http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/37367.html
Hart tries to make point during the Kings' camp
The veteran faces competition for his job and a roster spot
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:48 am PDT Wednesday, October 11, 2006
His summer was better than his latest NBA season for all the right family reasons, so one can understand Jason Hart's varying degrees of euphoria outside the playing arena.
The Kings' reserve point guard in the midst of a crossroads training camp will tell you through a wide grin that life is grand back home in Los Angeles, with a new baby on board.
Say hello to 7-pound, 14-ounce Justin, point guard to be, the second son for Hart and wife, Brandi. And hello to more praise for mothers.
"I couldn't imagine giving birth," Hart said. "I really believe women are the strongest people on earth."
Hart can appreciate the general theme of resolve. Take his basketball role. With the Kings preparing for their exhibition opener in Dallas on Thursday, his place in the rotation is still pending. And it's less certain than it was a year ago when he was brought in to serve as Mike Bibby's primary backup.
Hart is a five-year NBA veteran with solid showings for four teams. The high-shelf mark was averaging a career-high 9.5 points in 2004-05 for the Charlotte Bobcats.
The Kings noticed and nabbed him for a second-round pick to lessen some of those Bibby minutes -- and to defend. But now? Hart is still developing and not at all certain to secure the same assignment. Or significant minutes. Or, perhaps, even make the final roster, though that would mean the Kings would have to eat his $1.6 million salary this season.
Hart understands all this. He knows that minutes off the bench can go to numerous point guards, with training camp serving as a testing ground for a roster that specializes in versatility. There's the steady play of second-year point guard reserve Ronnie Price, the addition of free-agent swingman John Salmons and the drafting of combo guard Quincy Douby. There's also the ability of Kevin Martin, Francisco García -- and even Ron Artest -- to initiate the offense in certain sets.
The Dallas game matters to players such as Hart, who is trying to remind the decision-makers that he can be a factor.
"I have to get in there when I can and try to fit in," he said.
Hart confesses that he didn't have much of a season in 2005-06. He saw time in 66 games off the bench. He did not play -- coach's decision -- in 14 others. A season after his career-high scoring average, Hart managed just 3.3 last season.
"It was very hard last season," Hart said. "I didn't get a chance sometimes, but I also didn't play that well, the way I wanted to. It was disappointing, but the good thing about last year is ... it was last year. You always want to prove something, to come back a better player."
Hart said new Kings coach Eric Musselman informed him that Salmons was brought in to compete for the shooting guard spot and to take on some of those backup point guard minutes.
"I appreciate coach not beating around the bush," Hart said. "He said to just keep working hard and make something happen."
Said Musselman: "I gave (Hart) a state-of-the-team address. He hasn't let any of this affect his play. He knows we're going to work guys at the (point guard position)."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@ sacbee.com.
Hart tries to make point during the Kings' camp
The veteran faces competition for his job and a roster spot
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:48 am PDT Wednesday, October 11, 2006
His summer was better than his latest NBA season for all the right family reasons, so one can understand Jason Hart's varying degrees of euphoria outside the playing arena.
The Kings' reserve point guard in the midst of a crossroads training camp will tell you through a wide grin that life is grand back home in Los Angeles, with a new baby on board.
Say hello to 7-pound, 14-ounce Justin, point guard to be, the second son for Hart and wife, Brandi. And hello to more praise for mothers.
"I couldn't imagine giving birth," Hart said. "I really believe women are the strongest people on earth."
Hart can appreciate the general theme of resolve. Take his basketball role. With the Kings preparing for their exhibition opener in Dallas on Thursday, his place in the rotation is still pending. And it's less certain than it was a year ago when he was brought in to serve as Mike Bibby's primary backup.
Hart is a five-year NBA veteran with solid showings for four teams. The high-shelf mark was averaging a career-high 9.5 points in 2004-05 for the Charlotte Bobcats.
The Kings noticed and nabbed him for a second-round pick to lessen some of those Bibby minutes -- and to defend. But now? Hart is still developing and not at all certain to secure the same assignment. Or significant minutes. Or, perhaps, even make the final roster, though that would mean the Kings would have to eat his $1.6 million salary this season.
Hart understands all this. He knows that minutes off the bench can go to numerous point guards, with training camp serving as a testing ground for a roster that specializes in versatility. There's the steady play of second-year point guard reserve Ronnie Price, the addition of free-agent swingman John Salmons and the drafting of combo guard Quincy Douby. There's also the ability of Kevin Martin, Francisco García -- and even Ron Artest -- to initiate the offense in certain sets.
The Dallas game matters to players such as Hart, who is trying to remind the decision-makers that he can be a factor.
"I have to get in there when I can and try to fit in," he said.
Hart confesses that he didn't have much of a season in 2005-06. He saw time in 66 games off the bench. He did not play -- coach's decision -- in 14 others. A season after his career-high scoring average, Hart managed just 3.3 last season.
"It was very hard last season," Hart said. "I didn't get a chance sometimes, but I also didn't play that well, the way I wanted to. It was disappointing, but the good thing about last year is ... it was last year. You always want to prove something, to come back a better player."
Hart said new Kings coach Eric Musselman informed him that Salmons was brought in to compete for the shooting guard spot and to take on some of those backup point guard minutes.
"I appreciate coach not beating around the bush," Hart said. "He said to just keep working hard and make something happen."
Said Musselman: "I gave (Hart) a state-of-the-team address. He hasn't let any of this affect his play. He knows we're going to work guys at the (point guard position)."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@ sacbee.com.
