http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13669771p-14512470c.html
Kings have struggle for power at forward
Shareef Abdur-Rahim, a newcomer, puts pressure on returning Kenny Thomas.
By Joe Davidson
Kenny Thomas avoided it until there was nowhere else to go. During Monday's media day, Kings players were shuttled from one station to the next for photo shoots, in-house cheers, promotional plugs, radio reads - then, finally, talking to reporters.
Within a minute, Thomas knew what was coming, saying, "Here's the question. Come out and say it."
OK, are you the Kings' starting power forward?
"I'm starting. ... Since no one has told me (otherwise), I'm starting," said the Kings' returning starting forward, who isn't listed as the 2005-06 starting forward in NBA preseason publications and countless other media outlets across the country.
For starters, there's the Shareef factor, as in free-agent signee Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who has put up productive numbers for Vancouver, Atlanta and Portland over nine seasons.
The most intriguing battle this training camp is who emerges at power forward to play with holdovers Brad Miller, Peja Stojakovic and Mike Bibby, and, presumably, newcomer Bonzi Wells. Abdur-Rahim expects to start - because he has started for about as long as he can remember, or in 629 of 672 NBA games.
But the same mostly rings true for Thomas. He has started in 293 of 431 NBA games and 243 of 285 since 2001-02.
Both also have come off the bench in their careers. Both prefer to start, however, with Abdur-Rahim saying, simply, that he just wants to win some games.
Both have plenty to offer. Thomas is two inches shorter than the 6-foot-9 Abdur-Rahim, but Thomas is quicker to the basket and in transition. Abdur-Rahim is a better low-post scorer and, statistically, a better career scorer and rebounder (with averages of 19.8 points and 8.1 rebounds to 10.9 and 7.4, respectively).
Thomas has started 17 of 17 career playoff games, but Abdur-Rahim has watched the postseason only from the couch with a clicker in his hand.
"Yeah, it matters," Thomas said about starting. "I've been a starter for six years. I can't control who's going to start, who's coming off the bench. I can only control how hard I play. If the fans and the media see what I'm doing, hopefully (the media) will help me out. ... Is it important to me? Yeah, it is. It really is."
Thomas then said, "Shut up, Kenny," and laughed at having to warn himself to clam up. He wanted to avoid appearing to stir up a pot of controversy in what has been an otherwise two days of feel-good charm.
Of course, the man who decides who starts is coach Rick Adelman, who said he isn't sure who will be on the floor with the core of Bibby, Stojakovic and Miller.
"I saw where Shareef's starting, which is good everybody knows that, because I haven't said that," Adelman said. "I haven't talked to Kenny. We'll see what happens. Why should I name somebody when we've got a guy coming back who did a pretty good job for us?
"I've got some major decisions to make, because there's probably more players who can play than there's minutes for. Let them go out and get on the floor - let's fool around with it during the preseason.
"Someone may not start, but maybe they're better coming off the bench. I have nothing locked in. I would be shocked if Brad, Peja and Mike didn't start. But the other guys - let's see how they do."
Thomas said the Kings improved over the summer, becoming more athletic and longer. And he assures that he didn't enter camp bitter, though he was more excited talking about his son getting ready for kindergarten than breaking down player rotations.
Still, the 250-pound veteran from the University of New Mexico is acutely aware the job he had last season might not be his come opening night Nov. 1. He did his best to keep it, averaging14.5 points,a career high, and 8.7 rebounds in 26 games for the Kings, 15 of them as a starter, after his trade from Philadelphia.
And he won't yield easily. Thomas said he is in the best shape of his life after a summer of workouts, pool sessions and pickup games with NBA players at the San Antonio Spurs' practice facility. He said he's stronger and fitter. He has worked on his outside shot and his ballhandling.
"I'm trying to average a double double like I did in Philadelphia (in 2003-04)," Thomas said.
And is competition good?
"That's part of life," Thomas said. "Everyone wants a starting job."
Kings have struggle for power at forward
Shareef Abdur-Rahim, a newcomer, puts pressure on returning Kenny Thomas.
By Joe Davidson
Kenny Thomas avoided it until there was nowhere else to go. During Monday's media day, Kings players were shuttled from one station to the next for photo shoots, in-house cheers, promotional plugs, radio reads - then, finally, talking to reporters.
Within a minute, Thomas knew what was coming, saying, "Here's the question. Come out and say it."
OK, are you the Kings' starting power forward?
"I'm starting. ... Since no one has told me (otherwise), I'm starting," said the Kings' returning starting forward, who isn't listed as the 2005-06 starting forward in NBA preseason publications and countless other media outlets across the country.
For starters, there's the Shareef factor, as in free-agent signee Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who has put up productive numbers for Vancouver, Atlanta and Portland over nine seasons.
The most intriguing battle this training camp is who emerges at power forward to play with holdovers Brad Miller, Peja Stojakovic and Mike Bibby, and, presumably, newcomer Bonzi Wells. Abdur-Rahim expects to start - because he has started for about as long as he can remember, or in 629 of 672 NBA games.
But the same mostly rings true for Thomas. He has started in 293 of 431 NBA games and 243 of 285 since 2001-02.
Both also have come off the bench in their careers. Both prefer to start, however, with Abdur-Rahim saying, simply, that he just wants to win some games.
Both have plenty to offer. Thomas is two inches shorter than the 6-foot-9 Abdur-Rahim, but Thomas is quicker to the basket and in transition. Abdur-Rahim is a better low-post scorer and, statistically, a better career scorer and rebounder (with averages of 19.8 points and 8.1 rebounds to 10.9 and 7.4, respectively).
Thomas has started 17 of 17 career playoff games, but Abdur-Rahim has watched the postseason only from the couch with a clicker in his hand.
"Yeah, it matters," Thomas said about starting. "I've been a starter for six years. I can't control who's going to start, who's coming off the bench. I can only control how hard I play. If the fans and the media see what I'm doing, hopefully (the media) will help me out. ... Is it important to me? Yeah, it is. It really is."
Thomas then said, "Shut up, Kenny," and laughed at having to warn himself to clam up. He wanted to avoid appearing to stir up a pot of controversy in what has been an otherwise two days of feel-good charm.
Of course, the man who decides who starts is coach Rick Adelman, who said he isn't sure who will be on the floor with the core of Bibby, Stojakovic and Miller.
"I saw where Shareef's starting, which is good everybody knows that, because I haven't said that," Adelman said. "I haven't talked to Kenny. We'll see what happens. Why should I name somebody when we've got a guy coming back who did a pretty good job for us?
"I've got some major decisions to make, because there's probably more players who can play than there's minutes for. Let them go out and get on the floor - let's fool around with it during the preseason.
"Someone may not start, but maybe they're better coming off the bench. I have nothing locked in. I would be shocked if Brad, Peja and Mike didn't start. But the other guys - let's see how they do."
Thomas said the Kings improved over the summer, becoming more athletic and longer. And he assures that he didn't enter camp bitter, though he was more excited talking about his son getting ready for kindergarten than breaking down player rotations.
Still, the 250-pound veteran from the University of New Mexico is acutely aware the job he had last season might not be his come opening night Nov. 1. He did his best to keep it, averaging14.5 points,a career high, and 8.7 rebounds in 26 games for the Kings, 15 of them as a starter, after his trade from Philadelphia.
And he won't yield easily. Thomas said he is in the best shape of his life after a summer of workouts, pool sessions and pickup games with NBA players at the San Antonio Spurs' practice facility. He said he's stronger and fitter. He has worked on his outside shot and his ballhandling.
"I'm trying to average a double double like I did in Philadelphia (in 2003-04)," Thomas said.
And is competition good?
"That's part of life," Thomas said. "Everyone wants a starting job."
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