LAS VEGAS — Dewayne Dedmon was a 3-point shooter in waiting.
He just needed someone to let him show what he could do.
But the message was clear to start Dedmon’s career: He would not be showing off that skill in stops with Golden State, Orlando, Philadelphia and San Antonio.
“Threes, shooting, that’s something I’ve always worked on,” Dedmon said. “In the NBA, you’ve got roles and you’ve got to stick to your roles.”
That left Dedmon as a big man with a shooting range that could be shown off only when he was working on his game solo, not for the benefit of the team.
But the NBA was evolving. Even though Dedmon shot only one 3 in his first four seasons, he was ready if someone chose to give him the OK.
“I’ve always worked on my shot,” Dedmon said. “So it’s always been something that I’ve been working on, waiting on the opportunity. So once I got it, I was ready.”
Dedmon’s chance came when he joined the Atlanta Hawks in 2017. Dedmon became a big man who could space the floor, and he put up 358 3s in two seasons, something that caught the attention of the Kings, who signed Dedmon to a three-year, $40 million deal in free agency.
Dedmon is a career 37 percent shooter from 3 (133 of 359). Before Dedmon arrived in Atlanta, his lone 3 came for Orlando during the 2014-15 season.
The Hawks gave Dedmon the chance to be the shooter he knew he could be. The Kings believe that skill will fit well with their team, which is looking to put up plenty of 3s by multiple players.
“Getting to Atlanta, I was allowed the opportunity to shoot it,” Dedmon said. “I had a meeting with (then-coach Mike) Budenholzer before the preseason started and he told me what he wanted me to do. He told me he wanted me to shoot 3s, go 12 games, see what happens and we’ll re-evaluate after 12 games. Well, they were going in, so there was really nothing to evaluate. Ever since then, it just took off from there.”
San Antonio was Dedmon’s stop for a season before he joined the Hawks. Budenholzer was once an assistant under Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
So did Dedmon ask Popovich for the same kind of shooting freedom?
“No, no, no, not at all,” Dedmon said. “Rebound, that’s what I was doing. Rebounds, putbacks.”
Those are also things the Kings need from Dedmon, along with help in shoring up what has been a bad defensive unit.
Still, it’s Dedmon’s shooting that makes him different from other centers the Kings could have pursued.
One thing the Kings want to do is to keep the floor spaced so their guards have room to attack off the dribble.
Big men who can shoot from distance are the keys to making that happen.
Of the Kings’ returning bigs, Nemanja Bjelica is the lone proven deep threat. Bjelica made 40.1 percent from 3 last season and is a career 38.1 percent shooter from beyond the arc.
Marvin Bagley III shot 31.3 percent from 3 as a rookie and has been encouraged to improve in that area.
Sacramento’s style of play appeals to Dedmon, who averaged 10.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks last season.
The Hawks’ fast pace allowed Dedmon to show off the skills that made him a top priority for the Kings in free agency.
“It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to,” Dedmon said. “Fast pace, getting up and down the floor, catching some lobs, shoot some 3s. It’s going to be fun. I’m looking forward to it.’
Though grateful for the chance to play his game for the Kings, Dedmon acknowledges that his two seasons in Atlanta helped make the opportunity possible.
It wasn’t just Budenholzer but also Budenholzer’s replacement, Lloyd Pierce, who allowed Dedmon to show he was a perimeter threat.
“It was great, it was fun,” Dedmon said. “I even told LP last year it was great with him coming in to still allow me to do that and expand my game, pick-and-pop, pick-and-roll, mix it up. So it was fun, it was good.”
You could say Dedmon is free to be the shooter he always knew he could be.
(Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer / USA Today)
He just needed someone to let him show what he could do.
But the message was clear to start Dedmon’s career: He would not be showing off that skill in stops with Golden State, Orlando, Philadelphia and San Antonio.
“Threes, shooting, that’s something I’ve always worked on,” Dedmon said. “In the NBA, you’ve got roles and you’ve got to stick to your roles.”
That left Dedmon as a big man with a shooting range that could be shown off only when he was working on his game solo, not for the benefit of the team.
But the NBA was evolving. Even though Dedmon shot only one 3 in his first four seasons, he was ready if someone chose to give him the OK.
“I’ve always worked on my shot,” Dedmon said. “So it’s always been something that I’ve been working on, waiting on the opportunity. So once I got it, I was ready.”
Dedmon’s chance came when he joined the Atlanta Hawks in 2017. Dedmon became a big man who could space the floor, and he put up 358 3s in two seasons, something that caught the attention of the Kings, who signed Dedmon to a three-year, $40 million deal in free agency.
Dedmon is a career 37 percent shooter from 3 (133 of 359). Before Dedmon arrived in Atlanta, his lone 3 came for Orlando during the 2014-15 season.
The Hawks gave Dedmon the chance to be the shooter he knew he could be. The Kings believe that skill will fit well with their team, which is looking to put up plenty of 3s by multiple players.
“Getting to Atlanta, I was allowed the opportunity to shoot it,” Dedmon said. “I had a meeting with (then-coach Mike) Budenholzer before the preseason started and he told me what he wanted me to do. He told me he wanted me to shoot 3s, go 12 games, see what happens and we’ll re-evaluate after 12 games. Well, they were going in, so there was really nothing to evaluate. Ever since then, it just took off from there.”
San Antonio was Dedmon’s stop for a season before he joined the Hawks. Budenholzer was once an assistant under Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
So did Dedmon ask Popovich for the same kind of shooting freedom?
“No, no, no, not at all,” Dedmon said. “Rebound, that’s what I was doing. Rebounds, putbacks.”
Those are also things the Kings need from Dedmon, along with help in shoring up what has been a bad defensive unit.
Still, it’s Dedmon’s shooting that makes him different from other centers the Kings could have pursued.
One thing the Kings want to do is to keep the floor spaced so their guards have room to attack off the dribble.
Big men who can shoot from distance are the keys to making that happen.
Of the Kings’ returning bigs, Nemanja Bjelica is the lone proven deep threat. Bjelica made 40.1 percent from 3 last season and is a career 38.1 percent shooter from beyond the arc.
Marvin Bagley III shot 31.3 percent from 3 as a rookie and has been encouraged to improve in that area.
Sacramento’s style of play appeals to Dedmon, who averaged 10.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks last season.
The Hawks’ fast pace allowed Dedmon to show off the skills that made him a top priority for the Kings in free agency.
“It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to,” Dedmon said. “Fast pace, getting up and down the floor, catching some lobs, shoot some 3s. It’s going to be fun. I’m looking forward to it.’
Though grateful for the chance to play his game for the Kings, Dedmon acknowledges that his two seasons in Atlanta helped make the opportunity possible.
It wasn’t just Budenholzer but also Budenholzer’s replacement, Lloyd Pierce, who allowed Dedmon to show he was a perimeter threat.
“It was great, it was fun,” Dedmon said. “I even told LP last year it was great with him coming in to still allow me to do that and expand my game, pick-and-pop, pick-and-roll, mix it up. So it was fun, it was good.”
You could say Dedmon is free to be the shooter he always knew he could be.
(Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer / USA Today)
