Huerter becomes instant fan favorite in explosive Kings debut initially seemed on NBC Sports Bayarea
SACRAMENTO — In 28 mins and 48 seconds, Kevin Huerter briefly turned into a fan favorite throughout his Kings debut at Golden 1 Center on Wednesday night time.
The Kings sharpshooter tired his first 3-pointer 123 seconds into the sport. After that, it was once lighting out from in the back of the arc for the 6-foot-7 guard.
It were given to some extent the place as quickly because the ball landed in Huerter’s arms, enthusiasts were given on their ft and foreshadowed what was once to come back.
Splash.
Huerter completed with 23 issues on 8-of-12 capturing from the sector and made 6 of 9 3-pointers. He additionally had 3 rebounds, two assists and a scouse borrow.
The Kings misplaced the sport 115-108, a recreation they very a lot will have gained. And even if it felt out of succeed in, there was once Huerter draining a 3-pointer with a hand without delay in his face with 14.7 seconds left in the sport.
The shot ended up being a two-pointer after overview, however that self belief remained. After the sport, I requested Huerter about that self belief and the place it comes from.
“I always have that mindset, games like this, you kind of ride the hot hand,” he mentioned. “Tonight it was my turn, next game it could be [Harrison Barnes’] turn or [Terence Davis II] or Malik [Monk]. I think if the guy’s hot, making shots, I think that’s where the ball should go. In the end of the game, the ball came into my hands.
“But my shot’s falling tonight, it was good and my guys are proud of me.”
That contains Kings trainer Mike Brown, who was once inspired with Huerter and mentioned he “shot the mess out the ball.”
Sacramento traded for Huerter, who performed his first 4 seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, this summer time.
As trainer Brown was once getting to understand his group, there was once a little of a fight for the beginning two-guard place. Huerter and Monk, Sacramento’s free-agent signing, had been the highest two guys heading in the right direction to win that position.
Ultimately, Huerter gained that spot and it sort of feels to be the proper transfer.
In the 3 out of 4 season openers that Huerter performed with Atlanta, he was once 0-for-5 from the 3-point line. This season opener, he went off capturing 6-for-9 from in the back of the arc.
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Perhaps it’s one thing in the Sacramento air. But Huerter was once having a look sharp in his first recreation in the 916. The enthusiasts’ transparent love for him — already — seems to be reciprocated.
“It was a great atmosphere,” Huerter mentioned on what he considered the enthusiasts’ presence Thursday. “I wouldn’t say I was surprised. I kind of just didn’t know what to expect. You know right from the jump, the pregame was a lot of energy. Everybody was ready to go. They had a lot of energy so it was great.
“We appreciate them for coming out.”