SACRAMENTO - All hands on deck. The Sacramento Kings open the 2017-18 schedule Wednesday night against the Houston Rockets at Golden 1 Center and it looks like they might do so with a full arsenal of players at their disposal.
Point guard De'Aaron Fox returned to practice on Sunday and then participated in the team's annual Fanfest. If his dance moves are any indication, the 19-year-old's back is feeling just fine.
Veteran George Hill tweaked his groin Friday against the Golden State Warriors, leaving his availability for opening night in question. Hill, 31, who has a history of groin injuries, was on the court Monday practicing and said he is ready to play.
"Everything is feeling good right now," Hill said Monday following practice.
The only player who didn't practice on Monday is rookie Bogdan Bogdanovic, who sprained his right ankle against the Warriors. According to head coach Dave Joerger, the team is hopeful that the Serbian sharpshooter will return in time for Game 1.
"We're still shooting for Wednesday for both of them," Joerger said of Hill and Bogdanovic.
New look Rockets
Sports
The Rockets went 55-27 last season under head coach Mike D'Antoni, but that didn't stop them from going all in during the offseason. With MVP runner-up James Harden already manning the backcourt, Houston added nine-time All-Star Chris Paul as their new starting point guard.
"Leadership, he's a floor general," Hill said about Paul. "Anywhere he goes, he'll make a team better. We know they were already a good team without him, coming in with him is going to be a bigger task."
It's a new look roster and the expectations are huge for the Rockets. Houston averaged 115.3 points per game last season and led the league in both 3-point attempts and makes. This season, they also added two strong perimeter defenders in P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute.
It's a huge test coming out of the gate for Sacramento. Following the contest against the Rockets, the Kings hit the road for three straight before returning to Golden 1 next Thursday to face DeMarcus Cousins and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Camp notes
With the season just around the corner, the Sacramento Kings made their final roster cuts on Sunday afternoon. David Stockton, Matt Jones and Reggie Hearn were waived, leaving the Kings with 15 rostered players and two two-way players in Jack Cooley and JaKarr Sampson.
Stockton, Jones and Hearn are all expected to join the Reno Bighorns of the NBA's G-League.
