After six consecutive defeats, the Kings of Sacramento are again on the scene with 5 consecutive victories. As Domantas Sabonis continues his career-best season, Malik Monk continues to enhance and DeMar DeRozan hits contested clutch buckets, one participant stands out for the Kings’ latest surge within the standings: Keon Ellis.
Ellis has been a fan favourite in Sacramento for the reason that day he was signed as an undrafted free agent. With a excessive defensive ceiling, he used a two-way contract and time between Sacramento and Stockton Kings to show he belonged within the NBA earlier than his two-way contract was transformed to a normal NBA contract final season.
The love and appreciation for Ellis has all the time been there in Sacramento, nevertheless it particularly took off final yr when Monk and Kevin Huerter have been injured and the then-second-year professional was thrust into a job extra necessary.
The Kings’ defensive score dropped from 116.5 to 108.6 after Ellis completely joined the rotation to finish the season. That is about the identical distinction because the hole between the twenty third protection and the primary protection final season.
Related developments are rising this yr in Sacramento. The Kings have a defensive score of 112.5 this season, however throughout their five-game successful streak that quantity drops to 106.1.
Not coincidentally, over the five-game stretch, Ellis performed 32.9 minutes per sport, in comparison with 19.7 minutes per sport (and two DNPs) over the primary 32 video games of the season.
Ellis’ elimination from the rotation was one of many largest query marks surrounding Mike Brown’s tenure in Sacramento this season. He was broadly thought-about one of the crucial impactful gamers on the roster, however he struggled to discover a constant position on the courtroom below Brown.
Ellis’ commonplace numbers do not soar out at 7.1 factors, 2.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks, however he persistently makes successful performs as proven by his tenacious protection in opposition to Miami Warmth within the double time beyond regulation victory.
The Kings have a web score of +10.7 within the 756 Ellis has performed this season, in comparison with -2.8 in his 1,045 minutes off the courtroom. That 13.5 distinction leads the group by a large margin, with Domantas Sabonis second at +8.9 and Monk third at 4.9.
Add in his 41.7% taking pictures from deep this season, and it is no surprise the Kings earn his minutes by such a large margin.
After that nice efficiency in opposition to the Warmth, Ellis acquired his ordinary love from Sacramento followers, however others across the league took observe of his play as nicely.
Through Keith Smith: “Keon Ellis is a menace on protection. You’ll be able to’t defend Miami nicely if you cannot deal with numerous actions from the DHO. I beloved that Ellis went all the best way again to ball handler right here to forcing a Tyler Herro turnover.”
Keon Ellis is a menace on protection. You’ll be able to’t defend Miami nicely if you cannot deal with the DHO’s numerous actions. I beloved that Ellis bought again to ball handler right here to drive Tyler Herro’s turnover. pic.twitter.com/UAdEkmB4aS
– Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) January 7, 2025
Through Sam Vecenie: “It is good to see that somebody within the Kings group lastly realized that taking part in Keon Ellis was an apparent good transfer. It has been good all yr when he is gotten minutes.”
It is good to see that somebody within the Kings group lastly realized that taking part in Keon Ellis was an apparent good transfer. He is been good all yr when he is gotten minutes.
– Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) January 7, 2025
Keith Smith of Spotrac and Sam Vecenie of The Athletic are simply two examples of nationwide media shops paying attention to the younger guard’s strong play. With defensive highlights each evening, Ellis’ notoriety will solely improve, particularly if the Kings proceed to win.
It seems like Keon Ellis has been Sacramento’s best-kept secret for the previous three years. Just like the hidden gem restaurant you frequent while you want a comforting meal, or your favourite native espresso store on a cold morning. However then the restaurant will get found and new places open, permitting increasingly individuals to take pleasure in nice meals.
That is what this Ellis escape is like, at the least for me, a Sacramento native. Kings followers and native media are shouting from the rooftops how efficient he’s, and it looks like persons are lastly listening to our cries.
Comply with the Sacramento Kings on SI on Fb And Twitter.
Sregister on YouTubee for the newest Kings information movies and dwell podcasts!
