Devin Carter is one of three players selected in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft that has yet to log a single minute of game action. But after recovering from the shoulder surgery that has kept him out of the first 34 games of the season, he’ll be available off of the bench for the Sacramento Kings when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.
How much can the rookie help a team that has been in shambles for the past two weeks? Carter may actually be an important piece in getting the Kings turned around.
Can Devin Carter Help Pull The Kings Back To .500 And Beyond?
Sacramento has been struggling all year, but things took a turn for the worst in mid-December. After winning three straight to pull their record back to an even .500, the Kings lost six games in a row around the Christmas holiday to fall all the way back to 13-19. It was a stretch that not only began trade rumors surrounding their best player, but one that also saw them fire Mike Brown, who was the winner of the NBA Coach of the Year award less than two seasons ago.
17 PTS 👑 12 REB 👑 7 AST 👑 3 BLK
2024 NBA first round pick Devin Carter posted his first professional DOUBLE-DOUBLE in the @stocktonkings 24-point win over the Hustle! pic.twitter.com/bWXxncHurQ
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 3, 2025
They’ve bounced back with a couple of big wins in their last two games, but the larger roster issues still remain. They struggle with their perimeter defense, ranking 27th in the league in opponents 3-point percentage and 29th in opponents attempts, and their bench produces the third-fewest points per game of any unit in the league. Sacramento has two players known for being the best clutch performers in the NBA, but have lost more close games than any team so far this season.
Carter Checks The Boxes For What The Kings Need
Devin Carter can help stop the bleeding in each of those categories. During his time at Providence, the 6’3” guard proved to be an elite defender both on and off of the ball, and was able to pull down nearly nine rebounds per game in 2023-24, a borderline incredible feat for a player of his stature and position.
He’ll come off of the bench for the Kings, and his penchant for scoring will be a huge boost to their second unit. Carter made better than 37% of his three point attempts in his final collegiate year, and led the Big East conference in scoring with 19.7 points per.
Devin Carter will go down as one of the biggest steals of the 2024 NBA Draft. Elite defender and rebounder, big-time shot-maker, active mover without the ball, reliable playmaker, clutch, leadership qualities. Checks every box long-term for the Sacramento Kings. https://t.co/gqhxWBGdss
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) January 3, 2025
He excels with certain attributes that don’t show up in the box score, as well. He is active and energetic on both sides of the ball, and has the ability to be a playmaker when called upon. The clutch gene is present in his game as well, which can help pick up the slack if De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozen continue their late-game struggles.
Upon being cleared for basketball activity, Devin Carter played two games for the Kings’ G-League affiliate in Stockton. He averaged 23 points to go along with 10 rebounds and 5 assists in 33 minutes per game. His turnover numbers were rough at 4.5 per contest, but he made up for it by notching 5 total steals and 4 total blocks.
