JT’s Blog: Visiting Omri in Israel

This summer I went to visit Omri Casspi in his home country of Israel. My trip started out with a 12-hour flight, which honestly, I slept for the majority of. It was nice because this plane was really unlike any other I had been on. The seats reclined, which was really nice for me, being 6-11. It was crazy because I left at night the night before and got in at night in Tel Aviv, Israel, so I basically lost an entire day during travel.

Literally right after we got off of the plane we went to watch Israel versus Italy in the Eurobasket qualifications. The arena they were playing in was actually the same arena that Omri used to play in when he played for Maccabi Tel Aviv. I got to sit courtside and watch the game but I was surprised that so many people recognized me and wanted my picture and autograph.

The game was intense, we got to see Omri and his Israeli team versus Andrea Bargnani who plays for the Raptors, and Marco Belinelli, who played for the Raptors but I think now plays for the New Orleans Hornets. So there were three NBA guys and a lot of good competition. It was a little different watching Omri play for another team as well as root for another country but it was a good feeling because he is my teammate on the Kings. My agent and I actually surprised him, sitting courtside, he came up during warm-ups and saw me and gave me a big hug. We have become pretty good friends since we got to know each other last training camp. I’d say our friendship is a lot like Donté Greene’s and mine.

From everything I’ve seen Omri has been playing very well in Eurobasket qualifications. The game before the one I went to, he had 30 points and beat Montenegro. Although they lost the game I went to I think he ended up with 20, so he’s playing really well. He has a lot of pressure on him playing there, being the first Israeli player to play in the NBA. I think he is handling it well and leading his team well.

I stayed in Israel for an entire week and was fortunate enough to spend some time on the beautiful beaches as well as try out all of the different kinds of food they had. Oddly enough one of the things I enjoyed the most was the orange juice. For some reason it just seemed fresher than any orange juice I’ve had in America. So I was drinking more orange juice than I ever have in my life while in Israel.

I also tried to speak a little Hebrew, I learned that “shalom” means “hi” and “toda” means “thank you.” It was the easier of the Hebrew grammar I learned but very helpful. I am still trying to learn more.

Later in the week, I visited Jerusalem and Bethlehem with an American tour guide and it was a great experience. You always hear about places like this in Sunday school but to actually see the places in real life is very special. It’s not something that a lot of people can say they’ve done but to be fortunate enough to see it in person was very rewarding.

After seeing all of the sights, it was time to go see Omri’s older brother, Eitan, get married. It was definitely a cool experience seeing all of the different customs that they have in Israeli weddings. For instance, the groom walked in first with his parents and then the bride walked in with her parents. She then stopped halfway down the aisle and the groom would walk back and meet with her there and kiss her, then they would walk up to the altar. So a couple things were different than any wedding I have been to. There was a lot of other traditional stuff that I had never seen before; such as plate breaking and the groom would get lifted in the air by the groomsmen at the reception. It was a really fun experience.

Overall, the summer has been really fun. I’ve been hanging out with my family a lot in New Jersey and checking out the concerts that happen near where I live in Philadelphia. As well as spending a lot of time with my brother, who is preparing for his first veterans camp with the Utah Jazz.

I plan on returning to Sacramento in early September to get prepared for training camp. This year I’m trying to be as consistent as possible and coming into the season stronger as well as staying mentally tough.

I would like to say that I am very appreciative of the great support Kings fans have shown me over the last two years and even those who may doubt me, it is great motivation to keep working to get better.

I hope all of you great Kings fans come to the games next year because we definitely feed off of your energy and it makes ARCO Arena a very tough place to play. I’m really looking forward to getting started, we have a great team and we want to start the season off on a good note!

Check me out on Twitter @JTtheKid and stay tuned for the #rukiddingme and #yessir t-shirts coming out soon!

Casspi Propels Israel into Eurobasket 2011

It was a bittersweet moment for Kings forward Omri Casspi on the last night of Eurobasket Qualifications. On one hand, he led his Israeli team to a berth in next year’s Eurobasket tournament, on the other, his team lost to rival Montenegro just moments before 79-69.

Even though Israel lost its qualifications finale to Group A winner, Montenegro, Omri still has much to be proud of. He was the youngest player on the team and without a doubt the leader, leading his team in scoring (16.9 ppg) and to inspiring wins against some of the toughest competition in Eurobasket qualifications; a 79-71 win at Italy and a 77-73 win in Israel against Montenegro.

Israel finished qualifications with a 5-3 record and joined 10 European teams already qualified for next year’s Eurobasket tournament in Lithuania, with Spain and Greece being the early favorites.

Omri will look to change a trend of disappointing outcomes this time next year as Israel competes in Eurobasket 2011. With the goal of not only winning the tournament for the first time in Israel history, but also securing a bid to the 2012 Summer Olympics in England.

Omri will now begin to make his way back to the United States to join his teammates in Sacramento for the start of Kings training camp on Tuesday, September 28.

Following is a closer look at Casspi’s stats throughout the Eurobasket qualification games:

Israel at Italy: 22 min, 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals. (W, 79-71)

Israel vs. Latvia: 29 minutes, 21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists. (W, 110-88)

Israel at Finland: 35 minutes, 17 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist. (L, 83-84)

Israel vs. Montenegro: 33 minutes, 30 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks. (W, 77-73)

Israel vs. Italy: 36 minutes, 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists. (L, 76-81)

Israel at Latvia: 24 minutes, 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist. (W, 92-56)

Israel vs Finland: 21 minutes, 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals. (W, 85-71)

Israel vs Montenegro: 34 minutes, 18 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist. (L, 69-79)

More coverage of Eurobasket qualifications:

Complete coverage of Eurobasket qualifications

Omri Casspi player page

Israel team page

Get to Know NEW SKDT Member Michelle

Hey, Kings fans!

I’m Michelle, and this is my first year on the Sacramento Kings Dance Team. Auditions were intense, the competition was fierce, but it was all worth it!

Since this is my first Full Court Press blog, here’s a little bit about me… I grew up in Rocklin, Calif., and went to high school at Del Oro High in Loomis. I’m currently attending Sierra College. I teach dance at Kast Performing Arts and Rocklin Dance Center. I’m extremely family-oriented — my cousins are my best friends! In my downtime, I love making up new choreography and hanging out with friends. Right now, I’m really concentrating on my work, school and family.

As a young dancer, I had the opportunity to perform at a Kings game, while also having the chance to see the Sacramento Kings Dance Team perform. I remember thinking how absolutely beautiful, talented and professional all the dance team members were at the time. From that day on, I promised myself I would work hard enough so I could one day be a part of the dance team, and here I am! It’s a dream come true, and it’s been the most amazing experience so far!

Recently, I had my first experience appearing with the SKDT at “Kings On L” during Second Saturday with Tyreke Evans. Kings fans made it so much fun, and Tyreke’s appearance thrilled everyone! I enjoyed signing autographs for fans and meeting some of the people who are a part of the Kings dynamic organization.

Last weekend, I had an amazing time at SKDT mini camp! I really didn’t know what to expect, and to be honest I was a little nervous. We met at ARCO Arena on Friday, Aug. 20 at 9:30 a.m. to carpool for our first adventure. When I heard we were going rafting, I thought we’d sit back, relax and float down the river on rafts… nope! When we arrived at the river, I soon learned it was going to be hardcore whitewater rafting — class three rapids, may I add! After we were situated and started cracking a few jokes, I knew it was going to be a fun and interesting experience with the SKDT, and it was! We had water fights, exciting rapids and priceless moments I’m so happy we shared. After our exciting day of rafting, we went to dinner and then to our hotel to sleep.

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early for breakfast. Dancing was next on our plate, and we all worked very hard to learn three dances from amazing choreographer Shandon. Afterward, we went to Old Sacramento for a team-bonding scavenger hunt! We were split into three teams, “Bunnylicious,” which was my team, “Kittens,” and “German Maids.” The catch was all members in each group were tied together. It was an absolute blast racing around Old Sacramento with my team — Lisa, Carly, Kelly and Katerina. We ended up coming in second place, but in all of our hearts we knew we were first! After the fun competition we went back to the hotel for dinner, and it gave us a chance to ask questions and really get to know each other. That night I learned all of my teammates are down-to-earth, wonderful people. Not only is each SKDT member talented and beautiful, but each also has a very positive and warm personality.

We packed up and headed to ARCO on Sunday to learn a hip-hop dance — one I absolutely love. Then, to end the weekend, we were led through a very powerful bonding experience that strengthened and further connected our team. We’re all in for an exciting season!

Catch you later, fans!

Casspi Rising in International Play

It’s been three weeks since the start of Eurobasket qualifications, and Omri Casspi’s Israeli team is in a great position. With a 4-2 record, Casspi’s team is sitting just one point behind the leaders — Montenegro and Italy — in the standings.

Due to its opening-round win and point-differential advantage, Israel holds the tiebreaker against rival Italy. So, the Sacramento Kings forward will have a chance to lead his home nation to a Eurobasket berth on the final night of qualifications when Israel takes on Montenegro on Aug. 28.

Before Israel and Montenegro square off in the highly-anticipated finale, however, Casspi and Co. must face Finland.

The last time the pair met, Finland handed Israel its first loss (84-83) of qualifications on Aug. 11. In that tilt, Israel held a three-point lead with under 20 seconds to go. After Casspi’s team fouled to prevent a game-tying three, though, Finland hit two free throws to cut the lead to one. Finland needed a miracle, down by one with less than five seconds to go, and a miracle is what they received. Israel turned the ball over on the inbound pass and gave up the go-ahead free throws with less than two seconds left on the clock.

Looking to avenge the devastating loss to Finland, Casspi will lead Israel into a rematch this Thursday at 10:30 a.m. PDT. Then, the Israeli team concludes Group A play against Montenegro on Aug. 29 at 11 a.m. PDT.

Following is a closer look at Casspi’s stats through the first six Eurobasket qualification games.

Israel at Italy: 22 min, 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals. (W, 79-71)

Israel vs. Latvia: 29 minutes, 21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists. (W, 110-88)

Israel at Finland: 35 minutes, 17 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist. (L, 83-84)

Israel vs. Montenegro: 33 minutes, 30 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals. (W, 77-73)

Israel vs. Italy: 36 minutes, 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists. (L, 76-81)

Israel at Latvia: 24 minutes, 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist. (W, 92-56)

Through six games, Casspi is averaging 29.8 mpg, 18.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.5 apg and 1.2 spg.

Check back at the end of August to see how Casspi and Israel fared in the last two games of Eurobasket qualifications.

Effectively Interacting With Fans Through Social Media

Following was originally published on the BlogWorld Blog on Aug. 17, 2010. As always, we’d love to see your comments, so please weigh in below about the team’s social media efforts or anything related to the Kings fan online or in-arena experience.

The use of social networking by professional sports teams has exploded over the last two years, and the topic has received an overwhelming amount of media attention. With an ever-increasing number of teams and athletes using social networking platforms as a tool to communicate with fans, it’s probably easier to count the number of teams NOT using social media than the ones that are.

There are a number of teams across the country and throughout professional sports doing amazing things to interact with fans through social media. Here are a few concepts that have worked well for the Sacramento Kings:

• Consistent Two-Way Dialogue: Unfortunately, many sports teams and brands in general are still using social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and blogs as one-way broadcast tools. The philosophy of the Kings new media team is to respond to every fan question on Twitter, engage in the dialogue under wall posts on Facebook and actively participate in the comments under blogs. This gives the team a great platform for listening to and addressing fan feedback and it gives the fans a chance to get to know the people in the organization on a more personal level.

• Making Fans the Stars: The Kings try to showcase fans who interact with the team online as much as possible. There are some simple tactics such as consistently listing loyal Kings fans in Follow Friday posts, re-tweeting comments and showcasing photos and videos posted by Kings fans on a regular basis or giving a shout out to Kings fans who are active in the comments on the Facebook wall or under the blog. Then there are some bigger initiatives that have been received well, like using a loyal and interactive Kings Twitter follower in an online video promotion for a ticket special along with a Kings player, using raw video footage a Kings fan shot and posted online in an actual TV spot promoting ticket sales or having a local blogger participate in an in-arena interview with the Kings PA announcer before a game.

• Making Fans the Reporters: Before nearly every media availability session, the Kings ask their Twitter followers if they have any questions for the team and always try to get a handful of those questions asked and then post the answers online. The team’s new media reporter also shoots special video segments with players consisting of all questions from fans on Twitter, where the fans who asked are always named along with the question. The team has also used some loyal fans as guest bloggers on its site on occasion.

• Trivia and Other Contests: Everyone likes free stuff, especially sports fans. The Kings new media team has discovered a great way to engage loyal fans is through regularly posting trivia questions or incentive-based offers that come with a simple prize like a jersey, a hat or even an autographed ball. Foursquare has also proven to be an effective social media tool to increase awareness of Kings events by offering those who check-in at a Kings location a chance for a special prize.

• Exclusive Offers: In order to show Kings fans who follow the team online the benefits of doing so, the team consistently creates exclusive offers on tickets and merchandise which are promoted only online using a special promotional code for redemption. Word spreads when a good deal exists, and it generally leads to the team picking up new fans in the digital space.

• Offline Events: The Kings new media team believes it’s important to foster relationships with the team’s fans both online and offline, and always looks for ways to create a stronger bond from fans to fans and from fans to the team. Events such as Social Media Night at a Kings game give the team’s loyal online followers a chance to meet each other, meet representatives of the organization and even hear from players who are active in the online space.

• Real-Time Interaction: In an ongoing quest to bring the fans closer to the team, the Kings have found live chats with players and team personnel using the Cover It Live platform or streaming video with UStream with a chat function for fans to ask players and staff questions they can answer in real-time are effective ways to increase the team’s online fan base and brand loyalty.

These are just a few concepts that have been effective for the Kings over the last few years. There are numerous other examples of teams throughout professional sports doing very creative and impactful things online to interact with their fans, and we look forward to many more fun things to come as technology continues to evolve.

Kings Rookies Shine In Front of Cameras

Kanye West’s “Good Life” fittingly blared over the PA system in the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, N.Y., where more than 40 first-year players were on-hand for the 2010 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot. Wearing his official adidas Sacramento Kings uniform for the first time, DeMarcus Cousins was “ready to get rolling” with the regular season quickly approaching.

After previously declaring he was the best player in the 2010 rookie class, the fifth-overall pick in the NBA Draft continued to stand by his bold proclamation.

“My goal is to win Rookie of the Year, and I think I established myself and earned some respect in summer league,” he said. “But Tyreke (Evans) and I spoke about some of the things we want to accomplish (as a team) this year, starting with making the Playoffs.”

Cousins has worked diligently to refine his game since he was drafted by the Kings to prevent himself from making “rookie mistakes,” and training to stand the rigors of an 82-game schedule.

“The biggest thing is to continue to work on my conditioning,” he stated. “(Coach Paul Westphal) just wants me to stay in shape and be dominant, so I’m also working on my footwork and my post game. “

The 20-year-old Cousins already understands the importance of being a role model as a professional athlete. While he was on his way to the Lexington, Ky., airport earlier this month, he stopped his truck to greet a pair of young Wildcats fans who were hoping to meet and secure an autograph from the former University of Kentucky star.

“I never even thought that (story) would come out,” Cousins said humbly. “The fans pay a lot of money to see me play, and I’ve got to give back in some kind of way.”

On the right side of the spacious gym, Cousins engaged in a light-hearted one-on-one scrimmage against his former Kentucky teammate and current Washington Wizards guard John Wall — a top contender for the coveted Rookie of the Year award. Cousins knocked down a smooth turnaround jumper on his first offensive possession, and then forced the speedy Wall to shoot a contested outside shot from the top of the key.

“(The Rookie of the Year race) is a toss-up, and DeMarcus is a talented guy on a great team in Sacramento,” Wall acknowledged. “People have different (opinions) about him, but to me, DeMarcus is like a brother — a great person and a great teammate.”

During a break in the action, Cousins demonstrated a few of his spectacular moves…on the dance floor. When Cali Swag District’s “Teach Me How to Dougie” came on, the Kings big man joined Wall and Milwaukee Bucks forward Keith “Tiny” Gallon in performing the latest rap dance craze. Fellow rookies and former Orlando Magic player and current NBA TV analyst Dennis Scott clapped and cheered in delight.

“I like (Cousins’) touch around the basket, and he’ll have a chance to make his mark in Sacramento,” Scott said afterward. “With Tyreke Evans handling the ball, Cousins will be able to get out there and run the floor and have a great opportunity (to win Rookie of the Year).”

On the other end of the court, Kings second-round draft pick Hassan Whiteside glided down the lane and threw down a pair of one-handed dunks in front of the photographers. He later sat down and leafed through an issue of SLAM magazine, bursting with unbridled excitement about his NBA future.

“It feels great to be here,” he said. “It’s always been my dream, it’s a humbling experience, and I’m ready to join (the Kings).”

The 7-foot forward-center drew high praise for his intimidating shot-blocking ability in Vegas Summer League, where he swatted an impressive 2.3 shots per game.

“Hassan and I picked up a little chemistry, especially on defense,” Cousins noted. “I basically baited (the defenders to go) inside, and he’d come in and block them.”

Whiteside, in the meantime, has been working on “getting bigger” by lifting weights and toning his lower body. He attended Tim Grgurich’s annual skills camp at UNLV with his new Kings teammate, Jason Thompson, and has also sought advice from Evans.

“We’re a young team and everyone is no more than three-or-four years older than me, so we can relate on a lot of things,” Whiteside said. “My goal is to stay hungry and humble.”

Whiteside acclimated himself to Sacramento by recently purchasing a home that he instantly furnished with a brand-new television to study and keep tabs on his upcoming NBA opponents.

“It’s in the neighborhood with a lot of my other Kings teammates,” Whiteside said. “(It’s) close to the arena and in a really convenient area.”

Towards the end of the day, the Kings rookies posed for portraits and action shots against multi-colored backdrops that will be featured on Panini trading cards and signed dozens of basketballs. Cousins and Whiteside executed a series of slick finger-rolls, mid-air no-look passes and reverse dunks in front of the flashing cameras.

“I collected a couple of cards as a kid,” Whiteside reflected. “I’ve got every card from 1990-to-1993 — everybody in the NBA. My mom ended up selling them, (so) someone else has my collection.”

Luckily, Whiteside can start a new collection when his and Cousins’ NBA rookie cards come out later this year.

PIX - New High-Resolution Cousins and Whiteside photos.

SKDT Co-Captain Serves Up Exclusive News

Hey, Kings fans!

It’s been an extremely busy summer and it doesn’t appear it will slow down anytime soon.

After surviving our intense audition process and learning I had earned a spot on the Sacramento Kings Dance Team for a fourth consecutive season, I had the privilege of attending Pro Action Dance Intensive in Las Vegas, Nev., with Katie and Jenn. Then, my beautiful sister’s wedding in Lake Tahoe followed those two fun-filled weekends.

The wedding was such a tear-jerker! I bawled my eyes out, not only because I’m part Italian but also because it was such a joy to see somebody I love, so in love! On that note, I would like to say Congratulations to my sister Jamie and her new husband Andrew! I’m sure you’re curious what I gave them as a wedding present… It wasn’t a toaster, nor was it a couple of champagne glasses, but an experience — skydiving! I have to give Andrew credit, jumping out of a plane is the last thing he wants to do, but seeing how skydiving is on my sister’s bucket list, he’s going to be a good sport and join us for the thrilling jump.

Speaking of love, I love that I’m here again, blogging on Full Court Press for the best fans in the NBA. I can’t begin to express how excited I am to be back for the 2010-11 season. I’m even more honored be a SKDT co-captain with my dear friend Katie! It’s hard to believe I’m now in my fourth season — it’s been an amazing journey thus far and I can’t wait to make more memories with my second family! Our team has six beautiful new members this year, and I must say they’re all very talented. I’m anxious for Kings fans to see them perform on the court because they have so much energy, passion and love for dance! By the way, fans who live in the Sacramento area should stop by and meet new SKDT members Arielle, Danielle, Katerina, Michelle and Nicole at Kings On L this Saturday between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Plus, Second Saturday is always fun!

Although we’ve been hard at work for the past three weeks, practice has been a bit quiet, which is very unusual for a group of 15 dancers. I have a feeling it will change very soon with mini camp approaching. Not only will we spend a weekend pouring sweat and learning new routines, we’ll have the opportunity to get to know one another on a more personal level. We just found out from our dance team manager, Jenn, our first adventure will definitely be a bonding experience — we’re going rafting!

Next time I blog, I’ll be sure to update you about our rafting adventure. Before then, I’d like to hear from Kings fans! I’m always looking for something new and exciting to do, so I’d love to hear from any fans who have some fun and adventurous recommendations.

Talk to you soon!

Kings Preseason Schedule and More

The Sacramento Kings 2010 preseason schedule has been unveiled, and there are more ways now than ever to connect with your favorite team!

Sacramento’s seven-game exhibition slate tips-off with a two-game home stand in early October. In DeMarcus Cousins’, Hassan Whiteside’s and Samuel Dalembert’s expected Kings debut, Sacramento hosts Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at ARCO Arena. Two nights later, Tyreke Evans, Carl Landry and the Kings welcome Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.

For Sacramento’s first preseason road contest, the reigning Rookie of the Year Evans leads the Kings to the Bay for a battle with ROY runner-up Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at ORACLE Arena. Just two nights later, the Kings host their Northern California rival Warriors for a tilt on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at ARCO Arena.

The Kings finish their exhibition schedule with three away games. Sacramento goes head-to-head with the 2010 NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev. The Kings then travel to L.A. to face the Clippers on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. at STAPLES Center. To conclude the week and their preseason schedule, the Kings take on the Utah Jazz on Friday, Oct. 22 at EnergySolutions Arena at 6 p.m.

View – Kings 82-game regular season and seven-game preseason schedule.

Engage with the Kings on Facebook, Foursquare and Twitter

Ask Jerry!

The Kings unveiled their 2010-11 schedule, now is your chance to ask Jerry Reynolds for his take. A cool new platform on the Official Kings Facebook page provided by Voices Heard Media gives fans the ability to submit questions, vote, comment and more. Check it out now!

Show Your Support for the Kings on Facebook and Win!

The first 50 Kings fans to upload a photo of themselves with the Tyreke ROY bobblehead cutout from “Kings On L” on Saturday, Aug. 14 to the Official Kings Facebook page will win one of three randomly-selected awesome prizes – an Omri bobblehead, a Tyreke bobblehead or the Kings 2009-10 commemorative yearbook! (View Rules)

Special for Fans Who Check-In to Kings On L on Foursquare

Every Kings fan who checks-in to “Kings On L” on Foursquare on Saturday, Aug. 14 will receive 20 percent off any one regular-price merchandise item at the Kings Team Store on-site!

Follow the Kings On Twitter for Opportunity to Win Special Prizes

Kings fans who follow the team on its official Twitter @SacramentoKings are privy to unique chances to participate in weekly #KingsTrivia. At least once a week, the Kings New Media Team poses a Kings-related question on @SacramentoKings and fans who @ reply their answer are entered to win a cool Kings prize. Previous winners have received autographed official Kings gear, memorabilia, bobbleheads and more. (View Rules)

Kings Tip-Off Two-Pack

The Kings Tip-Off Two-Pack gives fans the earliest chance to lock-in the Home Opener against the Raptors and the first Lakers game at ARCO Arena before the contests sell out. Plus, the only way to secure the Nov. 3 Kings-Lakers game at ARCO Arena is through the Tip-Off Two-Pack or another season plan, so be ready Friday at 10 a.m.! For more on the Two-Pack, click here.

Kings Tickets

Kings individual game tickets will go on-sale in early October, but for the best prices and to secure seats to the Kings most-anticipated matchups, specially-priced Season Passes are available now. Plus, for year-round ticket info, stay current with Kings.com/tickets.

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Kings fans, what preseason matchup are you most anticipating?

Open Net: Kings Unveil 2010-11 Schedule

The wait for dates to see Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins and the new-look Kings is over! The Sacramento Kings on Tuesday unveiled their 2010-11 regular season schedule.

Evans and the young Kings tip-off their 82-game season with a three-game road trip, which begins on Wednesday, Oct. 27 against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. This will be the third time in four seasons Sacramento visits the Twin Cities in its first regular season contest. The season’s initial road trip concludes with a two-game Eastern Conference back-to-back set against the New Jersey Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Looking to add to their streak of three consecutive home-opening wins, Cousins and the Kings return to Sacramento to host the Toronto Raptors on Monday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. at ARCO Arena. In the first of seven nationally televised games, the Kings welcome the Los Angeles Lakers to ARCO on Wednesday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Sacramento rounds out its four-game home stand with tilts against the Memphis Grizzlies and Timberwolves.

Along with the Kings-Lakers battle on ESPN (Nov. 3), Sacramento squares off at home on national TV against the New Orleans Hornets (Nov. 21 on NBA TV), Denver Nuggets (Jan. 6 on TNT) and Oklahoma City Thunder (April 11 on NBA TV). On the road, the Kings will play in nationally televised games against the L.A. Clippers (Nov. 25 on TNT), Atlanta Hawks (Jan. 17 on NBA TV) and Portland Trail Blazers (Jan. 24 on NBA TV).

Check out the first seven matchups of the Kings regular season schedule:

Wednesday, Oct. 27
Target Center

5 p.m. - Sacramento at Minnesota

Friday, Oct. 29
IZOD Center

4 p.m. - Sacramento at New Jersey

Saturday, Oct. 30
Quicken Loans Arena

4:30 p.m. - Sacramento at Cleveland

Monday, Nov. 1
ARCO Arena

7 p.m. - Sacramento vs. Toronto

Wednesday, Nov. 3
ARCO Arena

7:30 p.m. - Sacramento vs. L.A. Lakers

Saturday, Nov. 6
ARCO Arena

7 p.m. - Sacramento vs. Memphis

Wednesday, Nov. 10
ARCO Arena

7 p.m. - Sacramento vs. Minnesota

View – Entire 2010-11 Kings regular season schedule.

Kings Schedule Notes

A look at Kings games by month: October (0 home, 3 away = 3 total), November (10 home, 3 away = 13 total), December (8 home, 5 away = 13 total), January (6 home, 10 away = 16 total), February (6 home, 7 away = 13 total), March (7 home, 9 away = 16 total), April (4 home, 4 away = 8 total).

Of the 17 sets of back-to-back games, 10 are of the away-away variety, five are away-home and two are of the home-away category. There are no home-home back-to-backs slated for the 2010-11 campaign.

The Kings will play on three national holidays when they take on the Clippers on Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 25), Nuggets on New Year’s Day (Saturday, Jan. 1) and Hawks on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Monday, Jan. 17).

For more on the Kings schedule, check out the team’s press release.

Kings Limited-Time Tip-Off Two-Pack

The Kings Limited-Time Tip-Off Two-Pack gives fans the earliest chance to lock-in the Home Opener against the Raptors and the first Lakers game at ARCO Arena before the contests sell out. Plus, all purchasers will score a FREE Tyreke Rookie of the Year bobblehead. Due to the overwhelming demand for these games, Kings fans are advised to log-on to Kings.com or call 888-91-KINGS at exactly 10 a.m. on Friday for the live launch of the “Kings Tip-Off Two-Pack” with a special webcast featuring exclusive prizes live from the Kings Practice Facility.

The only way to secure the Nov. 3 Lakers game is through the Tip-Off Two-Pack or another season plan, so be ready Friday at 10 a.m.!

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What are your thoughts on the Kings schedule? How do you think the Kings will fare in their first seven games?

Which nationally televised games are you most anticipating?

JT Checks-In From Grgurich’s Camp

I’m writing this from Tim Grgurich’s annual basketball camp, which is put on by the assistant coach of the Denver Nuggets. I’ve actually attended this camp every summer since I was drafted.

The camp is held at a high school in Las Vegas, and there are bigs and guards here. There are about three courts and a lot of NBA coaches — from head coaches to assistant coaches. We go over a lot of drills and do a lot of station work. I’m out here working with Hassan (Whiteside) and his big brother. I’m just helping them out by showing them what kind of hard work it takes to be successful in this league, whether it’s working out from within yourself, with the college guys, guys just getting into the League or players who’ve been in the NBA for a while.

I met Hassan when I went to Vegas Summer League. I didn’t play in Summer League, but I was there to support the team, like Tyreke (Evans). I think our new, young gun out of Marshall is going to have to learn a lot, but he’ll help us out because we’ve needed his size and length. He’s going to help us on defense. Then, his offense will come. He has real long arms, and I think for him, rebounding and blocking shots are going to be the keys early on. Then, once he gets his feet wet, he can start developing his game, slowing down more and stuff like that.

Our other new big, DeMarcus (Cousins), has shown some signs he can be great in a few years. He’s definitely going to be a big help to the team.

With our addition of Sammy (Dalembert), he has a lot of Playoff experience and he can be the post defensive presence we need — he is obviously going to help. For example, if a guy like Rashard Lewis or someone like him goes by me, I can definitely depend on Sammy or Hassan blocking his shot and making it easy for us to get out in transition.

It was a little different going to Summer League this year. The vets on the team – Donté (Greene) and Omri (Casspi) – led the way. My younger brother, Ryan Thompson, was on the team. We had the rookies, Hassan and DeMarcus – DeMarcus played well, especially early on, and he won Rookie of the Month. Like Tyreke and me, Carl (Landry) was there to support the team. Tyreke was in Vegas working out for the USA team. I worked out at “Impact Basketball” and another gym. I also worked with Kings strength and conditioning coach Daniel Shapiro in the weight room, just to make sure my body was right. It was different not playing in Summer League, but I thought it was the best thing for me. I’m really focused on getting better and stronger – upper and lower body-wise – and I’m still keeping my coordination consistent with my jump shot. For me, next season is about being consistent.

Even though I didn’t play in our Summer League games, I think it was important for me to be there. If you look at the teams that finish on top or go deep in the Playoffs, all those veteran teams have guys who have been there before or have guys who have played together for a while. For us, our core guys, we haven’t played together for long. We need to be there with each other not just on the court, but off the court as well – it really helps. I think the more you are with each other, the more you play together, it will really help with team chemistry. So, by Carl, Tyreke and me being there, it will help when we play with them. It also gives us a chance to share some of the tricks we’ve learned. Some of the stuff we saw, we could point out to them, because when you’re not playing you see more than when you’re on the court. So, we told them different things, and they picked up on them.

As for my summer away from basketball, my family is from Jersey, so everything is pretty close together. I’ve been away to two-or-three different places — New Jersey, Miami and then Vegas. I’m still looking into going to Israel to see Omri. Later this summer, I have my brother’s wedding. For the most part, I’ve just been trying to continue to get better and help the team out, so hopefully we can make it to the Playoffs.

A new episode of “The Donté Greene Show” is coming out soon! Last year, in Vegas, we went to “Top of the World,” so it was more of a team thing – Donté and I trying to survive the high ride in Vegas. This year, it’s a little different – it’s a real competitive episode. So, I’m on the show supporting my boy, and hopefully the more we keep going with the show, doing the Vegas special, it can blow up sometime – stay tuned!

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