http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/100200.html
Douby worthy of tall tale
The sweet-shooting rookie's workout wowed the Kings.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:02 am PST Friday, December 29, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
They would be considered "tall tales" if there was even a hint of exaggeration in the voices of the storytellers, and merely dubbing them "impressive tales" doesn't have the same ring.
Quincy Douby and his amazing shot: The young man who made everything.
Wayne Cooper was the first in Kings land to spread the word, having hosted a summer workout in which the lanky shooter from Rutgers put on a show like few had before.
"He broke every (draft workout shooting) record for the past five years," said Cooper, the Kings' vice president of basketball operations. "Three-point shots, spot-up shots, (shots) off the dribble. We chart all those shots, and he broke every record. As far as shooting (ability), he was at the top (of draft workout players Cooper has seen), and I've been here 12 years."
The tryout, of course, led to Douby's selection by the Kings in the June draft. And with thousands of practice swishes since, the sight of Douby finding the net has long since become part of the daily routine in the team's practice facility.
Thursday, the team's guards participated in a three-point shooting contest after practice. Douby, to no one's surprise, was crowned the victor. With the rules stipulating a three-minute window in which to hit as many three-pointers as possible, Douby's 41 beat out 40 from resident long-range specialist Mike Bibby. The lone disclaimer was Kevin Martin's absence -- he missed practice because he was sick.
"He's definitely a big-time scorer," Kings swingman John Salmons said. "He knows what he can do, knows that he can put the ball in the hole. He believes that he belongs. Somebody like that, being a rookie, getting thrown in the fire, he's got to have that confidence."
In the past two games, Douby has been promoted from the player so often rendered inactive to a regular part of the rotation. He had career highs across the board in playing 18 minutes against Denver on Friday, making 3 of 6 shots for eight points. In 12 minutes against Philadelphia on Wednesday, Douby made 1 of 5 in the Kings' second consecutive win.
Beneath the box score, Douby is making the annual strides of a rookie, evolving from the wide-eyed stage to a more comfortable place that has produced in subsequent playing time.
As draft picks Martin and Francisco García before him, Douby has endured the reality of being a relative non-factor in the beginning, all while continuing to put in his practice time and adding beef to a frame that once looked breakable. Douby has added eight pounds of muscle since the summer, not to mention the additions of the Xs and Os variety that have come from so much studying time.
An avid Animal Planet watcher, Douby has been unable to keep up with the wild kingdom's latest, instead breaking down games of established players he wants to learn from.
"I'll look at guys who had the same body frame as me, see how they defend, how they get their shots up, see how they could help me," Douby said. "Devin Harris, Jason Terry, AI (Allen Iverson), and how he gets those little runners. I'm just watching games and taking notes, telling myself, I should work on this move, work on a stepback, in and outs, pull-ups, pushing the ball, pull-ups in transition."
Douby added: "I'm no LeBron James. I'm not a freak athlete, don't have the body like him. But I learn quick, and I'm hungry. I don't give up, don't try to take games or practices off with little injuries, try to play through."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Douby worthy of tall tale
The sweet-shooting rookie's workout wowed the Kings.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:02 am PST Friday, December 29, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
They would be considered "tall tales" if there was even a hint of exaggeration in the voices of the storytellers, and merely dubbing them "impressive tales" doesn't have the same ring.
Quincy Douby and his amazing shot: The young man who made everything.
Wayne Cooper was the first in Kings land to spread the word, having hosted a summer workout in which the lanky shooter from Rutgers put on a show like few had before.
"He broke every (draft workout shooting) record for the past five years," said Cooper, the Kings' vice president of basketball operations. "Three-point shots, spot-up shots, (shots) off the dribble. We chart all those shots, and he broke every record. As far as shooting (ability), he was at the top (of draft workout players Cooper has seen), and I've been here 12 years."
The tryout, of course, led to Douby's selection by the Kings in the June draft. And with thousands of practice swishes since, the sight of Douby finding the net has long since become part of the daily routine in the team's practice facility.
Thursday, the team's guards participated in a three-point shooting contest after practice. Douby, to no one's surprise, was crowned the victor. With the rules stipulating a three-minute window in which to hit as many three-pointers as possible, Douby's 41 beat out 40 from resident long-range specialist Mike Bibby. The lone disclaimer was Kevin Martin's absence -- he missed practice because he was sick.
"He's definitely a big-time scorer," Kings swingman John Salmons said. "He knows what he can do, knows that he can put the ball in the hole. He believes that he belongs. Somebody like that, being a rookie, getting thrown in the fire, he's got to have that confidence."
In the past two games, Douby has been promoted from the player so often rendered inactive to a regular part of the rotation. He had career highs across the board in playing 18 minutes against Denver on Friday, making 3 of 6 shots for eight points. In 12 minutes against Philadelphia on Wednesday, Douby made 1 of 5 in the Kings' second consecutive win.
Beneath the box score, Douby is making the annual strides of a rookie, evolving from the wide-eyed stage to a more comfortable place that has produced in subsequent playing time.
As draft picks Martin and Francisco García before him, Douby has endured the reality of being a relative non-factor in the beginning, all while continuing to put in his practice time and adding beef to a frame that once looked breakable. Douby has added eight pounds of muscle since the summer, not to mention the additions of the Xs and Os variety that have come from so much studying time.
An avid Animal Planet watcher, Douby has been unable to keep up with the wild kingdom's latest, instead breaking down games of established players he wants to learn from.
"I'll look at guys who had the same body frame as me, see how they defend, how they get their shots up, see how they could help me," Douby said. "Devin Harris, Jason Terry, AI (Allen Iverson), and how he gets those little runners. I'm just watching games and taking notes, telling myself, I should work on this move, work on a stepback, in and outs, pull-ups, pushing the ball, pull-ups in transition."
Douby added: "I'm no LeBron James. I'm not a freak athlete, don't have the body like him. But I learn quick, and I'm hungry. I don't give up, don't try to take games or practices off with little injuries, try to play through."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
