SACRAMENTO - When the screen lifted today at the Kings practice facility, the team was already finished with their scrimmage and beginning to break into individual shooting groups.
Kosta Koufos worked with assistant coach Anthony Carter on his skyhook on the near court. DeMarcus Cousins dropped in 3-pointers from the outside on another court.
A somber George Karl joined the media like he does after most practices. Veteran Caron Butler stopped in for a minute, followed by a solid conversation with point guard Rajon Rondo.
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Kings practice with heavy hearts
The Minnesota Timberwolves dropped a bomb on the NBA world Sunday morning with the announcement that veteran coach and front office executive Flip Saunders had passed away after a short battle with cancer. Saunders, 60, coached 17 years in the league for the T-Wolves, Pistons and Wizards, leaving a lasting impression on all that he came into contact with.
“It was shocking, I’m extremely saddened,” forward Caron Butler told CSN. “Playing under Flip in Washington - great man, great coach, great family guy. It’s an unbelievable legacy that he left. I’m just sorry to hear that.”
Butler said that the team spoke earlier in the day about Saunders and had a moment of silence for the fallen coach.
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Karl is no stranger to cancer. The 63-year-old has survived two bouts with the disease and was visibly shaken by the topic.
“It was a heavy day yesterday for me,” Karl said. “It’s just hard to explain. Cancer is just hard. And when it takes someone’s life that you had love and respect for, it was surprising.”
Karl had kept tabs on Saunders since his diagnosis, but he said news of his condition went radio silent a few weeks back. His passing was a huge reminder to Karl about the fragility of life and the need to take care of one's health.
“Hopefully as coaches, we can learn from (this),” Karl said. “We’ve got to start taking care of ourselves probably a little bit better because our job is a difficult job. Stress creates a bad immune system and the immune system is what breaks down when you get cancer.”
Rondo ready to roll
There is a new sheriff in town and his name is Rajon Rondo. It’s startling to see how quickly the 29-year-old four-time All-Star has assimilated to his new digs in Sacramento. He will open the season as the Kings starting point guard and he is confident that his team is ready...at least on one end of the floor.
“I don’t think offense will be a problem,” Rondo said. “Obviously you win championships with defensive stops, so our communication has to continue to get better, it’s not going to happen over night. We have to continue to progress throughout the season.”
The Kings have long been known for their dysfunctional culture, but Vlade Divac brought in proven leaders with championship pedigree to help bring the team along. The transformation isn’t complete, but the there is a new feel in the locker room.
“I think we have a positive vibe,” Rondo said. “A lot of guys are pretty positive people. A lot of them are quiet as well, but for the most part, we continue to encourage each other and play for one another.”
Outside of his passing ability, Rondo is known for his incessant chatter. His mouth is continuously moving while he runs his team on the floor and it doesn’t stop when he’s off either. It’s a trait that he owns. You need a vocal leader on the floor and the Kings found one of the best.
“I talk the most on the team, by far,” Rondo said. “But I try to make it contagious, try to talk positive.”
“I’m talking to help my teammates out on the court,” Rondo added. “I don’t talk to prove that I know the game of basketball or to prove my IQ. I talk because I’ve watched film and I’ve seen guys' habits and I know their tendencies. If I know it, I feel like my team should know it. If we know it as a team, it’s like preparing for a test. If I know the answers, then I won’t have any problems going into a test and taking it. If I don’t, then I’ll be sweating bullets.”
Rondo said his body feels good coming into the season. The injured knee that cost him parts of the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons is long behind him. This is his first training camp in two years and he is excited to come into a season with his wind and a fresh start.
An excused absence
Veteran forward Rudy Gay missed today’s practice to be with his wife Ecko who is currently in labor with the couple’s second. According to Karl, the team will find out Gay’s availability for the opener between now and Wednesday, which might make a dramatic difference in his starting lineup for the opener against the Clippers.