Report: Kings waive rookie guard Ellis despite solid preseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Kings have tough decisions to make ahead of the 2024-2025 NBA season opener next Thursday, and those steps reportedly began Friday.
Sacramento is waiving rookie guard Boogie Ellis, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported Friday, citing league sources.
The Sacramento Kings are waiving guard Boogie Ellis, league sources said @hoopshype. Ellis averaged 9.0 points in 12.8 minutes during the preseason while shooting 39% from three-point range and playing capable defense. Through eight Summer League games, he shot 47% from three-point range pic.twitter.com/Skxdan1zCx
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) October 18, 2024
The 23-year-old USC product played in three of the Kings’ five preseason games and averaged 9.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 12.8 minutes. He shot 41.7 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three-point range.
Ellis’ impressive effort during the preseason caught the attention of veteran Kings guard Malik Monk.
“He just doesn’t care,” Monk told reporters after Monday’s practice. “You’ve got to have that at some point, especially when you’re a rookie.
“[Boogie] doesn’t matter. He goes out there and plays his game. If he makes a mistake, Mike will tell him, and he will fix that mistake, but he just goes out there with a free spirit.”
Ellis, who went undrafted this summer, signed with the Kings and played for them in the California Classic and NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
It was during the California Classic that Ellis first turned heads, scoring 17 points in 22 minutes to lead the Kings to a victory over the San Antonio Spurs on July 7 at the Golden 1 Center.
“Coach [Doug Christie] said he wanted dogs, and I guess I’m a dog,” Ellis said after putting together a defense that held the Spurs to a chilly 22.5 percent shooting rate. “Just showing that, picking people up, being physical, talking, communicating. Just do everything that other people don’t want to do.”
Ellis made a strong case to be named to the Kings’ Opening Night roster during the summer league and preseason, but now he will look for his next opportunity after showing what he is capable of with Sacramento.
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