The 2014 NBA Summer League finally came to a conclusion on Monday with the Sacramento Kings coming out on top against the Houston Rockets 77-68.
Ray McCallum, who is expected to see more playing time for the Kings next season with the departure of starting point guard Isaiah Thomas, scored 29 points in the contest – including this impressive game-clinching basket – to win the MVP honors. Thomas actually saw all the action and was proud to see his former teammate succeed in his absence:
Happy for my guy @RayMac3 keep taking advantage of your opportunity fam
— Isaiah Thomas (@Isaiah_Thomas2) July 22, 2014
DeMarcus Cousins, who missed the game due to his own duties for Team USA, shared his appreciation for what the Kings were able to accomplish:
Cousins should gain some valuable experience with Team USA, as most first-timers tend to do. How he translates it onto the court next season should be interesting. Last week, the center told Bill Simmons of Grantland that he expects the Kings to win 50 games and make the playoffs as a seventh or eighth seed. His team, however, managed to win just 28 games last season and only added Darren Collison – a downgrade from Thomas – over the summer. The team drafted Nik Stauskas with the 8th overall pick in the draft, but some are already starting to question the move.
If 50 wins is what Cousins is hoping for, he will likely go through another frustrating season. It’s going to be a process for such a young and inexperienced club to contend for a playoff spot, especially in the ultra-loaded west. Hopefully, though, he can grow with the rest of his young team and eventually become one of the best centers in the league that many believe he is capable of becoming.
Tweet of the Day: Twitter Support for Michael Cooper
Tweet of the Night: The Cleveland Cavaliers plan to sign Andrew Wiggins this week
James Park is the chief blogger and deputy editor of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.