Who will be the starting guard for the Kings this season? Immovable last season, since he started the 75 games he played with Sacramento, Kevin Huerter finds himself under pressure. Because Mike Brown seems tempted to start Chris Duarte alongside De’Aaron Fox, Keegan Murray, Harrison Barnes and Domantas Sabonis.
The Dominican thus seems to provide more defensive guarantees than Kevin Huerter…
“We want to progress” replies the latter. “We talk about last season, that it was superb, but it’s still a first round elimination, so you have to find ways to improve. We were the best offense in the league last year and we can always improve on that side of the field, but we can’t afford to be among the ten worst defenses (24th). Everyone in the locker room knows it, and we have to adhere to it. »
This is clearly the speech of his coach, who has already warned the Euroleague MVP, Sasha Vezenkov, that he would not see much of the field if he did not make the necessary efforts on defense.
Accepted pressure
And which also visibly shook Kevin Huerter in relation to his attitude on this side of the field.
“He was great. We had a very good conversation and he came back wiggling his behind. I think his physical impact has started to go in the right direction, and I’m interested to see if it continues to increase because that’s what’s happening right now.” the coach explained.
Injured, Chris Duarte missed the last two preseason games, and Kevin Huerter therefore seems to start with a small head start, but he knows that his starting place depends on his defense.
” It is still early. I’m not worried about the attack right now. As you’ve heard throughout preseason, for us as a team and for me as an individual, it’s all about being better on the other side of the floor. We know what we’re capable of – no matter who’s on the floor – offensively. We just have to continue to engage, play the right way and do what we’re supposed to do on defense.” he concludes.
| Kevin Huerter | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | ATL | 75 | 27 | 41.9 | 38.5 | 73.2 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 9.7 |
| 2019-20 | ATL | 56 | 31 | 41.3 | 38.0 | 82.8 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 12.2 |
| 2020-21 | ATL | 69 | 31 | 43.2 | 36.3 | 78.1 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 11.9 |
| 2021-22 | ATL | 74 | 30 | 45.4 | 38.9 | 80.8 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 12.1 |
| 2022-23 | BAG | 75 | 29 | 48.5 | 40.2 | 72.5 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 15.2 |
| Total | 349 | 30 | 44.4 | 38.5 | 76.6 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 12.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
