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Marty Mac's World: Price is right for Kings - point guard progressing
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, November 29, 2005
For an NBA team, with just 12 to 15 players available depending on the franchise's salary situation, the ability to get production without expending a lot of resources is of major value. Therein may be where the name Ronnie Price enters the picture. Currently, few NBA observers have a clue who the rookie point guard is, but those around the Kings say that one day will change.
Price, who grew up in Friendswood, Texas, was undrafted this June out of Utah Valley State, but he wasn't overlooked. The night of the draft, he received a call from the Kings. They offered him a chance to play for their summer-league team, and that led to his spot on their squad tonight when they meet the visiting Charlotte Bobcats. Price only has played 14 minutes so far for the Kings, but his teammates and coaches project a promising future.
"He's very explosive and quick and he can shoot," says Kings point guard Jason Hart, who practices against Price daily. "He's going to be good. When he gets out there (during games), he'll get some confidence, that's all. He's got everything else."
The best opportunity to see Price now is to watch the players on the floor heading to the bench during a timeout. He'll often be the first reserve off the bench to congratulate his teammates for a job well done or offer support when they are struggling.
"Mainly I'm watching Mike (Bibby) and Jason," Price said. "It's good for me to have two guys in front of me that know the game as well as they do. I look at how they run the team. The way they go through their plays, come off their screens and make their passing selections."
Assistant coach Elston Turner says he's trying to hone Price's quarterbacking skills. Price, at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, was more scorer than playmaker at Utah Valley State last season when he averaged 24.3 points per game.
"Every other day, I'll pull him to the side and ask him what happens on a certain play," Turner said. "I want to make sure he's up on our (offensive) sets. He'll tell me about the play, not only what he does, but what the bigs do.
" ... In terms of his competitiveness, desire, aggressiveness, he's like a bulldog, like a pit bull. He'll latch on to you, and boy, that's perfect."
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, November 29, 2005
For an NBA team, with just 12 to 15 players available depending on the franchise's salary situation, the ability to get production without expending a lot of resources is of major value. Therein may be where the name Ronnie Price enters the picture. Currently, few NBA observers have a clue who the rookie point guard is, but those around the Kings say that one day will change.
Price, who grew up in Friendswood, Texas, was undrafted this June out of Utah Valley State, but he wasn't overlooked. The night of the draft, he received a call from the Kings. They offered him a chance to play for their summer-league team, and that led to his spot on their squad tonight when they meet the visiting Charlotte Bobcats. Price only has played 14 minutes so far for the Kings, but his teammates and coaches project a promising future.
"He's very explosive and quick and he can shoot," says Kings point guard Jason Hart, who practices against Price daily. "He's going to be good. When he gets out there (during games), he'll get some confidence, that's all. He's got everything else."
The best opportunity to see Price now is to watch the players on the floor heading to the bench during a timeout. He'll often be the first reserve off the bench to congratulate his teammates for a job well done or offer support when they are struggling.
"Mainly I'm watching Mike (Bibby) and Jason," Price said. "It's good for me to have two guys in front of me that know the game as well as they do. I look at how they run the team. The way they go through their plays, come off their screens and make their passing selections."
Assistant coach Elston Turner says he's trying to hone Price's quarterbacking skills. Price, at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, was more scorer than playmaker at Utah Valley State last season when he averaged 24.3 points per game.
"Every other day, I'll pull him to the side and ask him what happens on a certain play," Turner said. "I want to make sure he's up on our (offensive) sets. He'll tell me about the play, not only what he does, but what the bigs do.
" ... In terms of his competitiveness, desire, aggressiveness, he's like a bulldog, like a pit bull. He'll latch on to you, and boy, that's perfect."
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