Fear the Beard

Marco Belinelli was coming off a Quincy Acy screen and when the blue-collar forward rolled to the rim, Belinelli found him and Acy finished off the play with a thunderous dunk over ex-King Thomas Robinson. The crowd erupted and so did his teammates on the bench.

These are some of the things that Acy brings to the table. His hustle and energy are appreciated, evidenced by his gradual increase in minutes as the season has progressed and it has really helped the Kings on the defensive end.

“I think when ‘Q’ came in the game, he changed the whole game around,” DeMarcus Cousins said to Jason Jones of the SacBee Friday night after beating the Nets. “We started off sluggish, lazy – ‘Q’ brought energy and just kind of lifted up the whole team. It just shows everybody in this locker room, they have some type of impact on the game.”

George Karl has always believed that playing with great energy is a skill and it may be overlooked sometimes. The vast majority of good teams have an energy player that impacts the game on either side of the floor and that usually bodes well for them.

“I think Coach likes what I’m bringing to the table defensively and when I get in, I try to provide a spark,” Acy told Cowbell Kingdom. “People see that as a skill so I just try take advantage of it.”

The 25-year-old is fully aware of his role on this team and accepts it. The best thing about Acy is that he is a consummate professional and even when his jersey wasn’t called, he stayed positive and ready.

He’s always pumping up his teammates when they make a play and encouraging them to keep playing even when they make mistakes.

“That’s been me my entire career, that’s my personality,” said a confident Acy. “I’m a high-energy person and I play with passion and I think that just translates to the court and it’s helping me. That has bought me a career really, just playing with energy.”

It has been over a week since the famous meeting took place, which included players, coaches and the front office. The Kings have improved on multiple facets of the game and it has resulted in a three-game winning streak.

“We came together, everyone knows we have each other’s back and we got an understanding of everyone and we are holding each other accountable,” Acy told Cowbell Kingdom. “It has been amazing, our leaders are being leaders and everyone is buying into the program and just working.”

It is safe to say the Kings are happy they brought back Acy in free agency because the professionalism and unique skills he brings to the team have already had an impact early on and there is no reason to believe it will stop there.

His coaches and teammates admire his tenacious approach to the game and Acy knows if he stays true to himself, the minutes will come and he will help this franchise win a lot more games, which is his goal.

“We have enough skill players, we have enough scoring, enough of everything,” Acy told Cowbell Kingdom. “But you know I can provide a spark because not everyone is going to come ready to play with energy every game and I have to make sure I’m that guy every game.”

Acy’s thoughts on DMC’s balance when shooting the 3-pointer

“I think he’s doing a good job of balancing,” Acy told Cowbell Kingdom. “40 last game and almost 40 this game, so it looks like he balancing well to me… “He’s a smart dude, he knows how to play this game and he’s unselfish so he’s going to do whatever it is for us to win.”