Insider Special: Camp Battles ~ Kings

[Weez]

Point guard only real question

By Terry Brown

NBA Insider

Wednesday, October 15

Updated: October 15

12:55 PM ET

If the Sacramento Kings are still the deepest team in the league, then somebody better look below Peja Stojakovic and call for a measuring stick.

They're older, a bit more bruised and not quite as intimidating.

But that doesn't mean they're not still overly talented and court savvy, with a firm sense of purpose behind all those 60-plus win seasons. It just means the camp battles aren't as fun in this town as they used to be.

Sacramento Kings

Point guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Mike Bibby 5 6-1 15.9 ppg,

5.2 apg Statistically better before coming to Sacramento. Financially better since. Politically speaking, you just can't have a guy making $8.5 million lose his position because of injury, so hopefully Bibby can log more than 55 games this season and he and Bobby Jax can play for it.

Bobby Jackson 6 6-1 15.2 ppg,

3.1 apg If being named the Sixth Man of the Year doesn't at least make Jackson the best back-up point guard in the NBA, then maybe it should, perhaps, make him the starting point guard on his own team. Speed alone makes him a match-up nightmare. His shooting, improved each year in Sacramento (both from the field in general and from long-range), might very well make him an all-star on almost any other team.

Shooting guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Doug Christie 11 6-6 9.4 ppg,

2.2 spg If the 2.2 steals per game don't get you, then the 4.7 assists per game will. By the time opponents figure out that Christie, after all this time, is still a starting shooting guard in the NBA, the Kings have won another game and you can't recall the name of his back up. He remains the required team player in any succesful NBA franchise.

Gerald Wallace 2 6-7 4.7 ppg,

2.7 rpg May very well be ready to add to his NBA trophy case which, so far, only consists of a runner-up slam dunk trinket. A third-year player blessed with this type of athleticism couldn't ask for a better environment.

Anthony Peeler 11 6-4 7.7 ppg,

2.9 rpg Here just in case aforementioned third-year player doesn't take full advantage of his environment. But not a bad third-stringer, at that.

Small forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Peja Stojakovic 5 6-10 19.2 ppg,

5.5 rpg If he shot too much better, he wouldn't be human. But that doesn't mean he still can't play better. His rebounding, passing and defending are still wanting, and unless they get better, he'll simply be an all-star shooter rather than superhuman. Still, can get that shot off in traffic, in form, incredible.

Gerald Wallace 2 6-7 4.7 ppg,

2.7 rpg Doors are just opening up for this kid.

Power forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Chris Webber 10 6-10 23 ppg,

10.5 rpg Arguably an MVP candidate from the first day he uncorked that smile in an NBA uniform. But until we can remove the "candidate" part, we'll always feel a bit frustrated at seeing that smirk in only 308 of a possible 378 Kings games. Cumulative numbers are staggering, but as of yet they amount to no crown of any significance.

Lawrence Funderburke 6 6-9 2.7 ppg,

2 rpg Has scored only 2,022 points in a six-season NBA career, but every one of them has been for the Kings. He has that going for him.

Darius Songaila R 6-9 -- Are those bags heavy yet, rook?

Center Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Vlade Divac 14 7-1 9.9 ppg,

7.2 rpg Starter out of respect. Last year, they told him he could pace himself into the playoffs, but because of injuries to teammates, he played more minutes than he had three years ago. Now, with Brad Miller, the Kings make good on that promise.

Brad Miller 5 7-0 13.1 ppg,

8.3 bpg Eastern Conference all star becomes just another big man in the other bracket, which features the likes of Shaq, Duncan, KG and Dirk. The fact you have to use both Brad and Miller to recognize him means he still has a way to go to really earn the fat contract he just got. Nonetheless, dependable in size and short jumper.

Tony Massenburg 11 6-9 4.7 ppg,

2.7 rpg Six more fouls to give.