It’s been quiet around Sacramento for the last few weeks, but we have some news to pass along today. The Sacramento Kings have picked up the second-year option on Reno Bighorns head coach David Arseneault Jr.’s contract.
The 28-year-old Arseneault led the Bighorns to a 20-30 season in 2014-15, but the record doesn’t tell the whole story. The former Grinnell University player and coach was a victim of his own success, losing five players from the Bighorns to the NBA last season. Arseneault’s roster was often depleted and in constant flux throughout the year as Quincy Miller, David Wear, Jordan Hamilton, David Stockton and Sim Bhullar went to the show.
“We are excited to continue with David as our coach in Reno,” Kings Vice President of Basketball and Franchise Operations Vlade Divac said in an official press release. “He demonstrated an ability to develop players prepared to contribute at the professional level and his system complements George Karl’s desire to run an up-tempo style of play in Sacramento.”
Arseneault was forced to modify his unorthodox Grinnell-style offense as players shuffled in and out. That didn’t stop the Bighorns from averaging 133.1 points and nearly 47 3-point attempts per game.
You may not understand the method of Arseneault, but can’t argue with the results his players produced. Miller flourished in the system, leading the D-League in scoring at 25.3 points per game before his call-up to Sacramento and then eventual signing with the Detroit Pistons. After averaging just 7.4 points and 4.2 assists in 27.8 minutes a night at Gonzaga, Stockton dropped in 20.1 points, 9.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 30.5 minutes a game under Arseneault.
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