Kings forwards Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Kenny Thomas don't like each other, although neither will admit it.
Here's proof that actions speak louder than words. The two fought when they played against each other, nearly went at it as Kings teammates during the final regular-season game against Seattle last season, then squared off briefly Monday during practice.
Thomas and Abdur-Rahim are competing to start at power forward, and both say the battle is not personal.
"It is what it is," Thomas said.
Said Abdur-Rahim: "We've got no problem between us."
Reporters know they must be discerning, especially in a world where truth, half-truth and untruth frequently intermingle.
General managers will tell you they have nothing happening on the trade front and then announce a trade the next day.
Coaches will avoid directly answering questions about a player's performance, then waive the dude the next day. Not exactly a lie, but far from full disclosure.
And this is not to make a big thing about Monday's little practice fracas.
But since these cats don't like each other -- I don't care what they say publicly -- the Kings ought to set up a little ring and let them go at it.
Rarely can NBA players actually throw punches effectively, so it's doubtful they would hurt each other. Maybe they would get the animosity out of their systems, and then it would be all good.
Ron Artest admittedly was feeling silly after Monday's practice. Recalling what he considers the best fight he had seen in a training camp or practice, Artest said, "I think it was when Vitaly (Potapenko) smacked Mike (Bibby) in the head."
"What?" Bibby demanded. "That never happened. That must have been one of those times Ron blacked out. You know he blacks out 75 percent of the time. He probably didn't take his medicine this morning."
Corliss Williamson, whose running attack on former bad boy Derrick Coleman years ago at Arco Arena might have been better than half the professional fights held there, said the best nongame fight he had seen was between Byron Houston and Michael "The Animal" Smith.
Ahh, "The Animal" always will be one of my favorites for many reasons, but most of all, the guy never strayed away from being real.
