KINGS NOTES: Garcia starts emoting less, absorbing more
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
During July's summer league in Las Vegas, Kings draft pick Francisco García hit the scene as the loudest one in the bunch.
He never stopped clapping or screaming, smiling or grimacing, emotional to no end in practices and games. But the noise has stopped for a short while. The always-boisterous one watches a little more now, listens, then repeats.
It's still Week 1 of his first NBA training camp, Week 1 of what he hopes is a long and plentiful career marked by All-Star appearances and, who knows, even a championship or two.
But first, the lessons. Oh, the lessons.
The top gripe so far about the 6-foot-7 rookie guard/forward has been his shot selection, how he sometimes fires away from any spot on the floor as if he were Reggie Miller. Kings coach Rick Adelman joked that García has the confidence befitting one of the world's best, Peja Stojakovic, even if he doesn't quite shoot like him.
The top compliment? Those natural passing skills that are Kings-like in every way.
García, who averaged 15.7 points and 3.9 assists per game in his junior season at Louisville, is the poster boy for the length the Kings made a priority this offseason. His long arms have, at times, been effective in defending Stojakovic, who has seen plenty of García this week. And with the extra "eight or nine" pounds García put on since he weighed in at 190 during college, he's looking to fill the backup role behind Stojakovic that Adelman said still is up for grabs.
"He's doing OK, but he's just got to keep learning," Adelman said. "When he gets his feet set, he makes a lot of shots. But when he starts taking tough shots, or not always the best shots, then it's not going to be as good. But I think he's doing fine."
García said he has had his eyes on the veterans, envisioning himself one day in their shoes.
"It's been pretty good," García said. "I've been learning every day from the best. They're helping me out."
Weighing in - Weight is always an issue this time of year. A guy either is too big to make the cut, not big enough, or just right, and the theories about how to get it right are endless. Guard Bonzi Wells reminded García after practice that he began his career in 1998 at 240 pounds, whereas he's currently 215.
"I cut out pork and fast food," Wells said. "I started to eat pastas, made sure I had a home-cooked meal or went out to restaurants. When I first had money, I was like, 'Let's go eat here, eat there.' "
García, who wants his weight to go the opposite way of Wells', shot back.
"That's what I'm going to do every day," he said.
Fandemonium time - The annual fan-player party known as Fandemonium is tonight, starting at 7 at Arco Arena.
It will serve as a fan's first chance to see the new-look squad in action, from new forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim to 7-2 shot-blocker Luke Schenscher and the known Kings in between.
KINGS CAMP BUZZ * DAY 4
Move of the day
The ongoing anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better battle at point guard has been spilling over into the post-practice time. First, it was Luis Flores who kept shooting until everyone was gone after Day 1, only to be matched after Day 2 by rookie Ronnie Price. Day 3 was a tie between Flores and Price, and Jason Hart joined in after Day 4. He was the last one shooting, though Flores stayed long after as well while Price pumped iron.
Napoleon complex
Funny for a man who wakes up in the morning at 7-foot-2 to have a Napoleon complex, but this one is different. Ever since the hit movie "Napoleon Dynamite" was released last year, new camp center Luke Schenscher, with the frazzled hair and long face, has been told he's a look-alike to the goofy main character.
"I get that all the time," said Schenscher, who was picked out of Georgia Tech in the second round by Denver before coming to Kings camp.
Here's to betting he'd rather be dubbed "dynamite" by Kings coach Rick Adelman.
Camping with Anwar Ferguson
It's always the weight question with Ferguson, whose 7-foot frame and 200-pound listing spark endless inquiries about his diet. So as the big man out of the University of Houston returned for his second camp with the Kings, we threw a few new ones his way after practice.
Q: What veterans are toughest on the young guys?
A: Brad Miller.
Q: What does he do?
A: I was here last year, and he had us out here in some really tight shorts. He hid all of our shorts. And we'd have to get them stuff; buy them things they don't even need like tampons, dog food.
Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: Right now, not much. I'm normally tired right now after practice.
Q: Do you play any video games?
A: Yeah, my favorite is "Mortal Kombat."
Key dates
Today: Regular-season tickets go on sale.
Tuesday: Preseason opener vs. Dallas at Arco Arena.
Oct. 16: Vs. Golden State - Good test against the team that beat the Kings four of five times, including preseason, in 2004-05.
Oct. 28: at Lakers (Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas) - The Maloofs' least favorite team in one of their favorite cities. Oct. 31: Rosters set for regular season; official cut day.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13684707p-14527074c.html
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Good to hear about Garcia's weight. Interesting stuff with the PGs and Wells/Garcia (I'm not worried about Wells' wind, he'll be fine as days goe by).
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
During July's summer league in Las Vegas, Kings draft pick Francisco García hit the scene as the loudest one in the bunch.
He never stopped clapping or screaming, smiling or grimacing, emotional to no end in practices and games. But the noise has stopped for a short while. The always-boisterous one watches a little more now, listens, then repeats.
It's still Week 1 of his first NBA training camp, Week 1 of what he hopes is a long and plentiful career marked by All-Star appearances and, who knows, even a championship or two.
But first, the lessons. Oh, the lessons.
The top gripe so far about the 6-foot-7 rookie guard/forward has been his shot selection, how he sometimes fires away from any spot on the floor as if he were Reggie Miller. Kings coach Rick Adelman joked that García has the confidence befitting one of the world's best, Peja Stojakovic, even if he doesn't quite shoot like him.
The top compliment? Those natural passing skills that are Kings-like in every way.
García, who averaged 15.7 points and 3.9 assists per game in his junior season at Louisville, is the poster boy for the length the Kings made a priority this offseason. His long arms have, at times, been effective in defending Stojakovic, who has seen plenty of García this week. And with the extra "eight or nine" pounds García put on since he weighed in at 190 during college, he's looking to fill the backup role behind Stojakovic that Adelman said still is up for grabs.
"He's doing OK, but he's just got to keep learning," Adelman said. "When he gets his feet set, he makes a lot of shots. But when he starts taking tough shots, or not always the best shots, then it's not going to be as good. But I think he's doing fine."
García said he has had his eyes on the veterans, envisioning himself one day in their shoes.
"It's been pretty good," García said. "I've been learning every day from the best. They're helping me out."
Weighing in - Weight is always an issue this time of year. A guy either is too big to make the cut, not big enough, or just right, and the theories about how to get it right are endless. Guard Bonzi Wells reminded García after practice that he began his career in 1998 at 240 pounds, whereas he's currently 215.
"I cut out pork and fast food," Wells said. "I started to eat pastas, made sure I had a home-cooked meal or went out to restaurants. When I first had money, I was like, 'Let's go eat here, eat there.' "
García, who wants his weight to go the opposite way of Wells', shot back.
"That's what I'm going to do every day," he said.
Fandemonium time - The annual fan-player party known as Fandemonium is tonight, starting at 7 at Arco Arena.
It will serve as a fan's first chance to see the new-look squad in action, from new forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim to 7-2 shot-blocker Luke Schenscher and the known Kings in between.
KINGS CAMP BUZZ * DAY 4
Move of the day
The ongoing anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better battle at point guard has been spilling over into the post-practice time. First, it was Luis Flores who kept shooting until everyone was gone after Day 1, only to be matched after Day 2 by rookie Ronnie Price. Day 3 was a tie between Flores and Price, and Jason Hart joined in after Day 4. He was the last one shooting, though Flores stayed long after as well while Price pumped iron.
Napoleon complex
Funny for a man who wakes up in the morning at 7-foot-2 to have a Napoleon complex, but this one is different. Ever since the hit movie "Napoleon Dynamite" was released last year, new camp center Luke Schenscher, with the frazzled hair and long face, has been told he's a look-alike to the goofy main character.
"I get that all the time," said Schenscher, who was picked out of Georgia Tech in the second round by Denver before coming to Kings camp.
Here's to betting he'd rather be dubbed "dynamite" by Kings coach Rick Adelman.
Camping with Anwar Ferguson
It's always the weight question with Ferguson, whose 7-foot frame and 200-pound listing spark endless inquiries about his diet. So as the big man out of the University of Houston returned for his second camp with the Kings, we threw a few new ones his way after practice.
Q: What veterans are toughest on the young guys?
A: Brad Miller.
Q: What does he do?
A: I was here last year, and he had us out here in some really tight shorts. He hid all of our shorts. And we'd have to get them stuff; buy them things they don't even need like tampons, dog food.
Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: Right now, not much. I'm normally tired right now after practice.
Q: Do you play any video games?
A: Yeah, my favorite is "Mortal Kombat."
Key dates
Today: Regular-season tickets go on sale.
Tuesday: Preseason opener vs. Dallas at Arco Arena.
Oct. 16: Vs. Golden State - Good test against the team that beat the Kings four of five times, including preseason, in 2004-05.
Oct. 28: at Lakers (Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas) - The Maloofs' least favorite team in one of their favorite cities. Oct. 31: Rosters set for regular season; official cut day.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13684707p-14527074c.html
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Good to hear about Garcia's weight. Interesting stuff with the PGs and Wells/Garcia (I'm not worried about Wells' wind, he'll be fine as days goe by).
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