‘Sky’s the limit’ for Skal, Murray impresses, plus ex-Cats stats

DeMarcus Cousins’ stunning All-Star break trade to the New Orleans Pelicans has given the Sacramento Kings a chance to better evaluate what they have in another former University of Kentucky star, rookie Skal Labissiere.

And he has certainly been taking advantage of the opportunity.

Labissiere has averaged 8.4 points and 5.6 rebounds and shot 59.1 percent from the field in 14.6 minutes in seven games since Cousins and the Kings parted ways.

That includes scoring a career-high 15 points with six rebounds in 15 minutes in the Kings’ most recent game, a 114-104 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.

“Sky’s the limit for him,” teammate Tyreke Evans told CSN Bay Area about Labissiere. “He’s young, talented, athletic. He can do a lot, he just has to keep working and get better.”

Labissiere has scored in double figures in four of the seven games since the break. He also posted a career-high 13 rebounds with eight points in a 99-85 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 25.

“I’m impressed with Skal,” teammate Darren Collison said. “It seems like his continuing improvement keeps growing and that’s what you want.”

More minutes for Murray

Jamal Murray, another rookie out of Kentucky, is also making progress as the NBA playoffs approach.

The Denver Nuggets guard had 17 points, five assists and one turnover in 24 minutes in the team’s 123-113 loss to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

“I thought his second half was one of the best halves he’s played of the year,” Coach Michael Malone told Nuggets.com. “He was aggressive, made plays for his teammates. And I thought he competed against one of the top point guards in the NBA (in John Wall).”

All 17 of Murray’s points, including three three-pointers, and four of his assists came in the second half.

“With 18 games to go, I want to find more and more ways to put him out there,” Malone said. “It’s important for his development and maturation. And it’s only going to speed up his development as a player. … He’s definitely getting better and he’s understanding what is required of him to run his team.”

Three of league’s top 5 rookies?

CBS Sports’ James Herbert updated his NBA rookie power rankings on Thursday, and three of the top five players starred at Kentucky.

Labissiere and the Phoenix Suns’ Tyler Ulis, who has four or more assists in eight of his last nine games, were unranked the previous week.

The Philadephia 76ers’ Dario Saric and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Malcolm Brogdon topped the rankings, with Ulis, Murray and Labissiere following.

“I love his knack for making off-balance shots and his ability to get wherever he wants on the floor,” Herbert said of Ulis.

He said Murray “is a dark-horse choice for (Rookie of the Year) because he could go on a scoring binge in the final few weeks and it wouldn’t surprise anybody.”

“It’s a little frustrating that Sacramento didn’t give Skal Labissiere any real minutes earlier on in the season,” Herbert said. “The best part about the post-DeMarcus Cousins Kings is seeing him and Willie Cauley-Stein show what they can do,” he said.

ICYMI

▪  ‘Desperation’ to make playoffs driving Karl-Anthony Towns down stretch

▪  Pelicans' Cousins fined for language toward LA, Utah fans

▪  Tyler Ulis’ career-high 20 points includes game-winner for Suns

▪  Terrence Jones signs with Milwaukee Bucks for rest of season

▪  Guide: Former Kentucky players in the NBA

▪  Davis is highest paid ex-Cat in NBA, but next one on list might surprise you

NBA statistics

Statistics (through March 9) for the 24 former Cats playing in the NBA:

D-League statistics

Statistics (through March 9) for the seven former Cats playing full-time in the NBA D-League:

This story was originally published March 10, 2017 at 9:47 AM with the headline "‘Sky’s the limit’ for Skal, Murray impresses, plus ex-Cats stats."