The Stockton Kings, NBA G League affiliate team of the Sacramento Kings, are doing well in the early stages of the NBA G League regular season. The ‘209 Kings’ are currently 4-3 early on in the 35 game long NBA G League regular season schedule. That record is good for 6th place in the NBA G League Western Conference, where 6 teams make the playoffs from each conference.
Due to many factors, multiple Stockton Kings players have earned NBA call-ups, with more likely to come as the season wears on! The season is still very young but things are looking good, again, for the Stockton Kings, who have been one of the ‘best’ G League franchises each season since their inaugural 2008 season.
Stockton Kings Full 2021-22 Schedule
Read ahead for my takes and mid-season updates on Stockton Kings players, stats, NBA call-ups, the future, and more!
209 Shoutout!
I’m from the ‘209’ area code, born and raised, so I like to take ANY opportunity to shout out the 209 as often as possible! No, I’m not from Stockton, Modesto, or even Ripon! I hail from the mountains of Amador County, Pioneer to be exact! Have YOU ever been to Pioneer? Tweet me!
Notable Team Stats
A few notable team statistical rankings for the Stockton Kings amongst the 28 teams in the NBA G League – 6th in assists per game (26.1), 8th in FG% (47.1), 21st in 3PT FG attempted (32.3), 16th in 3PT FG% (33.6), 25th in points per game (104.3), LAST in the league in personal fouls drawn per game (17.7), and they scored the third-most points in a game this season with 137.
Defensively the Stockton Kings rank 1st in the league in personal fouls committed per game (17.7), 4th in opponents points per game (103.6), 27th in blocks per game (2.6), 22nd in steals per game (7.9), 14th in defensive rebounding per game (35.0).
For not ranking in the top half of the G League in MANY different defensive and offensive categories, it seems like the Kings are out-performing their team stats, so far this season. COVID protocols, NBA call-ups, and rehabbing NBA players on assignment will also have an effect on these team stat numbers.
What is an NBA G League 2-Way Contract?
209 Kings – Players to Watch
A few notable names on the Stockton Kings this season are Emanuel Terry, Neemias Queta, Jahmi’us Ramsey, Robert Woodard, and Lou King. Recently, Emanuel Terry made his mark on a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns. Terry even received high praise from future NBA hall of famer Chris Paul, after being heckled by Boston Celtics fans for being on a 10-day contract.
Rookie center Neemias Queta became the first-ever Portuguese-born player to play and score in the NBA! Queta was known for his defensive prowess while at Utah State, where he won 2021 Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year and was one of four finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award.
Three Stockton Kings are averaging above 19 points per game, Queta (19.3), Woodard, and Ramsey (19.0). Matt Coleman, Texas Longhorn alum, is ranked in the top 5 in the G League in terms of 3PT% (53.3%), and Ramsey is also shooting 50% on 5 attempts per game from beyond the arc.
Woodard is averaging 19 points and 8 rebounds per game. Surprisingly, he is leading the Kings in 3PT shots attempted per game with 5.3, while shooting 31.3%. At 6’6″ 235lbs, Woodard will most likely need to play the ‘3’ to ever regularly sniff an NBA court, as opposed to being more of a ‘4’ in college. That is probably why Woodard is leading the Stockton squad in 3PT shots attempted, smart move, but time will tell if he ever becomes any semblance of a respected outside shooter. As they say though, practice makes PERMANENT.
Lou King has been a fan favorite in both Sacramento and Stockton. This season he’s averaged 12 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4 assists per game in the G League regular season.
DISCLAIMER: The G League website seems to have the ‘regular season’ starting after the annual G League Showcase, even though games were played previously to that. Basketball Reference takes into account all the games. I’m going with the G League website stats, for now!
Looking Ahead
Much of the Stockton Kings future this season depends heavily upon what trades the Sacramento Kings make or do not make before the 2/10/22 NBA trade deadline. A couple of questions I have going forward: Will any Stockton Kings players see ‘legit’ time on the Sacramento club? Will the Sacramento Kings make a franchise-changing trade, or will they not be able to find the deal they want and wait until the off-season? Will COVID protocols sideline Sacramento players and give a Stockton King a chance to see some extended NBA action?
Regardless, I hope to get down to Stockton Arena and cheer on the 209 Kings! Maybe announcer Dave ‘Deuce’ Mason will be giving autographs and shooting half-court shots before a game to entice more rabid SacTown fans to make the trek down to the 209!
Reader Interaction
I want to hear from YOU! One of the main reasons I decided to start writing about the Kings in 2019 was to connect with Kings fans and give a positive voice to an oftentimes very negative Kings media and community.
Simple question: Who is YOUR FAVORITE Stockton Kings player of all time?
As always, Go Kings!
-Tom Witt
Tom Witt Writes 