Keon Ellis established himself as an NBA player with the Sacramento Kings during the 2023-24 season. But that didn’t prevent the former Alabama guard from playing in summer-league ball for the franchise this weekend.
“I think from the jump just to lead,” Ellis said about his role with a squad that features eight rookies. “Obviously, I’m the vet of the group, so just kind of go out there, put guys in the right spots, tell them what they should be doing, if they mess up on something just correct them and just lead by example myself.”
The Kings are fielding two teams in the California Classic, which is being played in Sacramento through Tuesday and San Francisco through Wednesday. Ellis is playing for the Kings’ squad in Sacramento.
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Ellis had 18 points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and one blocked shot in the Kings’ 101-50 victory over the Chinese National Team on Saturday. On Sunday night, Ellis contributed 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal in Sacramento’s 85-59 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
“I’m just going out there playing hard, trying to make the right plays, same as always,” Ellis said after Saturday’s game. “I know I’ll have the ball more, so still making the right plays and just trying to attack and put my team in a good situation.”
In his first NBA season in 2022-23, Ellis played in 16 games with the Kings and 36 with Sacramento’s NBA G League affiliate in Stockton, California.
In his second season in 2023-24, Ellis played in 57 games with the Kings without making a trip to Stockton even though he started the season on a two-way contract, which allowed Sacramento to shuttle him between the G League and the NBA.
Ellis’ contributions caused the Kings to convert his two-way contract to a 15-man-roster contract in February. Ellis’ new contract will pay him $2.121 million in the 2024-25 season and contains a club option for the 2025-26 campaign that would pay him $2.302 million.
In the 2023-24 season, Ellis averaged 5.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
On March 18, Sacramento guard Kevin Huerter sustained a torn labrum, and Ellis entered the starting lineup. He started the final 15 regular-season games and two games in the play-in tournament.
When guard Malik Monk suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament on March 29, Ellis’ role at the end of games increased, too.
After he entered the starting lineup, Ellis averaged 9.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals and shot 44.6 percent from 3-point range in the final 15 games of the regular-season.
“I knew everything that should have happened or was supposed to happen on offense and defense,” Ellis said of his summer-league experience after working as an NBA starter. “I knew what plays we were going to run and where guys were supposed to be, so definitely it was easy for me to walk out there and tell guys where to go and make sure the offense was running smooth and help my teammates.”
In addition to the Kings, Spurs and Chinese team, the Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat have entries in the California Classic.
Ellis said he didn’t know if the Kings would use him in the NBA 2K25 Summer League, which starts on Friday in Las Vegas and features entries from every NBA team.
“I don’t know, man,” Ellis said. “I’m just out here hooping.”
Ellis’ squad will be back in action against the Hornets at 9 p.m. CDT Monday.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.