Latest news with #SacramentoKings
Forbes
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
The Mind Of A Champion: Inside The NBA Sports Medicine Series
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JUNE 22: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder ... More celebrates with the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player trophy after defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 22, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) It takes a comprehensive team to bring out the best in an NBA player and organization. In addition to the team focused on maximizing the performance during the game, a team of clinicians, executives, and scientists that spans sports medicine professionals. Data analytics, physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, nutritionists, and many more collaborate to bring out the elite performance in world-class athletes. Sometimes this work is done in silos, and best-in-class tips may not be shared effectively across a team or across a league. That is where the vision of the NBA Summer League Sports Medicine Series enters, led by Dani Lonford, Manager of Player Rehabilitation Golden State Warriors. Dani Langford The goal is to break down walls, create dialogue between NBA and non-NBA professionals, and support those helping athletes guests included NBA veteran Brook Lopez, Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs, and league executives that included Alvin Gentry, Vice President of the Sacramento Kings, and Tommy Sheppard, former General Manager of the Washington Wizards. I had the opportunity to sit down with several of them during the event to discuss the intricate ecosystem of team sports and the specialized career skills that are essential to develop in order to advance in this pathway. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 23: Head coach Alvin Gentry of the Sacramento Kings looks on in the ... More second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 23, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) The following are five key takeaways from the Sports Medicine Series that may redefine how you think about success in the arena of sports. 1. Learn the Language of the league The most effective professionals can connect their expertise with others around them. In sports, silos between athletic trainers, data scientists, and medical staff can slow down performance improvement. In business, similar gaps exist between strategy, operations, and execution. This rapid and efficient communication is critical when it comes to managing or preventing injury, maximizing team dynamics, and staying ahead of potential challenges throughout the season. Brook Lopez & Mena Mirhom NBA veteran Brook Lopez emphasized that the most trusted people on his care team are not always the ones with the most credentials. They are the ones who communicate clearly and collaborate across roles. Danielle Langford said it best: 'Creating more fluidity between levels, departments, between people, is how we grow. Getting everyone in the same room shifts the conversation.' One of the key panels of the conference highlighted the importance of this efficient, effective, and thorough communication across the organization. MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 28: Alize Johnson #27 of the Washington Wizards talks with general manager ... More Tommy Sheppard prior to the game against the Miami Heat at FTX Arena on December 28, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) Tommy Sheppard, a veteran executive of the NBA for over 30 years, emphasized the importance of being great at the specific role that we have. We must all embrace how important it is to understand our roles. The professional athlete needs support in so many areas, and it is crucial that everyone embraces their role to provide support to the best of their ability. Career takeaway: Learn your craft deeply, but also learn how to speak the language of others. Progress often happens in the spaces between specialties. 2. Focus on the Players, not the Prestige Across every panel and conversation, one idea kept resurfacing. If the athlete does not feel seen, none of the work matters. There is a lot of glamour that comes with being around professional athletes. It's important to go beyond the show and focus on the humans themselves. Dani Langford puts it this way when asked about the most important career skills needed in this work: The top ones are adaptability and flexibility. Your schedule can change the night before a game. Communication and teamwork are also huge. At the Warriors, the people make the place special, so connecting with others and checking your ego at the door are important. You need to be here for the people, not the principle extends beyond sports. In leadership, entrepreneurship, and healthcare, people are more likely to thrive when they feel personally understood. Career takeaway: Beware of fandom in professional sports careers. In order to create a sustainable career, the player must be central to your work, not just the prestige of the role. 3. Translate complex data into daily insight Sports science is advancing rapidly. Metrics like heart rate variability and sleep efficiency are now standard in elite environments. But what happens when the data says one thing and the person says another? Jalen Suggs & Mena Mirhom MD Jalen Suggs offered a candid insight: 'The numbers help, but sometimes you just know your body's not there yet.' Danielle Langford added: 'You can bring positive energy, create a good environment, and contribute. But in the end, it's really about the athlete.' In complex fields, numbers provide clarity, but intuition and relationships built from experience still plays a vital role. Career takeaway: Data should inform your decisions, but it cannot replace judgment. The best professionals learn how to blend both.4. Respect the Complexity of Recovery Recovery is a major theme in professional sports. This goes beyond a specific injury but expands to the daily process that involves micro-recovery of the sleep schedule, managing difficult headlines, and maintaining an elite routine. This process is often not just physical but engages the entire team. The process involves timing, focus, and comprehensive recovery. Jalen Suggs explained it well: Trusting your body again is a whole different level of emotional and mental layer is true in professional life outside of sports as well. Reentering after burnout or disappointment requires more than just reengagement. It requires self-awareness and support. World-renowned Senior Sports Psychiatrist, Derek Suite, MD, who has over 15 years of guiding elite athletes across the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLS, explains how he trains the next generation of sports psychiatrists to approach helping players with sports injuries navigate the recovery process: Derek H. Suite, MD, senior sports psychiatrist and performance consultant with 15 years of ... More experience across the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLS, specializing in injury recovery and return-to-play diagnostic precision- distinguishing grief over lost ability from clinical depression, because the interventions are worlds apart. Second, somatic integration-the body keeps the score of injury trauma, so we rebuild neural pathways through graded exposure, not just positive thinking. Third, ecosystem leadership, an athlete's recovery lives in the spaces between medical appointments, so we orchestrate care teams like conductors, not consultants Career takeaway: Growth and recovery are not linear. Understanding the dynamic ecosystem of a team allows you to become indispensable to an organization. 5. Understand that information is currency The balance between privacy and transparency can be a difficult one to strike. One of the most important principles in professional sports is that it must always be player-driven. I spoke with Maggie Bryant, President of Performance Health and Wellness, who often navigates this nuanced approach to keeping staff informed while fiercely guarding players' Bryant, President of Performance Health and Wellness, Los Angeles Clippers 'Information is gold. The ability to communicate at a high level and know when to share something, and who needs to know, is key. Having a clear-cut process in mind establishes trust. The more trust you can develop with players, the more effective you will be. She discussed that at this level, you can be a very skilled clinician but be entirely ineffective if players do not trust you or buy into your approach. She credits her father as well as key mentors, who walked her through foundational skills of establishing these long-term relationships with authenticity. Career takeaway: The discipline of developing trusting relationships is a career skill that is sometimes even more valuable than the technical skills of a position. Bottom Line The Sports Medicine Series was more than an event. It was a snapshot of what sustainable, fulfilling careers look like in high-performance fields of sport. Building a great career in sports is about learning across disciplines, respecting the complexity of team dynamics, and never losing sight of the people you serve.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sacramento Kings Could Form A Powerful Backcourt With Russell Westbrook And Zach LaVine
Sacramento Kings Could Form A Powerful Backcourt With Russell Westbrook And Zach LaVine originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The NBA offseason has only just begun, and the Sacramento Kings have some big improvement plans. In the aftermath of some major trades, the Kings are in need of a point guard, and recent reports from within the organization claim that they could look to Russell Westbrook to fill the void. 'Fellow free agents Tyus Jones and Russell Westbrook are also known to be options that the Kings are considering," wrote Sam Amick of The Athletic. "Free agency formally begins at 6 p.m. Eastern on Monday. Beyond the point guard vacancy, though, league sources say the Kings are open for business when it comes to discussing the various possibilities with their roster.' The Kings are still trying to find their way after a series of disappointing seasons. Despite their initial success with De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, they failed to make a long playoff run, and the team decided to wipe the slate clean by trading Fox and parting ways with their longtime coach, Mike Brown. Going into next season, the Kings are hoping to be competitive with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis, but they'll need a proper point guard to keep up with the steep competition. In a somewhat weak free agency, options are limited for the Kings, but Russell Westbrook is not only an affordable option, but he has the potential to raise their ceiling. The 9x All-Star is a future Hall of Famer with career averages of 21.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game on 443.9% shooting. As a 2x scoring leader, 9x All-NBA player, and former MVP, Westbrook has proven himself as one of the elite superstars, but his decline over the years has been swift. Ever since leaving the Thunder in 2019, Westbrook has been on a downward spiral that includes failed stints with the Rockets, Wizards, Lakers, and Clippers. In his latest stop, the Nuggets, the entire front office split over his role in Michael Malone's rotation. Now, Russ is set to decline his $3.5 million player option and join the 2025 free agency class at 36 years old. At this stage of his career, Westbrook's future is still uncertain, but the Kings believe he can help them win games next season. After averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game in the 2024-25 campaign, Russ has something left in the tank, and his impact on the floor is still felt after 17 years in the NBA. While he may not be what he once was, Westbrook's skills as a scorer, ball handler, and playmaker should make him a fine addition to the Kings. At the very least, he'll make them relevant in the West in a lineup with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis. After finishing ninth in the standings this past season, Sacramento needs a spark, and Westbrook can bring that and more with his status as a leader, veteran, and ultimate competitor. While he's expected to have multiple suitors this summer, Westbrook will have direct control over this next landing spot, and there's a lot to be gained from joining the Kings, where he could potentially start on a competitive story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Russell Westbrook Expected To Sign With The Sacramento Kings
Russell Westbrook Expected To Sign With The Sacramento Kings originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Former Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook has been one of the many names floating around in the pool of free agents this offseason. While interest in the guard was reportedly tied to Ben Simmons' signing, the nine-time All-Star is now set to join a team. According to a recent NBA insider report, the veteran guard is expected to sign with the Sacramento Kings for the 2025-26 season. Westbrook's agent, Jeff Schwarz, has been in constant communication with the Kings franchise, and a "strong mutual interest" between the two parties was also reported earlier. The notion of Westbrook joining the Kings is an intriguing one. With Sacramento also acquiring Dennis Schroder this offseason, the Kings appear to have significant flexibility in their playmaking options. With two capable veteran guards anchoring their backcourt, the Kings will be able to adjust their starting lineups and rotations in accordance to matchups. In this case, Westbrook may receive preference owing to his experience with orchestrating an offense and overall upside. In the 2024-25 season, Westbrook played a vital role for the Nuggets as the backup point guard. The 36-year-old recorded an average of 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game, while shooting 44.9% from the field and 32.3% from beyond the arc. Although he has lost a step, the guard is still capable of putting pressure on interior defenders. This created a lot of opportunities for the Nuggets to score from the outside. When Jamal Murray was sidelined with injury, Westbrook stepped into the role of the starting point guard and flourished. In a span of 14 games, the guard notched an uptick in performance, with an average of 13.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. He also recorded a triple-double of 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 16 assists during a game against the Golden State Warriors. Although Westbrook's time in Denver was also marked by some internal disputes, it could be considered a successful endeavor in the greater scheme of things. Joining the Kings at this stage poses to be an interesting proposition for the guard. Given how Sacramento's currently constructed, it seems likely that they will be looking to make some changes. The franchise has been linked to Jonathan Kuminga in trade rumors. Should they succeed in acquiring him, the Kings are likely to facilitate a trade for DeMar DeRozan. In many ways, Sacramento could be a very different team at the start of the season. While this may not immediately transform Sacramento into a playoff contender, it gives them the potential to be competitive. With Westbrook running the offense again, however, they will surely be interesting to story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kings' fan favorite gets $2.7 million contract offer to leave NBA
The Sacramento Kings hosted the best seasons of Richaun Holmes' NBA career. He's been away from the Kings for a couple seasons, but soon, he may not even be in the NBA. Telesport reports that Holmes has been in discussions with Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce about a $2.7 million contract to go overseas for the first time. The report states that Holmes is still waiting to see if an NBA offer comes his way this offseason. Holmes has played 10 seasons in the NBA, most recently for the Wizards. He has played for the Kings, 76ers, Wizards, Suns and Mavericks. MORE: Steph Curry provides clarity on his retirement plans Across four seasons with the Kings, Holmes had his best averages with any team, of 10.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. The 6-foot-10 31-year old played in 31 games this past season for the Wizards at 17.2 minutes per game and put up a ridiculous 64.7% from the field. Holmes can still score the basketball efficiently, and if he goes to Turkey, he'll likely put up strong numbers. With his 32nd birthday coming in October, it's not clear how much NBA time Holmes has left. Maybe one strong season in Europe would give him a final shot to come back to the league. MORE NBA NEWS: Syracuse legend Carmelo Anthony named greatest college basketball player of the millenium LeBron James trade, buyout rumors take 180-degree turn Victor Wembanyama's real reason for training with Chinese monks revealed Damian Lillard explains how WiFi kept him close to new teammate Jrue Holiday Lakers cut ties with 2 guards to make room for Marcus Smart Clippers' Nicolas Batum makes French retirement announcement
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Would it make sense for the Boston Celtics to trade for Kings big man Domantas Sabonis?
Would it make sense for the Boston Celtics to trade for Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis? The Celtics find themselves in something of a down year with star forward Jayson Tatum sidelined with rehab for an Achilles tendon injury, and with that, have cut their payroll while taking on a number of developmental projects in the players they have signed to fill those vacated roster spots formerly occupied by Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, Kristaps Porzingis, and, presumable, Al Horford. The folks behind the "New England Sports Network" YouTube channel put together a clip from their "Hold My Banner" show that has hosts Kasey Hudson and Ountae Campbell taking a closer look at what such a deal might actually look like in practice, and what effects it might have. They also got into some of the recent Celtics news making the rounds in the NBA's 2025 offseason, from whether Ben Simmons is a good fit for Boston, what to make of Marcus Smart with the Los Angeles Lakers, and more. Check it out below!
