Huerter explains why DeRozan makes the Kings “automatically” better Originally appeared in NBC Bay Area Sports
After missing the playoffs during the 2023-24 NBA seasonThe Kings embarked on their quest to land a big-name star and improve their roster this offseason.
Kings guard Kevin Huerter believes they accomplished exactly that on their own after acquiring DeMar DeRozan, six-time NBA All-Star through a signature and exchange agreement.
“First of all, if you add someone like DeMar and his skill set, you’re automatically better,” Huerter said in a recent appearance on “The Check Ball Show.” “If you add a player of his caliber, you’re a better team.”
“I would say there is a lot of confidence in our building. There has been since I got there.”
That confidence has likely increased since a player like DeRozan arrived, who has averaged 21.2 points with 46.9 percent shooting, 4.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists over his 15-year career.
Huerter joined the Kings for the 2022-23 season and helped Sacramento snap a 17-year playoff drought as the Western Conference’s third playoff seed.
The Kings could not Support your story season The following year, they finished with two fewer wins and fell six spots in the Western Conference playoff standings. They won their first game of the NBA play-in tournament against the Golden State Warriors, but fell to the New Orleans Pelicans in their final attempt to secure a best-of-seven playoff series.
And the West has only gotten tougher, something Huerter acknowledged but believes the Kings are prepared for.
“The West is a really tough conference,” Huerter said. “We feel like last year we lost a couple of easy games at home or things we could have won and we’re still in the mix. Every year there are two or three at the top and then everyone else seems to be right in the middle. So we’ve stayed that way the last couple years. I think we’re really confident. It can go either way. We’ll be able to score and play with anybody.
“Defensively, we continue to show that we are improving, even in the second half of last season. You saw that in the playoffs against the Warriors as well. I think there is another defensive level that we can reach. But it’s hard to make predictions because it also seems like the talent across the NBA is, to me, at an all-time high.
“… I think we’re going to be up there with anybody and we can beat anybody on any given night. It’s only 82 games. Let’s see if we can stay healthy.”
Health is undoubtedly the main concern for Huerter, who has been recovering all summer after undergoing season-ending surgery on his left shoulder to repair a torn labrum. With training camp right around the corner, Huerter is focused on getting back on the court with his boys as they look to once again contend for the playoffs.