http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/274817.html
No draft remorse: Hawes strong early
Kings like their top pick's ethic, skills and competitiveness
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 1:18 am PDT Monday, July 16, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C5
LAS VEGAS -- Midway through his first summer-league appearance, Spencer Hawes was big-time by association.
In the sweltering heat of the Sin City strip, the Kings' top draft pick out of the University of Washington walked the streets with top overall pick Greg Oden and No. 2 Kevin Durant. Last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, Brandon Roy of Portland, and his second-year teammate, LaMarcus Aldridge, also were there, a virtual who's who of the NBA's young bunch with Hawes only recently joining the club.
"When you're around guys like that it's a whole different ballgame," the 7-foot center said. "Everyone wanted to take pictures with them. We were with a whole bunch of other players, and everyone was still going after (Oden and Durant). I don't mind it."
Because big-time can wait.
Hawes -- surely big at 7 feet, 245 pounds -- has spent his time at summer league proving to the NBA types that he's much more than a plodding big man. He didn't take a summer-league hiatus to attend the ESPYs (as did Oden and Durant), nor will he appear in any major-brand commercials in the near future.
But with his work in the gyms at UNLV, Hawes seems to have convinced scouts, executives, and -- more importantly -- the Kings' coaching staff that his offensive skills and competitive fire are the makings of a quality NBA player. The second coming of Joe Kleine, this is not.
"The thing that I think he's done is show the different skill levels," new coach Reggie Theus said last week. "He has great tools. And as far as any of the draftees, he's probably played as well or better than all of them."
In the five games, Hawes' production did not tell the tale. He hit 40 of 91 shots and averaged 16.7 points while averaging 33.1 minutes, proving little more than Hawes' willingness to play a large role in the sort of setting in which he should do just that.
Third-year swingman Francisco García left because of family matters after just two games, and second-year guard Quincy Douby was limited to two games because of a back injury. Hawes, as a result, had free reign to try his game against these new foes.
He's only 19. Those who know the game say that's the impressive part. And this isn't the sort of age reference that was attached to the likes of Gerald Wallace, the former Kings' draft pick as a teenager who was all athlete with no polish in his first few seasons in Sacramento. It is, if anything, the opposite equation.
At 19, the thinking goes, Hawes' body will develop into NBA pedigree soon enough. What doesn't come naturally with age are the instincts, shown through moves like he exhibited in a loss to Houston on Saturday night. Facing new Rockets center Jackie Butler, Hawes took a pass in the low left block, peeked over his left shoulder to assess the situation, then wasted no time ducking right under Butler's position to hit a smooth left-handed lay-in. It is that sort of deliberation and quickness that has impressed.
And this is only the beginning.
"He has very good skills and fundamentals for 19 years old, and you can build on that," Kings assistant Kenny Natt said. "The biggest thing that I see is that he's got confidence. He's got the heart and determination.
"There's a lot of work to do with him, obviously, but he's ahead of the game."
Natt, among all others, knows a bit about teenage players advanced beyond their years. Before coming to the Kings, he spent the previous three seasons as an assistant in Cleveland, coming on the scene in LeBron James' second campaign. And while any comparison is misguided, Hawes has shown on-court wisdom beyond his years that should only help him progress.
Then there's the winning, or lack thereof. Even with subpar expectations for the upcoming Kings season, Hawes is eager to get back on the winning track after a disappointing single season at Washington in which the Huskies went 19-13 and didn't qualify for the NCAA Tournament. It was a change of pace from his high school years, when he won the state championship in Washington while at Seattle Prep in 2006.
"Everyone talks about (wanting to win), but it's the people who actually do it who are successful," he said. "Everyone says they want to win and play with a little chip on their shoulder and have a nastiness in them, but not everyone does it."
For the moment, he'll have to settle for being close to a big-timer. Hawes and Durant have been close friends since they started playing against each other early in their high school years, with the two even meeting at the Hawes' home in Seattle two weeks before the June 28 draft.
"He's very skilled," Durant said of Hawes. "A lot of people say he's not athletic, but he will dunk on you and grab rebounds. I think he's going to be a great player in this league."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
No draft remorse: Hawes strong early
Kings like their top pick's ethic, skills and competitiveness
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 1:18 am PDT Monday, July 16, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C5
LAS VEGAS -- Midway through his first summer-league appearance, Spencer Hawes was big-time by association.
In the sweltering heat of the Sin City strip, the Kings' top draft pick out of the University of Washington walked the streets with top overall pick Greg Oden and No. 2 Kevin Durant. Last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, Brandon Roy of Portland, and his second-year teammate, LaMarcus Aldridge, also were there, a virtual who's who of the NBA's young bunch with Hawes only recently joining the club.
"When you're around guys like that it's a whole different ballgame," the 7-foot center said. "Everyone wanted to take pictures with them. We were with a whole bunch of other players, and everyone was still going after (Oden and Durant). I don't mind it."
Because big-time can wait.
Hawes -- surely big at 7 feet, 245 pounds -- has spent his time at summer league proving to the NBA types that he's much more than a plodding big man. He didn't take a summer-league hiatus to attend the ESPYs (as did Oden and Durant), nor will he appear in any major-brand commercials in the near future.
But with his work in the gyms at UNLV, Hawes seems to have convinced scouts, executives, and -- more importantly -- the Kings' coaching staff that his offensive skills and competitive fire are the makings of a quality NBA player. The second coming of Joe Kleine, this is not.
"The thing that I think he's done is show the different skill levels," new coach Reggie Theus said last week. "He has great tools. And as far as any of the draftees, he's probably played as well or better than all of them."
In the five games, Hawes' production did not tell the tale. He hit 40 of 91 shots and averaged 16.7 points while averaging 33.1 minutes, proving little more than Hawes' willingness to play a large role in the sort of setting in which he should do just that.
Third-year swingman Francisco García left because of family matters after just two games, and second-year guard Quincy Douby was limited to two games because of a back injury. Hawes, as a result, had free reign to try his game against these new foes.
He's only 19. Those who know the game say that's the impressive part. And this isn't the sort of age reference that was attached to the likes of Gerald Wallace, the former Kings' draft pick as a teenager who was all athlete with no polish in his first few seasons in Sacramento. It is, if anything, the opposite equation.
At 19, the thinking goes, Hawes' body will develop into NBA pedigree soon enough. What doesn't come naturally with age are the instincts, shown through moves like he exhibited in a loss to Houston on Saturday night. Facing new Rockets center Jackie Butler, Hawes took a pass in the low left block, peeked over his left shoulder to assess the situation, then wasted no time ducking right under Butler's position to hit a smooth left-handed lay-in. It is that sort of deliberation and quickness that has impressed.
And this is only the beginning.
"He has very good skills and fundamentals for 19 years old, and you can build on that," Kings assistant Kenny Natt said. "The biggest thing that I see is that he's got confidence. He's got the heart and determination.
"There's a lot of work to do with him, obviously, but he's ahead of the game."
Natt, among all others, knows a bit about teenage players advanced beyond their years. Before coming to the Kings, he spent the previous three seasons as an assistant in Cleveland, coming on the scene in LeBron James' second campaign. And while any comparison is misguided, Hawes has shown on-court wisdom beyond his years that should only help him progress.
Then there's the winning, or lack thereof. Even with subpar expectations for the upcoming Kings season, Hawes is eager to get back on the winning track after a disappointing single season at Washington in which the Huskies went 19-13 and didn't qualify for the NCAA Tournament. It was a change of pace from his high school years, when he won the state championship in Washington while at Seattle Prep in 2006.
"Everyone talks about (wanting to win), but it's the people who actually do it who are successful," he said. "Everyone says they want to win and play with a little chip on their shoulder and have a nastiness in them, but not everyone does it."
For the moment, he'll have to settle for being close to a big-timer. Hawes and Durant have been close friends since they started playing against each other early in their high school years, with the two even meeting at the Hawes' home in Seattle two weeks before the June 28 draft.
"He's very skilled," Durant said of Hawes. "A lot of people say he's not athletic, but he will dunk on you and grab rebounds. I think he's going to be a great player in this league."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
