It only takes one look at the Sacramento Kings’ backcourt to realize that help is needed and former Michigan State shooting guard Denzel Valentine might be the answer to that problem.
The reigning Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, Valentine, went unsolvable throughout the season and made life difficult for opposing players and coaches alike. Matt Painter, who has coached at Purdue University since 2005, has seen Valentine’s ascent firsthand during the past four years.
“He’s grown as a player. He’s had to face adversity so you’re not talking potential with him. You’re talking actual production,” Painter told Cowbell Kingdom. “I think it’s easier for [teams] to gauge can he play right away versus maybe a guy you got to wait on. He definitely got better every year in all areas, he’s from a great program, a tough league, but I think he’s definitely ready to play just because of all of his experiences that he’s had in his four-year career.”
// Each of Valentine’s four seasons at Michigan State saw steady improvements in his points, assists and rebounds per game and three-point shooting percentage. These efforts culminated in a stellar senior campaign of 19.2 points, 7.8 assists (ranked fourth in the nation) and 7.5 rebounds per game, along with shooting a solid 44 percent (ranked 11th in the nation) from beyond the arc.
This level of collegiate production is a far cry from previous shooting guards the Kings have drafted such as Ben McLemore, seventh overall in 2013, and Nik Stauskas, eighth overall in 2014. McLemore and Stauskas both could shoot the ball coming out of college, but Valentine enters the league with multiple tricks up his shooting sleeve.
“I think his overall value starts with his IQ and his competitiveness. He’s a very competitive player and understands the moment,” Painter said. “Sometimes guys will understand the moment then try to do everything themselves. He’s a guy that can beat you in a lot of ways with his intelligence, his competitiveness, his skill level, but it’s not just playing for himself … he can also go make a play for others.”
This versatility allowed the 6-foot-5 Valentine to become the first player in Big Ten history to record 1,300 points, 700 rebounds and 500 assists, according to the Big Ten Network. Chris Knoche, who’s covered Valentine for the past two years as a radio analyst for Maryland University, views his all-around performance as a sign for things to come.
“He’s perfect for where the NBA has gone over the last couple years … I think NBA teams are very thirsty for Draymond Green types and those are guys that can play multiple positions,” Knoche told Cowbell Kingdom. “Guys who usually play bigger than they actually are, guys with multiple and varied skill sets offensively and that’s the way the league has gone. They’re looking for all-court players like Denzel.”
The league is also looking closely at the health of Valentine as multiple sources have reported an MRI on his right knee shows damage that could affect his long-term playing ability. This coupled with his reputation as a poor defender and lack of athleticism could be a recipe for disaster against some of the best athletes in the world.
Even so, Valentine has only missed four games in his entire career and Painter believes he has the tools to work through the reported setback.
“I think some NBA guys will definitely try to attack him and break him down to see how he moves laterally. I don’t know if that’s a weakness or not, but anytime you deal with high-level quickness and athleticism, a guy gets checked out real fast once he starts playing at that level,” Painter said. “He’s not the best athlete in the world … but to me, I think he’s going to be fine in the league. I think he has enough strength and understanding of the game to where he can use angles and like I said he has a good first step and then defensively use his size and IQ to keep people in front of him and do the little things to help him on the defensive end.”
There’s no telling who’ll be available for the Kings at No. 8, but one thing is certain, an impactful player needs to be selected in tomorrow’s NBA Draft. The clock is ticking.
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