Call-Ups is delighted to bring you an exclusive interview with Sacramento Kings two-way guard, Kyle Guy. Who completed the majority of his rookie season (2019-20) in the NBA G League, for the Stockton Kings.
Through his rookie campaign in the G League, Guy averaged 21.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 steals. This was through 37 games, on 40.1% shooting from 3-point range.
On December 15, 2020, the 23-year-old hit 20 points, including a game-winner buzzer-beater against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA preseason. In the game he recorded 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and converted six 3-pointers.
Guy spent 3 years at the University of Virginia, where he was part of the 2019 NCAA Championship winning side. He scored 24 points in the championship game against Texas Tech (85-77 OT) and won the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award.
He went onto be selected with the 55th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. Before being traded to the Sacramento Kings, where he went onto sign a two-way contract.
Topics include Guy’s recent game winner against the Warriors, his rookie season in the G League, winning the NCAA Championship, and the new G League Ignite team. Plus much more.
You can watch and listen to the interview below. Please like the video and subscribe to the Call-Ups YouTube channel for more.
Stay up-to-date with the latest from the NBA G League, as well as with the development of future elite prospects from around the world, by following Call-Ups on all social media channels.
26-year-old guard Cody Demps has signed for G League Ignite. He becomes the second veteran signing made by the elite prospect team based out of Walnut Creek, CA.
Demps spent four years at the Sacramento State Hornets, at the collegiate level, before making the professional jump to the NBA G League. He initially signed for the Reno Bighorns in 2017 following a successful tryout.
The Bighorns moved to Stockton in 2018 and are now known as the Stockton Kings. Demps made the move as well, and in his third season (2019-20) with the franchise averaged 14.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals. This was through 41 games, on 43.6% FG (37.2% 3P).
(Image/NBA.com)
“Super excited, it is a great opportunity! Obviously, with all this uncertainty going on with COVID, it’s been tough for professional basketball players out there trying to find a job. This opportunity came along, and I jumped at it!” Demps said when speaking to Emerge Sports about his move to G League Ignite.
When speaking about his role in the Ignite set-up, Demps responded with the following; “Leadership role is definitely one that I see myself in and play a similar role to every team I have played on. I am kind of a swiss army knife type of player, so I can plug in wherever the team needs me”.
The 6-foot-4 guard has spent time with the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers in the past at Summer League, and will add a wealth of knowledge to G League Ignite.
The team currently consists of elite prospects Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Isaiah Todd, Daishen Nix, Kai Sotto, and Princepal Singh. As well as fellow G League veteran Reggie Hearn. 5-time NBA Champion (3 as a player, 2 as a coach), Brian Shaw, is the team’s Head Coach.
Stay up-to-date with the latest from the NBA G League, as well as with the development of future elite prospects from around the world, by following Call-Ups on all social media channels.
On June 22, it was announced that Gabe Vincent had been named the 2019-20 NBA G League Most Improved Player. The Sioux Falls Skyforce guard won the award as a way of a vote by the league’s 28 head coaches and general managers.
Over the past season the 24-year-old averaged 20.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, in 31 contests. He led the league in 3-pointers per game (4.2), whilst converting at a 40.3% clip.
all @iamgabevincent2 needed was an opportunity on his way to Most Improved Player 💪
In the 2018/19 season, Vincent was with the Stockton Kings. Averaging 8.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, in 24 games.
Vincent represented the Kings in the first 20 games of the 2019/20 G League season. Before moving to the Skyforce for the remaining 11 games, where he signed a two-way contract on January 8 with the Miami Heat.
At the time of acquiring Vincent, the Skyforce were 10-13. They then went 9-2 for the remainder of the season, finishing with a final record of 22-20. Which was good for a 6th place finish in the Eastern Conference.
The two-way guard’s impact on the Skyforce was clear to see. He scored 30+ points on 6 occasions throughout the season. Rewinding back to the month of December, with Stockton, he averaged 24.9 points on 49.1% shooting. Three of those 30+ point performances occurred in that period.
On December 17, he recorded a career-high 35 points against the South Bay Lakers. Four days later, he matched that outburst, scoring 35 points against the Canton Charge. In each game Vincent drained nine 3-pointers.
Paul Watson of the Raptors 905 and Mychal Mulder of the Santa Cruz Warriors finished second and third in voting for the award, respectively.
It’s easy to get caught up in the glamorous statistic of points per game when looking at G League players. But rebounding can be just as important, if not more. It can shore up a team’s defense and limit opponents to just the single look. On the offensive end, it can provide extra possessions, as well as free-throw opportunities.
The Wisconsin Herd led the way in the 2019/20 season, in terms of team rebounding. With 52.5 rebounds per game. The Delaware Blue Coats and Maine Red Claws fill out the top-3, with 49.6 and 49.3 rebounds, respectively.
But what about players? Below are the top-5 rebounding players in the G League throughout the past season.
(Image/Matteo Marchi/NBAE via Getty Images)
Ivan Rabb:
23-year-old Ivan Rabb of the Westchester Knicks led the G League in rebounds per game, with 12.1. Offensively, he grabbed an average of 3.7 boards. Whilst knocking down 16.5 points, on 54.4% shooting.
The 6-foot-10 power forward/center is in his 3rd season in the professional ranks. Having previously represented the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA. He did have a two-way contract with the New York Knicks to start the 2019/20 campaign but was waived back in January.
In the G League, he’s had playing time with the Memphis Hustle over the course of the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons. Where he averaged 15.2 points/9.4 rebounds and 20.5 points/8 rebounds, respectively.
(Image/Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
Eric Mika:
The Stockton Kings’ Eric Mika sits second in rebounding, with 12 per contest. He impressively led the G League, by quite a distance, in offensive boards. Collecting an average of 4.8. Alongside his rebounding antics, Mika dropped 18.8 points (60.3% FG) and 2.2 assists per game.
The 25-year-old has had an extensive professional career to date. Having played in Italy, Germany, and China. He’s had 3 stints in the G League, all with the Stockton Kings. In February 2020, Mika was called up to the Sacramento Kings, where he played in 1 game, against the Los Angeles Lakers. In that contest, he recorded 6 points and 7 rebounds, in 19 minutes.
(Image/Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images)
Jemerrio Jones:
Jemerrio Jones of the Wisconsin Herd actually topped the entire league in the total number of rebounds, with 504. When it’s broken down into averages, Jones sits third with 12. Possessing a well-rounded skill-set, the 25-year-old also recorded 10.8 points (55.4% FG), 4.6 assists, and 1.3 steals.
The impressive thing is with Jones, is that he’s a 6-foot-5 wing. Who hustled for 4 offensive rebounds each game. A category in which he, again, topped the league in terms of total numbers (169).
Before representing the Herd, Jones spent time with the South Bay Lakers. He was called up to the NBA in March 2019, with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he averaged 4.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals, in 6 contests.
(Image/Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
Devontae Cacok:
Moving over to the South Bay Lakers, Devontae Cacok is fourth-best with an average of 11.9 rebounds. The 23-year-old rookie is second in the entire league in offensive rebounds, with a huge 4.2 each game. Along with his rebounds, Cacok averages 19.4 points, on 65.4% shooting. All in just 23.9 minutes per game. The lowest out of any of the players listed.
The 6-foot-8 power forward/center holds a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. He hasn’t had much call-up time to the NBA as of yet, and is yet to make his debut. But his time will most certainly come. His high-energy game mirrors that of Montrezl Harrell of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Image/Robert Frank/NBAE via Getty Images)
Zylan Cheatham:
Carrying on with two-way players, Zylan Cheatham of the New Orleans Pelicans and Erie BayHawks rounds out the top-5. With an average of 11.6 rebounds. On the defensive end, the 24-year-old rookie sweeps up everything. Sitting second in the league with an average of 8.4 defensive rebounds. In terms of total numbers, Cheatham sits second in the G League with 396 boards.
He also picked up 16.2 points per game, along with 2.8 assists, and just under 1 block. Cheatham’s G League efforts have been rewarded with 3 NBA appearances for the Pelicans. Where he’s averaged 1.3 points and 2 rebounds, in 10.3 minutes per game.
Most known for being part of the Virginia Cavaliers side that won the 2019 NCAA Championship, two-way rookie Kyle Guy has been carving a name for himself in the NBA G League this season.
He knocked down 24-points in his final college game, and has taken that scoring to the professional ranks. For the Stockton Kings, Guy is averaging 21.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 steals, on the season.
From range, he’s lights-out, converting at a 40% clip. Back in December, he scored 42 points against the Iowa Wolves, on 8-16 shooting from beyond the arc. This is tied with Marial Shayok, of the Delaware Blue Coats, for the most points by an individual this season.
In addition, he recorded seven 3-pointers in a 37-point outburst against the Oklahoma City Blue in January. Guy is certainly a dangerous outside threat, holding the 7th spot for the best 3-point percentage in the league.
In terms of total 3-point shots made, he’s in top spot with 142.
(Image/Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Player Profile:
The 22-year-old guard is the definition of a modern NBA player. A large bulk of his work is done from 3-point land (8.9 attempts per game), from catch-and-shoot scenarios. He possesses smooth shooting mechanics, with a quick release, that’s easy on the eye. Klay Thompson and Kyle Korver-esque.
From time-to-time, he can mix it up and roll to the rim. Despite standing at 6-foot-1, his speed and agility allows him to convert in the paint or dish out the assist. Additionally, he can handle the ball and produce.
Guy had a rough start to the season, shooting below 40% in the first two months of the season. However, that appeared to be him adjusting to the professional game. His 12.7 3-point attempts in November reduced to 8.4 through the months of January and March. With his shooting efficiency rising.
Before the season suspension, Guy was averaging 29.8 points in the month of March (4 games). Along with 3.8 rebounds, and an incredible 9 assists per game. Whilst converting at a 48.2% rate from the field, 45.7% from 3. His efforts helped push the Stockton Kings to a 23-14 record on the season.
Being selected with the 55th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, Guy signed a two-way contract. This would allow him to develop his craft primarily in the G League. He has featured in 2 NBA games, averaging 1 point in 2 minutes per game.
However, Luke Walton and Vlade Divac must be keeping an eye on his G League exploits. Kyle Guy certainly deserves a legitimate NBA opportunity. He’ll most likely impress.
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Call-Ups, Providing Coverage of G League Ignite 