Q and A: How Sacramento’s rookie are adjusting to the NBA

After being selected by the Sacramento Kings on June 22nd, Colby Jones and Jalen Slawson got right into it. Following the draft, they flew out to Sacramento to see the city and facilities, met some of their new teammates and coaches, and had their introductory press conferences.

Days later, Summer League training camp had started with the California Classic around the corner. Jones and Slawson both played two games at Golden 1 Center before immediately traveling to Las Vegas. One of their minimum of four games in Vegas is in the books.

That’s all taken place within a little more than two weeks. Following practice on Sunday morning, Jones and Slawson spoke with The Kings Herald about their experiences on and off the floor up to this point.

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Q: What’s this process been like for you? With everything going so fast, one thing after the next, have you had a second to breathe?

Slawson: You kind of have to. If you don’t this process can overwhelm you. All the support staff here does a good job making sure that we’re taken care of. Anything we need medically, food-wise, whatever we need, we’re well taken care of. They’ve done a great job making sure we have everything that we need and trying to limit stressors.”

Q: Has it hit you that you’re an NBA player?

Slawson: Kinda. A little bit. It’s still kinda surreal out here. It kinda hit a little bit more after I signed the contract but every day it gets a little more real. The coaching gets a little bit harder. We’re kinda out of the cupcake faze and Luke is starting to push us harder, Dutch is starting to push us harder. So, they’re doing a great job forcing us to adjust, Colby and I especially. It’s been great.

Q: What’s it like for you adjusting to the NBA game?

Slawson: It’s different. I’ve talked about it a lot. Everybody is a lot faster, a lot stronger, a lot smarter, everything happens a lot faster. You’re expected to pick up on adjustments a lot quicker but it’s great. This is what we strived for our whole life. It’s what we dreamed about and have worked so hard for so now we’re here and we have to make the adjustment. We don’t have a choice. If you don’t, you’ll be gone.

Q: Do you feel it from the three-point line at all?

Slawson: Yeah. You can feel it at the three-point line. You get adjusted to it. You get the time in predraft to adjust to it and I spent a lot of time in Miami working on it so the three-point line is probably not the biggest adjustment now. The biggest adjustment is everybody is as big, as fast, as strong as me. I would say that’s the biggest adjustment.

Q: What about that specifically, like when you’re playing the five like last game, how tough is that to get accustomed to with that size difference you’re talking about?

Slawson: I mean, it’s tough but you got to do your work early. Dutch and Luke do a good job coming up with schemes that’ll help me run the five. My teammates do a good job talking to me, letting me know where they are. They do a good job having my backside when I’m in a front, do a great job helping me rebound, so it’s all good. It all plays into the game plan.

Q: What have you seen from Neemias Queta out there?

Slawson: Neemi’s been great. Neemi’s a great leader, first of all. Tells me everything that he has to know and has taken me under his wing. He’s really physically imposing, he’s big, he’s strong, he’s athletic. He can run the floor really well and he’s seen a lot of ball. I think this is year three for him, so he understands that it’s kinda like now is his time and you can see that. He completely took over the Atlanta game, we definitely don’t win that game if he doesn’t play well down the stretch. So, with Neemi it’s like he can do it all. He can give us everything. Protects the rim, rebounds, runs the floor, sets good screens, finishes very well offensively, offensive rebounds.

Q: For yourself how do you feel like the Cal Classic went and that first game in Vegas? 

Slawson: Still working a little bit of nerves, but I feel like I’m never gonna be a guy who’s gonna give you 20 a night. I’m gonna kinda do a little bit of everything, get a couple of assists, grab a couple of boards, maybe throw an open three in here and there but I feel like still working out the nerves, still getting adjusted, I’m starting to get a little more confident. The coaching staff has done a great job, the team has done a great job instilling confidence in me. The adjustment period is kinda over now, it’s go time. You got maybe another game to finish your adjustment period and after that, you’re kinda getting into being who you are.

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Q: What’s this process been like for you? So much back to back, just what’s it been like up to this point?

Jones: It’s been really fun. A lot of things are being thrown at me but I’m just trying to take it all in. It’s my first time really out here in Vegas and Summer League so just really trying to enjoy with my guys, enjoy with the team, and it’s been a great process as well.

Q: You alright with the heat?

Jones: Nah, this heat is something else. It just like overwhelms you. I’m trying to get used to it but I feel like you really can’t.

Q: What’s the adjustment been like on the court when you’re getting used to the NBA game, what are the biggest adjustments there?

Jones: Getting used to the speed and the skill level. I feel like everyone on the court has a great skill level, a lot stronger, a lot faster. So, I just feel like that’s just the physical part and then on the mental side just really making the right reads cause with the defenses being more athletic you got to be quicker in your decisions. So, just kinda getting adjusted to all that.

Q: Is the three-point line an adjustment at all?

Jones: Yeah, I would say it was at first like right after I came out of college but I feel like throughout the summer just putting the work in with that so I’m getting more and more comfortable with it.

Q: At college, your last year, the three-point shot took a jump, what went into that?

Jones: I would just say a lot of reps. Just getting confidence from putting the time in and I feel like that’s really all it was.

Q: Positionally, we’ve seen you play one to three here, what do you feel is the difference in playing those different spots?

Jones: I feel like all of them have their own unique situations. Like the point, I haven’t really played that so I feel like that’s been really good for me just to try out different things and get reps at the one, guarding their one. And then being on the wing just being able to guard taller, more physical players. So, it’s all been really good.

Q: Do you feel the physicality difference? I feel like Luke (Loucks) has said that word to me a bunch so I can only imagine how many times he’s saying it to you guys.

Jones: It definitely was big, especially going around screens, trying to get around those, and then battling in the paint. So, yeah.

Q: When it comes to Neemi, what have you seen from him as you’ve got to know him on and off the court?

Jones: He actually helped me out with the wi-fi here in the hotel, so that was really cool for him to help me with that, but yeah he’s a beast down low in the paint. Last game, we kinda just fed him and he just carried us to that win. So, yeah, he’s been really good.

Q: Defensively, when it comes to ball pressure on these guys and how much faster these guys are, what are those adjustments like for you? When it comes to containing the ball, how has that been different?

Jones: I’ve been trying to pressure, that’s what they want us to do. So I’ve been trying to get used to that, but like you said the speed is quicker at this level so I’ve just been trying to adjust to that. Just trying my hardest out there, just trying to compete, I feel like that’s what it comes down to.

Q: Is there anybody on the team that you’ve gotten to pick their brain a lot? Like, in my mind, someone like Keon (Ellis) plays similarly to you but has a year of experience. Is there anybody that you’ve gotten to pick their brain?

Jones: Yeah. With Keon, I’ve actually been talking to him a lot. Just off the court things like life in the NBA. So, I’ve gotten kinda close with him and then I feel like just everybody. Trying to pick their brains like if I make a bad play I just talk to them, see what they would do, stuff like that. It’s been good.

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The Kings return to action on Monday, facing the Los Angeles Clippers at 7:30 PM PT. The game will air on NBA TV.