Iman Shumpert was one of several Cavaliers to be traded at the trade deadline, leaving a championship contender to join the rebuilding Kings. The former NBA champion is currently out of action due to plantar fasciitis and his return date is unknown.
Shumpert spoke to reporters after his first practice with the Kings and expressed optimism about joining the franchise (via ABC10).
“I like it, they play an up and down speed, which is a speed I’m accustomed to,” Shumpert said. “It’s all equal opportunity and moving the ball; they move the ball side-to-side and play hard. We got a lot of athleticism and I think I could help a lot, really, and I think I fit in.”
Shumpert, 27, has only appeared in 14 games this season, averaging 4.4 PPG and 2.9 RPG — both career-lows. As an experienced player with NBA postseason experience, Shumpert said he is looking forward to helping the Kings’ young players.
“Just appreciating the opportunity and coming in here with a fresh mind,” he said. “The stuff that I’ve been doing over there [in Cleveland], and the things that I’ve learned playing in the playoffs every year, going to the [NBA] Finals the last three years. [I’m] just trying to bring it over here and help these guys apply it.
“Sometimes just bringing that voice can mean a lot with instilling confidence in young players. I know when I was young with the Knicks, having Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace and those other guys that have been there before come and instill that confidence.”
Check out other Kings notes down below:
- Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee looks back at the one-year anniversary of the Kings trading DeMarcus Cousins to the Pelicans. Despite being in the postseason hunt at the time, the Kings decided to trade their best player, signaling the beginning of what team president Vlade Divac called a “culture change.” The Kings have struggled this season and third-year center Willie Cauley-Stein has noticed a change. “It was an instant culture shift,” Cauley-Stein said. “Just like from a personnel standpoint, it’s a lot more chill, a lot more relaxed, got more productive in practice. We were able to just teach each other stuff. Everybody had a role and everybody touched the ball and could get it going and play for each other.”
- In a separate story, Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee noted that forward Skal Labissiere (shoulder) and guard Frank Mason III (heel) would return Thursday. Both men were active and saw time in Thursday’s loss to the Thunder.
As soon as I started to read comments from Shumpert, I was like wait – has he even played?? No. The answer is no. So the speed that they play at, if it’s no speed at all, and involves butts on benches, that’s the speed he is accustomed to atm. Lol why do they even interview this guy other than to see if he’ll talk bad about LeBron?
He means playing in practice.
They probably interviewed him and published it online so people click and read it, I’m not a doctor though so I could be wrong
But equal opportunity. This way Shump can chuck up more bricks.
Has Shumpert even played? Seriously? He plays hard & pushes, we have seen his style. I guess you were looking elsewhere.
The new guy is going to be interviewed. People there want to know what he’s like. Obv.
He’s played just under 12.5 minutes since 11/20/2017. None of which in a Kings uniform. He’s playing as hard as I am right now, which is not playing. It doesn’t take a “doctor” or a genius to do some sleuthing here to figure out what they really want out of an interview. They want some Cleveland dirty laundry. I’m just happy he is enough of a Pro to say what he said – learned a lot, will use that as he moves forward.
He also doesn’t have to the play to see their style, watching the games and listening in on the coach’s gameplan would also do the trick.
Of course they’re going to interview the new guy at his first practice after missing significant time with an injury, and what was he going to say? “I don’t like the style, I don’t think I’m going to fit well at all, this franchise is a joke and I’m going to be out of here in 25 games”??!
Good chance for Shump to see some minutes once he’s healthy, maybe rebuild a little steam on his career.
They were waiting for him to slip up and say, “much better than playing with LeBron” that’s all the reporters hopes and dreams right there.