Kings big man Richaun Holmes will miss the remainder of the season due to personal reasons, the team announced (Twitter link via James Ham of ESPN 1320).
“Richaun is a core member of our team, who is very important to our success,” general manager Monte McNair said. “We fully support Rich and look forward to seeing him back on the court for the 2022-23 NBA season.”
“I would like to thank everyone for their support during these difficult times,” Holmes said. “I love this team, I love my teammates and I look forward to returning next year.”
Holmes, 28, is in his third season with Sacramento. He has developed into a quality starting center with the Kings after spending the majority of his first four seasons coming off the bench for the Sixers and Suns, respectively.
Through 45 games this season, including 37 starts, Holmes is averaging 10.4 points and 7.0 rebounds on 66% shooting from the field and 77.8% from the charity stripe. His minutes have decreased drastically since the Kings dealt for Domantas Sabonis last month — Holmes is averaging just 15.3 minutes, 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game in a reserve role since the trade.
After a breakout season in 2020/21 when he posted averages of 14.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, and 1.6 BPG, Holmes re-signed with the Kings on a four-year, $46.5MM deal as a free agent last August. The fourth year is a player option.
The timing of the announcement is interesting, as ESPN’s Zach Lowe just wrote this morning (Insider link) that Holmes “might be the good player on a long-term contract most likely to be traded this summer.” While this isn’t exactly surprising, considering Holmes is too good of a player for the limited role he’s had since the Sabonis trade, it’s still noteworthy.
Personal reasons = do not see the point of playing for a terrible team.
Exactly. Like “personally, this teams trash”
Worst pro team in NA sports
All this new age mental weakness!
Nah. That dude brought a different level of commitment this year vs last. Can’t blame Sabonis, losing or whatever. He was an energy guy who wasn’t in great shape since start of season and didn’t expand his game after getting paid. Reflection time. I hope he comes back to form.
I can’t wait for the league to expand so I can finally stop caring about this team
No one is forcing you to care about the Kangz…
Join the rest of us,just point and laugh!
Lol ok we can be warriors fans and look and feel like posing idiots instead. Nah, go kings.
How do you feel something on the Internet? I think that means you are being electrocuted.
Posing not posting. It’s a 90s term… Poser.
Lol mad about sabonis.
Sabonis, as always is playing at an All-NBA level… Holmes should be delighted to get 15 minutes per game, if he ain’t happy is time to move on, he ain’t that good!
Holmes should have been dealt when they acquired Sabonis.
Trade him to hornets. Young team who needs a young affordable center. May mesh well with Lamelo and Bridges.
Kings should learn from the Cavaliers and put Holmes in his original PF position.