Veteran center Tristan Thompson has become sort of a senior spokesman with the Kings, as the lone player on the roster with a championship ring (2016, Cavaliers).
He had some authoritative words for the team last week, then again after Monday’s home loss to the injury-riddled 76ers, the Kings’ eighth in nine games.
It also came in Alvin Gentry‘s first game as interim coach. Gentry replaced Luke Walton, fired over the weekend.
“You can’t be nice in this league.” Thompson told reporters, before repeating himself. “You can’t be nice. Nice teams always finish last or get excited about lottery balls.”
Tristan Thompson critical of his Sacramento Kings team once again, calling out the soft play, shooting struggles, lack of defense and another 4th quarter collapse in Monday's loss to the Sixers.
FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/BTA8ohFyr7 pic.twitter.com/o5wFznQ145
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) November 23, 2021
Thompson, 30, is in his first season with the Kings. After a lengthy amount of time with the Cavs, he spent last season with the Celtics. He was then traded to the Hawks, then to the Kings, over the summer.
He added that the Kings have to play with more toughness and overall determination, and you can’t help but think he is really on to something.
He has seen it all in the NBA, and he is a respected voice in the locker room because of it.
“What guys gotta understand is that those little things over the course of 48 minutes, the my-bads after the my-bads after the my-bads, is what’s going to cost you a game in the fourth quarter,” he said last week.
Sacramento (6-12) has not made the playoffs since 2006.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
