SACRAMENTO – Dozens of zealous Kings fans welcomed the team’s newest additions to Sacramento upon their arrival Sunday afternoon.
There were cheers, applause and excitement in the air as Darius Acuff Jr., Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp touched down in California’s capital to embark on their new journeys as NBA players.
“It’s a great feeling,” Sharp said at the rookies’ introductory press conference Monday. “Getting off the plane, it kind of caught me by surprise. I wasn’t ready for it, but great fans. It just shows how invested they are, and that’s all you can ask for in the fan base.
“So, I can’t wait to be out there on the floor with them cheering for us and lighting the beam.”
The three rookies hope to give fans those same reactions with their play on the court over the years, as their eyes are set on helping turn this franchise around and building on the winning culture general manager Scott Perry pushes to establish.
“I’m looking to bring it back,” Acuff told NBC Sports California on Monday. “That’s what I’m here for. I’m not a guy to just tell you a lie in the media. I’d rather just go on the court and do it. Like I said, I’m excited to play in front of the fans; they deserve to start winning again. So I’m excited to do it for them.”
Sacramento has missed the NBA playoffs the last three years, and it won just 22 games last season.
The Kings got a temporary taste of sweet victory during their magical “Beam Team” year – their only playoff appearance in the last 20 years.
While Acuff recognizes the organization and fan base’s hunger to bring winning basketball back to a city that deserves and yearns for it, he doesn’t feel pressured by the situation. Not even when he hears the term “face of the franchise” roaming around Sacramento.
“No, I don’t really feel pressure. It’s just basketball at the end of the day,” Acuff Jr said. “We all been hooping for a long time, so I just go out there and play my game for real.”
Sharp feels the same.
“I feel the hunger but not pressure,” Sharp told NBC Sports California. “We’re stepping into a new situation. They’re trying to build something here, so it’s really just looking forward to starting the process of building good habits, bonding with my teammates and establishing a great culture.”
Kings’ draft pick Emanuel Sharp joins NBC Sports California’s Tristi Rodriguez to discuss his goals to build a winning culture in Sacramento.
Rather than focus on the Kings’ past, Sharp is just excited for the opportunity to build upon the organization’s future.
“The best part about this is I’m ending a chapter of my college basketball and stepping into something new,” Sharp told NBC Sports California. “I’m excited to do whatever I can to further the organization and help build something up.”
One thing that will help with that is his shooting.
The second-round selection is best known for his 3-point shot, shooting 37.6 percent from long range on nearly six attempts per game over four seasons at Houston.
Sharp is viewed by some as a potential 3-and-D guy, and he shared that he believes his defense is the most underrated part of his game.
“When people see me, they probably think of my shooting,” Sharp said Monday, “but I like to pride myself on my defense first. I come from a defensive program, so, like I said, we take a lot of pride in defensive stops. So I think that’s probably the main area of my game.”
That certainly is music to coach Doug Christie’s ears, who was sitting front row at Monday’s press conference. Since taking over as coach last season, Christie has preached defense, defense, defense.
So has Perry.
It’s an area of the game the Kings are trying to build an identity around, and one Sharp welcomes.
“[My conversations with Christie] have been great,” Sharp told NBC Sports California. “I love everything he’s been preaching and everything he wants for this team. I think I fit right in. I’m excited to have him as my coach.”
He also is “really excited” to begin his NBA journey with his fellow rookie teammates Acuff and Karaban.
They all understand the tall task at hand, but it’s a challenge they’re looking forward to. Together.
“I’m ready to build that bond with them and get started on what we have to do here,” Sharp told NBC Sports California.
Karaban, whom the Kings traded up to select No. 29 overall in the draft, is eager to get the ball rolling in Sacramento and begin a “new chapter.”
That chapter wasted no time being written. Perry shared that despite arriving at their new home Sunday and dealing with the chaos that comes with that, the Kings rookies asked to get in the gym on Day 1. So, they joined the players who were already working out at the team’s practice facility Sunday.
“That gives you some insight into who they are and what the game means to them,” Perry said Monday. “And again, those are qualities that are important to us. We want guys that value and love playing this game, and so as soon as they hit the ground, that was one of the first things they wanted to do.”
While Acuff, Karaban and Sharp aren’t expected to turn the franchise around tomorrow, they’re eager to take it one step at a time. And that begins with the California Classic this weekend and NBA Summer League in Las Vegas in July, two tournaments the trio of rookies already is determined to win.