Ultimate challenge for Marvin Bagley III with Sacramento Kings
By Rafe Wong
Bagley’s worst-case scenario comes to life
Although Luka Doncic has been great since his first footsteps on the NBA court, Marvin Bagley III did help Sacramento Kings fans ease some of the pain last year. Bagley had a promising rookie season as he showed a constant pattern of improvement as the campaign went on.
The 6’11” forward also averaged around 15 points and eight rebounds a contest in just 25 minutes of play, which made him a double-double machine in the making.
The Kings and their fans still believed their team should have drafted Doncic, but were content with the play of their young forward. But once the 2019-20 season began, Bagley faced some tough obstacles.
Right from the season opener, injuries have limited Bagley’s playing time. Out of the 43 games the Kings have played this season, Bagley has only appeared in 13 of those and has only averaged 25 minutes of playing time. Not only have Bagley’s opportunities to play been hindered, but his development has suffered as well.
Offensively, Bagley has been too dependent on his left hand and ability to post up in the interior, resulting in him taking a step back in the process of becoming a versatile threat. As a defender, Bagley continues to be late in his defensive rotations and lacks the strength to physically handle bigger opponents.
All of this is happening while Doncic is in the middle of one of the greatest seasons a 20-year-old has showcased in the NBA.