With just under a month before the start of training camp, the Sacramento Kings received some positive news.
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Kings shooting guard and young sharpshooter Kevin Huerter has been cleared for an on-court workout. Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee shared the news via Twitter/X.
Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter has been cleared for on-court workouts, shooting drills and a complete strength-and-conditioning program after undergoing shoulder surgery. He will be reevaluated in mid-October before being cleared for full-contact activity.
— Jason Anderson (@JandersonSacBee) August 30, 2024
The on-court workout for Huerter will include shooting drills and a complete strength-and-conditioning program.
Huerter underwent surgery in early April to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The Kings were looking to build on their strong 2022-23 season, during which they landed as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Instead, they were limited to the play-in tournament for a chance to clinch the No. 8 seed in last season’s playoffs.
Kevin Huerter #9 of the Sacramento Kings shoots the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second quarter at Target Center on March 01, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Kings defeated the Timberwolves 124-120 in overtime. Huerter has been cleared for on-court basketball activities.
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
It was an underwhelming season for the Kings, and losing Huerter hurt their chances significantly. Huerter will be re-evaluated in mid-October before being cleared for full-contact activity. That timeline suggests that he will likely miss the start of the season.
The 26-year-old recently appeared on “The Check Ball Show” and discussed his recovery process.
“I can start going live Sept. 5, so it’s just kind of been a long summer,” he said. “For anybody who’s been through an injury or surgery, it’s just tedious. It takes forever. I’m trying to be patient. They gave me a six-month recovery so we’re still trying to stay on track with that.
“But I feel good. I want to push more and get into it. Oct. 1 training camp is what I’m looking forward to but I really want to start doing more and start getting live.”
Huerter sustained the injury during an overtime win over the Memphis Grizzlies in mid-March. He went up for a layup, and Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane appeared to pull down his left arm inadvertently.
Once Huerter is back with the squad, he is set to be a key piece and the projected starting shooting guard. Huerter spent the first four seasons of his career in Atlanta before being traded to Sacramento during the 2022 offseason in exchange for a projected first-round draft pick.
He has been a game-changer for the Kings in this highly-powered offense. In two seasons with the Kings, Huerter has tallied 12.9 points per game, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three in 139 games. The former Maryland Terrapin was a first-round draft pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. The Hawks selected him No. 19 overall.
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