, there's a very good chance he'll get at least one more opportunity to run the floor at the Thomas & Mack.
The Sacramento Kings are so pleased with the way the 6-foot-9-inch Amundson played for them in the VSL, they've invited him back to training camp in October. The Kings are scheduled to return to Las Vegas on Oct. 17 to face the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA preseason game.
Amundson signed with Sacramento as a free agent following the NBA Draft, then averaged 10.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in the VSL to help lead the Kings to a 4-1 record.
"I'm definitely looking forward to coming back in October," Amundson said Wednesday before the Kings' 96-73 win over the Dallas Mavericks at Cox Pavilion. "The fans here have been so great to me. They've shown me a lot of love."
When Amundson went undrafted last month, few people would have predicted he would put himself in position to make an NBA roster. Despite his disappointment over failing to hear his name called on draft night, Amundson said he had faith in his agent, Mike Higgins, to put him in a place where he'd have a chance to succeed.
After turning down opportunities from Miami and Chicago, Amundson decided to sign with Sacramento. The Kings gave him a chance to show what he could do, and he has taken full advantage of the opportunity. He started all five games in the VSL and played an average of 24 minutes a game.
"Mike was really good at covering all the points," Amundson said of Higgins, who also represents former UNLV star Marcus Banks and Las Vegas' C.J. Watson. "In the end, it was my decision, but Mike did a good job of identifying where I would have the best chance of making it."
Higgins said he knew the Kings liked Amundson, and just because he wasn't drafted didn't mean he wasn't good enough to play at the NBA level.
"Sometimes it's not about the money but about the fit," Higgins said. "He does things not a lot of guys are doing. The Kings love his energy and the way he plays the game."
Kings coach Eric Musselman said it's more than just Amundson's work ethic that has pleased him.
"He understands the game," Musselman said. "He hides his deficiencies and plays to his strengths."
For Amundson, that means using his quickness to his advantage. He also has a knack for being around the ball, which helps him in pursuing rebounds.
Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said he is convinced his team has found a diamond in the rough in Amundson.
"I think Lou's great," Maloof said. "Not only do I think he'll make our team, I think he can play and help us. Our fans are going to love him because he plays so hard."
Amundson said he approached the VSL as an extended tryout. He played well at the NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando, Fla., last month and wanted to show the general managers and scouts in Las Vegas that what he did in Florida was no fluke.
"I tried to showcase my strengths as a player," he said. "I'm pretty happy with the way everything has turned out so far. I think I've given myself a chance to make it."
As a bonus, Amundson got to play a couple of games in the summer league with a bona fide NBA star in Ron Artest. With the Kings having invited Amundson back, it appears he and Artest will get to know each other better.
"He's a great guy, a great teammate," Amundson said. "You watch how hard he plays. It was really cool being on the floor with him."
Amundson will use the next couple of months to stay in shape and get stronger for fall training camp. The Kings guaranteed him $75,000 and a spot in the veterans camp, but Amundson said he isn't taking anything for granted. He still has a bitter taste in his mouth from not getting drafted on June 28.
"Knowing I have a spot in camp definitely takes the pressure off mentally," he said. "But I'm going in with the mind-set I haven't accomplished anything."
VEGAS SUMMER LEAGUE: Amundson right at home
Ex-UNLV star earns invite to training camp with Kings
By STEVE CARP, REVIEW-JOURNAL
When Louis Amundson was forced to miss UNLV's Senior Day regular-season finale on March 4, he figured he would never play in the Thomas & Mack Center again.
But after a strong showing in the Vegas Summer League, there's a very good chance he'll get at least one more opportunity to run the floor at the Thomas & Mack.
The Sacramento Kings are so pleased with the way the 6-foot-9-inch Amundson played for them in the VSL, they've invited him back to training camp in October. The Kings are scheduled to return to Las Vegas on Oct. 17 to face the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA preseason game.
Amundson signed with Sacramento as a free agent following the NBA Draft, then averaged 10.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in the VSL to help lead the Kings to a 4-1 record.
"I'm definitely looking forward to coming back in October," Amundson said Wednesday before the Kings' 96-73 win over the Dallas Mavericks at Cox Pavilion. "The fans here have been so great to me. They've shown me a lot of love."
When Amundson went undrafted last month, few people would have predicted he would put himself in position to make an NBA roster. Despite his disappointment over failing to hear his name called on draft night, Amundson said he had faith in his agent, Mike Higgins, to put him in a place where he'd have a chance to succeed.
After turning down opportunities from Miami and Chicago, Amundson decided to sign with Sacramento. The Kings gave him a chance to show what he could do, and he has taken full advantage of the opportunity. He started all five games in the VSL and played an average of 24 minutes a game.
"Mike was really good at covering all the points," Amundson said of Higgins, who also represents former UNLV star Marcus Banks and Las Vegas' C.J. Watson. "In the end, it was my decision, but Mike did a good job of identifying where I would have the best chance of making it."
Higgins said he knew the Kings liked Amundson, and just because he wasn't drafted didn't mean he wasn't good enough to play at the NBA level.
"Sometimes it's not about the money but about the fit," Higgins said. "He does things not a lot of guys are doing. The Kings love his energy and the way he plays the game."
Kings coach Eric Musselman said it's more than just Amundson's work ethic that has pleased him.
"He understands the game," Musselman said. "He hides his deficiencies and plays to his strengths."
For Amundson, that means using his quickness to his advantage. He also has a knack for being around the ball, which helps him in pursuing rebounds.
Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said he is convinced his team has found a diamond in the rough in Amundson.
"I think Lou's great," Maloof said. "Not only do I think he'll make our team, I think he can play and help us. Our fans are going to love him because he plays so hard."
Amundson said he approached the VSL as an extended tryout. He played well at the NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando, Fla., last month and wanted to show the general managers and scouts in Las Vegas that what he did in Florida was no fluke.
"I tried to showcase my strengths as a player," he said. "I'm pretty happy with the way everything has turned out so far. I think I've given myself a chance to make it."
As a bonus, Amundson got to play a couple of games in the summer league with a bona fide NBA star in Ron Artest. With the Kings having invited Amundson back, it appears he and Artest will get to know each other better.
"He's a great guy, a great teammate," Amundson said. "You watch how hard he plays. It was really cool being on the floor with him."
Amundson will use the next couple of months to stay in shape and get stronger for fall training camp. The Kings guaranteed him $75,000 and a spot in the veterans camp, but Amundson said he isn't taking anything for granted. He still has a bitter taste in his mouth from not getting drafted on June 28.
"Knowing I have a spot in camp definitely takes the pressure off mentally," he said. "But I'm going in with the mind-set I haven't accomplished anything."
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