The Biggest Takeaways From Stockton Kings Media Day

· Yahoo Sports

The Stockton Kings have reached the NBA G League Finals two years in a row, with one trip culminating in their first championship. Their roster has seen tremendous turnover, with only one player returning from last season. The team features plenty of new faces, from two-way players with Sacramento to trade acquisitions.

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Stockton has a winning culture. Despite the Sacramento Kings reaching the NBA Playoffs once over the last twenty years, the Stockton Kings rarely miss the G League Playoffs.

Landing so many new players may lead some to believe the team is looking to take on a new identity. That’s not entirely the case, as many players cite defensive intensity and pace, two hallmarks of the squad’s previous system, as points consistently preached.

Nearly every player touched upon fighting to reach the pinnacle of G League success, the Finals. They hope to continue the winning legacy the organization has built.

“We’re looking forward to building on last season,” Head Coach Will Scott said.

Every Player Knows Their Role and Is Ready to Build On It

Every member of the Stockton Kings is ready and willing to integrate themselves within the system. That starts with playing with intensity and energy.

One of their premier players is former Toronto Raptor Jonathan Mogbo. Mogbo has played in three games with Stockton’s NBA affiliate, and he made his presence felt.

When asked how he maintains such a high level of physicality during his minutes, he said, “that’s my job.”

Mogbo understands his role and embraces it. The Stockton staff also want their guys to play with freedom, while growing their skills.

One Stockton player, former Washington Wizard Leaky Black, shared that a point of emphasis from the coaching staff is for him to “continue being [him]self and trust [his] work.”

Stockton has stumbled upon a winning formula over the past couple of years, with a track record to prove it. Their players possess varying skill sets and backgrounds, but the front office believes they’ll fit the existing system.

The Sacramento Kings’ recent two-way signee Sean Pedulla, the reigning G League Rookie of the Year, remembers playing against Stockton last year. He recalled a lot of ball screens and their players making the right reads out of them.

“I’m looking forward to being in those situations, making those same reads, and making my teammates better,” Pedulla said.

With the training camp roster officially revealed, the length and shooting prowess on the squad stand out. Eleven players are six-foot-six or taller, with solid wingspans to match.

The Stockton Kings front office sees potential in their acquisitions, but what matters more than their current skills is how they look to improve throughout the year.

Clemson alum Viktor Lakhin spent time with the Sacramento Kings during the Summer League and training camp. He went head-to-head against players like Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, and Domantas Sabonis. Those were great learning experiences, and he has noticed areas where he can improve.

“I would like to make my three-point shot consistently… I had a really good tip-off tournament last year, then got hurt, and it kind of fell off,” he shared.

Lakhin also added that he wants to improve his rebounding effort as the season continues. Stockton’s players aren’t afraid to share their weaknesses and how they look to improve upon them moving forward. That openness reflects both the coaching staff’s culture and the players’ belief in their own development. This includes players in their first professional seasons, like Tayton Conerway.

“I got blessed with this opportunity, I got to come out here and work out for a little bit. The coaches liked me, so they decided to keep me around,” he shared.

Newton and Black Bring NCAA Tournament Pedigree to Stockton

While not always the case, experience in big games can often be the difference for teams with championship aspirations. The Stockton Kings have invested in pieces that fit their scheme and culture.

One such player is Tristen Newton, who won back-to-back National Championships with the University of Connecticut in 2023 and 2024. In 2024, he earned NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. He’s hoping to prove that winning pedigree translates to the pros.

Newton has found himself in Stockton after playing numerous preseason games with the Sacramento Kings. Luckily, he hasn’t had to venture into uncharted waters on his own. Newton reunited with his former UConn teammate Alex Karaban earlier this summer after the Kings drafted him.

On being coached by the legendary Dan Hurley, Newton shared that “it was a great experience; he really instilled a love of the game… I had a great time with him.”

The aforementioned Black has NCAA Tournament experience, playing in the national championship game in 2022 for the University of North Carolina. His defense, versatility, and rebounding proved vital as UNC fell just short to Kansas.

Those two have the deepest March Madness experience on the roster. Seven of the team’s players have played at least one round in the tournament in key roles. Others like David Muoka and Gabe Levin have advanced to the G League Conference Finals or the Finals.

Stockton has made winning their identity. Bringing in players who don’t know how to win would undermine everything they’ve built. General Manager Saagar Sarin knew this from day one. He took advantage of the team’s draft capital and added players that fit his vision.

Stockton Opens Its Quest for a Third Straight Finals on Nov. 7

Many G League franchises fail to sell out many, if any, of their games. The Stockton Kings have been known to sell out Adventist Health Arena. Their avid fans hope their hometown team can reach a third consecutive G League Finals.

Stockton got to work as a unit earlier than usual, during September, to build continuity. While some players may move up and down between Sacramento and Stockton, most of their players are G League regulars the fanbase will grow to love.

Will the Stockton Kings work their way back to the championship? Game one of their quest is on Nov. 7 when they take on the Santa Cruz Warriors at home.

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