When it comes to the Kings' surprising early season, no one player has been more surprising than Beno Udrih. And with every sharpshooting outing and each unexpected win, the sixth-year point guard's revival gets even more unbelievable. He was considered one of the league's worst starters last season, the reputation quite a contrast considering Udrih had signed a five-year, $32 million contract the previous summer (2008). The Kings drafted Tyreke Evans fourth overall last June in large part because of their deficiency at the position, and it seemed Udrih's time with the Kings was limited even though he had a lengthy agreement. But now the Kings would rather play Udrih than trade him.
His 16-point outing on 7-of-12 shooting against Minnesota on Saturday was merely the latest performance of its kind. Udrih entered the game ranked second among the league's guards with a 54.6 shooting percentage while averaging a career-high 13.6 points, four assists and 1.8 turnovers per game. In his previous seven games, he had converted 38 of 59 shots from the field (64.4 percent).
Udrih is doing almost all of it while coming off the bench. He has started occasionally when injuries required him to do so, but otherwise he continues to look like a whole new player in his new role.
KINGS 120, TIMBERWOLVES 100: The Kings' four-game losing streak before this win had everything to do with their defense, which was quickly starting to look like the 2008-09 version that was the worst in the league. But their ability to hold Minnesota to 43 percent shooting Saturday had everything to do with the streak ending.
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