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The Kings have seen several All-Star players evolve. The player who represented Sacramento in the decade before his departure was Demarcus Cousins—currently 6th best scorer and rebounder in franchise history, 2x All-NBA Second Team, and 4x NBA All-Star.
According to some of the best centers in the league during his prime.
On February 20, 2017, he was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. But a torn Achilles tendon was diagnosed and required surgery. Since then, it has been a descent into hell.
He accepted a minor contract from the Golden State Warriors, but a misfortune never comes alone. He ruptures the tendon of Achilles again.
Hector, on hearing the news, tried to reach him immediately. He signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers in July but tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The Lakers just waived him, so he returned to Sacramento for treatment.
He is a center with exceptional offensive talent. It is simultaneously long, powerful, and very mobile, and its mastery makes its palette formidable. He is an excellent finisher in the racket, efficient in transition, solid in the low position, a decent shooter, and able to outflank his direct opponent. He is also a good ball handler, even if Hector is better at this area and a good passer.
Some believe he had the potential to be one of the best of all time, like O'Neil or KAJ.
But with the Kings, he never finished with a positive record despite his production. He can't look at Chris Webber without mentioning Karl Malone, and Pat Ewing is too far away for him.
It doesn't change that it's one of the centers that has dominated the last decade. The only one who can sit at his table is Dwight Howard. Otherwise, the rest needs to be more dominant.
Demarcus is interested in this rookie. He just made a big performance, and being very connected to the Kings, he pays attention to the games of Sacramento and sees a good potential that sleeps in him. Hector wanted to wait until this summer before making contact, but life is full of surprises.
Since he's injured, he thinks training him a little is okay. Both see collaboration with a positive eye, and so does Wharton.
"Hector, you already have a solid foundation, but your physique has yet to mature. The most important thing for you is how you use your body during contact. You know that your technical qualities are incredible. »
Hector already knows it. Above all, his style of play is based on his technical skills, but he frowned when he heard the rest.
"But you think like a 3andD. You have huge physical potential and are a potentially different version of Giannis, but you need to play farther from the basket. You can be an excellent rebounder; a double-double average is almost guaranteed. You can easily take two offensive rebounds per game with your positioning. You already do it, but you must know you are powerful. Your potential on both sides of the field is equal to Embiid's. »
Exactly. Hector never thought of becoming a center. Fate decided otherwise.
Until he was 15 years old, he trained to be a small forward, hence his excellent ball handling. It can be said that the nature of things makes him seen as a unicorn.
"Unicorns" are a rare archetype in the NBA. These players are fit to play forward or center but also possess technical skills resembling a guard game. It is their uniqueness that establishes their potential.
Three-point shooting. Lateral agility. Ball handling. Who passes? Hector has the whole panoply. In theory, he can play with anyone in position 4. But as Demarcus pointed out, he must be completed as a player.
As a center, his expectations are legitimate when looking at Hector's athletic potential. He uses it perfectly in defense but, according to him, only enough in attack for his size.
Demarcus looked at him, fearing that Hector would reject him, and quickly said: "Don't worry, if you find a good coach who knows how to use, you will become an All-Star in 2 years. Why two years? It isn't effortless for coaches to train big men; they see the game through guards' eyes. »
Hector assumes that any guard would be more aware of what is happening all over the field but will never have the view from the inside. Come to think of it, it's true. In his previous life, none of his coaches was a big guy. In the NBA, Kevin McHale was the last coach to play as a big.
"First, you have to get used to playing with your back to the basket with contact. I can see that you have the moves, but you need more experience. I can't blame you if you're not used like that, but this is where you must work to get over it. Then your selection of shots is to be refined. We will analyze it later. »
Hector chopped his head: "Next year, I aim for a double-double average. Nice to meet you. »
They shake hands and then start talking about their daily lives.