Brown, Kings players amazed by Ellis’ ‘unique’ defensive impact

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Brown, Kings players amazed by Ellis’ ‘unique’ defensive impact originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Mike Brown has been in and around the NBA for more than three decades, coaching some of the league’s greatest players.

From Tim Duncan to LeBron James to Kobe Bryant, the Hall of Fame list goes on and on for Brown’s coaching resume. Still, somehow, Brown doesn’t know if he’s ever seen or been around a player quite like Kings second-year guard Keon Ellis.

“I was talking to one of my coaches a couple of days ago and I was trying to figure out who he reminds me of defensively, and I’m not sure yet,” Brown told reporters Wednesday after Sacramento’s 123-89 win over the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. “His skill set is unique. His arms are a lot longer than what you think, his anticipation and his feel for a young guy, [I’ve] never been around it. Not for a second-year guy that played in the G League his whole first year and got limited minutes so far.

“I’ve been in the league 30-something years and I can’t fully grasp it because he’s so young, but he plays like an old soul. His feel is like an old soul. But he’s probably a little quicker than you’d think, a little bit more athletic than you think, arms are a little bit longer than you think, and his feel, anticipation, hands — it’s early, but they might be second to nobody. I’m not sure, it’s going to take some time to really figure him out but he’s doing a hell of a job for us.”

Not only is Ellis now 7-0 as a starter after filling in for the injured Kevin Huerter in Wednesday’s win, the undrafted guard out of Alabama is making the most of any opportunity he gets on the floor — regardless of the role.

In Ellis’ last five games (three starts), he has accumulated 17 rebounds, 13 steals and eight blocks. His five blocks in Sacramento’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday were the most by a guard in Kings franchise history, and his seven rebounds in that same game made him the first guard in NBA history to record five-plus blocks and seven-plus rebounds off the bench.

And he’s getting it done on the other end of the floor, too.

Since March, after the Kings…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/brown-kings-players-amazed-ellis-185526734.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-03-21 18:55:26

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