Kyle Guy has always been a smaller basketball player and admits he has never really passed the eye test. He’s had to prove himself at every level of his career. In high school he was a nobody, as he describes it, until his senior year. In college, he went through adversity as well until him and his University of Virginia team won the NCAA championship in 2019. In the NBA, he has spent most of his time playing in the G League, learning, getting stronger and trying to make a name for himself, again.
Every single level that I get to I’ve had to re-prove myself, he said after hitting the game-winning three over the Golden State Warriors in Tuesday’s preseason game. And that isn’t a complaint for Guy. The chip on his shoulder doesn’t come out of spite, it comes from a place of welcoming challenge.
“I don’t want it to happen any other way, this is my path and I’m super excited to be on this journey and be in this organization that trusts me, he said.
Guy was in close games throughout his college career and he hits shots like the one he hit Tuesday night all the time in practice game winners, step backs, really difficult shots. So when he heard the coaching staff tell him to go for the win instead of trying to tie the game in the final seconds against the Warriors, he knew he had to knock it down. Head coach Luke Walton said Tuesday that there may not be a lot of minutes available for him this season, but Guy’s approach and work ethic is admirable.
“I’m a guy who sets lofty goals that most people think are crazy and that’s what I like to chase. If you don’t laugh at it that means I’m probably not going to chase that goal because it’s not big enough, he said. So making the roster was a goal that I set this year. If it happens great, if it doesn’t then I’m very content I know I could still get an opportunity even if I’m not on the actual roster.”
Sports are a microcosm of life. You experience joy, pain, failure and triumph as a fan. The players go through it at an even higher level because a good chunk of their lives have been pretty much molded around their potential to make it in the NBA. Guy’s basketball story is an example of that. Another Kings player who is working his way through adversity is Marvin Bagley.
Bagley is a guy who has been through a lot. He’s been in the shadow of Luka Doncic pretty much ever since Vlade Divac selected him with the No. 2 pick in 2018. Injuries have allowed him to only play in a total of 75 games in two seasons, including not being able to play in a single game in the Orlando Bubble. Then, he tested positive for COVID-19 coming into this season’s training camp. Since he has appeared to the media over the last week, however, he isn’t sulking, he’s approaching this season as a clean slate. And from the moment he woke up on Tuesday morning, all he could think about was the game that night his first preseason appearance.
He was placed in the starting lineup and in the first couple of minutes of the game he had to adjust back into the speed of the game, and admitted he got a little tired. By the end of the first quarter, however, things began slowing back down for him and he felt back to normal. He finished the game with 9 points and 4 rebounds in 16 minutes of action. He had fun, was enjoying the game and letting it come to him.
“I’m just glad that I was able to be out there and I made it through the game healthy and I just want to thank God for that, Bagley said.
Bagley has taken the tribulations he has gone through in his career so far as an opportunity to get his body and diet right, and staying positive.
“I can’t control stuff that I can’t control at the end of the day. Only thing I can control is how I approach the game, how I work and the work I put into the game that’s my mindset, and I stayed positive throughout that whole time. I’m moving forward from that. I’m glad this was a good first step to a great season ahead, so I’m just excited to be out there and helping my team, said Bagley, who is currently on a minutes restriction.
He was also excited for his teammate Kyle Guy.
“Kyle [Guy] as you guys saw tonight, he’s a great player. We see it every day in practice and workouts he shoots like that, so it’s no surprise, he said. I’m just happy for him that he’s getting the opportunity to show the world what he can do. ¦ I’m happy for my guy, and the best is yet to come for him.”
I am happy for both Bagley and Guy. Athletes have a lot of pressure on them and when roadblocks are put in front of them like they have both experienced it is great to see them come out of the other side. It was only one preseason game, of course, and who knows what the future holds, but it was a good night for these two and hopefully the best is yet to come for each of them.
I’m slowly moving towards being pro-bagley. he seems more chill now.
Guy has to play well enough to make us forget about Izzy Brazdeikis. It’s clear sailing for Bagley.
It’s always nice when your head coach makes a point to undercut you with the media. What’s next for Lose Walton?
“Marvin looked good for us last night, but since he’s injured all the time, I don’t expect there to be a lot of minutes for him.”
He’s not even bad at his job, he’s actively making the people around him worse, too.
Vlade’s lovely parting gift.
If Lose Walton, who I believe is on a very short leash, can’t put together a decent first half of the season, he’ll be gone before you know it. Based on what I’ve seen the last couple of games, albeit exhibition games, the Kings seem to have some pieces to put a decent product on the floor. There’s no excuse to flop out of the gate this season. If it were up to me, I would give Walton 20 games to make some very meaningful improvement. Anything less than 10-10 is unacceptable.
I disagree. If we aren’t 20-0 after 20 games,then Lose Often has to go. Basically, he just needs to go…period.
Period, end of statement, I agree. The sooner the better. He never should have been hired.
Wait, did Walton actually say that?
I don’t remember hearing him saying that about Marvin. What article or interview are u referring to?
Guy is a good shooter and had a great game, but I have to wonder how effective he’ll be against the really good defensive guards that won’t allow him many, if any uncontested shots. As for Bagley, if he can stay healthy, he going to be a really good player, not Luka, but hell, who is.
Those guards will have to be focusing 100% of the time because Guy’s movement off ball and all over screens is going to wear people out
Adding that Guy takes and makes tough shots. He even contorts his shot situationally. I think having 1 of Haliburton or Fox on the floor at all times would be beneficial to him and them.
Getting someone like Cade could provide 3 ballhandlers at the same time. Then we could be so multi-dimensional
I don’t hate the notion of starting Fox/Hield and backing them up, Hali/Guy.
The other rookies need to get some good run with the starters, or it’ll be difficult to assess where they are. Being out there with the other guys 11-15 on the depth chart won’t allow them to grow.
Thankfully, the amount of really good defensive guards on the 2nd and 3rd string are few and far between.
Rooting hard for both these guys this year!
I suspect that previous years’ Bagley would not make that comment about Guy. Shows growth. Godspeed Marvin, prove everyone wrong.
It was fun to watch both guys last night.
I sure do love Bagley’s jump hook, it will be fun watching him figure out his game this year.
His touch is so soft with that baby hook. Love to see it.
Apart from his second jump, his baby hook is his best skill, IMO. Has to keep using it cause it is really effective.
Did anyone notice how Kyle Guy started his last shot a bit off balance and not square to basket but by the time he released the ball he had squared up his shoulders and I believe his hips were also closer to being squared… he didn’t get frazzled and just let it fly, he made sure to have some sound mechanics
There was a split second during his jump where he was square to the basket and he launched from there. That’s incredible body control and it’s a joy to see. I lost track of how many times I have watched that highlight.
Absolutely. The sign of a true shooter. It doesn’t matter how the shot is taken or begins, but by the time of release, the body and hips are aligned toward the basket. He has an excellent “flip of the wrist”, which looks really good for his follow through. He didn’t “shoot” that game winner. The kid’s aim is so good, he literally threw the ball in with one arm. It was almost quarterbackish.
Give the kid some run!
Players that can shoot like Guy will find an NBA home at some point ! Think other 2nd round shooting specialists like Seth Curry, Kyle Korver, Tyler Johnson, Langston Galloway ! Why not ?
This is why I never wanted to trade Gary Trent Jr.
Thanks for all the great content TKH!
The only downside is that I frequently find myself posting alone in threads not aware that everyone else has moved on.
Bagley looked good out there. Active and aggressive. I still have to temper my expectations. A big man that can’t shoot from the outside in today’s NBA… Means his impact on winning games will be limited. The other thing, Bagley looked particularly good against no front court whatsoever from the Dubs last night. Lets see how Bagley fares against more formidable competition. Jokic and Ayton in the first 3 regular season games. The more I watch him, the more I realize his ceiling looks like Derrick Favors. 2.0 in his prime. Bagley can rebound better and he’s more athletic than Favors. Bagley looks like a 18-10 guy. If he could learn to play any defense, he would be more valuable.
He needs more time at the 5. I honestly think we should have a Bagley Barnes Hield Haliburton Fox starting lineup most matchups. I think if Bagley can be an elite rim runner and clean up big. I agree he is more of an 18-10 guy with the occasional big game. I wonder if the “blessing in disguise” of his injuries is that he is humbled and accepts/commits to getting most of his points the grimy way, setting good screens and cleaning up the glass, with an occasional jumpshot. I believe his skill level doesn’t match his own image of himself. And he needs to get confident in going right sooner than later. That only left stuff will get shut down and exploited if we ever make the playoffs in the near future.
Marvin might not be able to stretch his game all the way to the 3 point line but he can develop a nice midrange/pick and pop. It’s not like his shot is horrible. Then he could be more of 22/10 guy which I’m sure most of us would be ecstatic with.
If Lose gets his head out of his own ass, then he’d realize we already have Tyler Herro on our roster. His name is FUCKING KYLE GUY!
I’m very proud of that young man. I’m still giving Bags the side eye, but I hope he comes out BALLIN.
Off topic alert:
It looks like Vecenie has been reading my posts about Kessler Edwards and James Preston.
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