Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown said Tuesday that he isn’t sure if Sasha Vezenkov will be a part of the rotation when the team opens the regular season on Oct. 25.
Vezenkov, 28, signed a three-year contract with the Kings after playing the past five years with Olympiacos in Greece. He was named the MVP of the EuroLeague last season after averaging 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists on 38.3% shooting from 3-point range.
The Kings like the offensive versatility Vezenkov brings. Brown previously commended him for his willingness to shoot as it will help the team space the floor. However, with several players ahead of him, Brown was non-committal about him being in the rotation.
“I don’t know if he will be or not,” Brown said on Tuesday, via James Ham of ESPN 1320. “He has got to keep fighting his behind off and getting better every opportunity he gets, whether that is in practice or shootaround or in the game.”
Mike Brown on the Sasha Vezenkov situation. He was non-committal on whether Vezenkov will be in the rotation when the season begins. pic.twitter.com/inuJdzWPIV
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA) October 10, 2023
Vezenkov debuted on Sunday when the Kings opened the preseason against the Toronto Raptors. He produced 12 points, two rebounds and one assist in 11 minutes in the 112-99 loss. He shot 4-of-7 from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range.
He came off the bench with the third unit in that contest and only played in the second half. While he is an offensive threat, Brown said he still needs work on defense. The team will continue to evaluate its rotations so Vezenkov could play at some point.
“He played well for us offensively against Toronto,” Brown said. “He is getting better. We’re just taking a look at different combinations. We may throw Sasha in with the second five. … Sasha showed some of his versatility on the offensive end for us that people will expect to see this year.”
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