Report: Kings waive rookie guard Ellis despite solid preseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Kings have tough roster decisions to make before next Thursday’s 2024-25 NBA season opener, and those moves reportedly began Friday.
Sacramento gives up rookie guard Boogie EllisHoopsHype’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, shooting 39% from 3-point range and playing capable defense. Over eight Summer League games, he shot 47% from 3-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 3-point range.
Ellis’ impressive effort during preseason caught the eye of veteran Kings guard Malik Monk.
“He just doesn’t care,” Monk told reporters after Monday’s practice. “You have to have that at some point, especially when you’re a rookie.
“[Boogie] don’t care He goes out there and plays his game. If he makes a mistake, Mike will tell him, and he’ll fix that mistake, but he just goes out there with a free mind.”
Ellis, who was undrafted this summer, signed with the Kings and played for them during the California Classic and NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
It was during the California Classic that Ellis first turned headsscoring 17 points in 22 minutes to lead the Kings to a victory over the San Antonio Spurs on July 7 at Ora 1 Center.
“Coach [Doug Christie] said he wants dogs, and I believe I’m a dog,” Ellis said after anchoring a defense that held the Spurs to a cool 22.5 percent shooting. “Just showing that, catching people, being physical, talking, communicating. Just doing everything that other people don’t want to do.”
Ellis made strong cases to make the Kings’ Opening Night roster during summer league and the preseason, but now he’ll be looking for his next opportunity after showing what he’s capable of while with Sacramento.
