'Really good group': Coach Bobby Jackson says Stockton Kings are hungry, driven

It had been more than a year since Stockton Kings players had to prepare for a media day. Smiles were abundant as players took the floor at the team’s practice facility in Sacramento. Players and coaches joked, posed for the camera, and happily shot the basketball for action photos. 

Those smiles will turn to game day faces when the season begins on Nov. 5. 

It will be a new role for Sacramento Kings great Bobby Jackson, who will be in his first season as Stockton Kings head coach. Nine players are from the Sacramento Kings Summer League championship team in Las Vegas. The team also consists of two recent draft picks in the NBA G-League draft — Devearl Ramsey and the second-ever Indian-born player to play in the G-League Princepal Singh. 

All players in the development league have a goal of making it to the NBA, following in the footsteps of Stockton native Gabe Vincent who signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat during the COVID-19 wracked 2020 season. In August, the St. Mary’s graduate signed a standard two-year, $3.5 million deal with the team. 

Jackson aims to ensure his players reach their maximum potential on the floor.  

“As a staff, that's our job to see our guys get better and see them grow. So one day, hopefully, they’re called up into the NBA,” he said.   

Jackson, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach/player development for the Sacramento Kings under head coach Luke Walton, said the Stockton Kings are a hungry and driven group.  

“I think we got a really good group of young men,” Jackson said. “They want a chance of getting on the floor and showing everybody what they're capable of doing. They're committed to the organization. They’re committed to themselves, but they are also committed to developing themselves to being really good basketball players.” 

Seven-foot center Neemias Queta, a second-round draft pick of Sacramento, will begin the season in Stockton. He said he “just (wants to) keep on getting better,” Queta said. “I don't want to set myself short nor do something too much for me to handle. I want to go day by day just making sure I'm coming into the gym doing what I'm supposed to do and getting better every day.” 

Forward Emanuel Terry, who played on the Summer League team said he’s excited to put on another uniform and be around both new faces and familiar teammates.  

“I'm looking forward to just being on the court getting better, getting others better, and just getting to the ultimate goal is stacking days,” he said. “I really want to help my teammates get to where they need to be … just being able to help others is probably the ultimate goal for me because when you win, everybody wins.” 

Guard Matt Coleman also played in the Summer League. He said he loves the pieces of the team that carried over from the summer and can’t wait for the season to begin. 

‘I'm very excited — just my first professional career, rookie year,” he said. “We’ve got the same coaching staff, most of the same players, so we already know what kind of what we want to do and what our intentions are for the season. 

"I'm a winner, and I just want to win as many games as possible. I want to get better individually and as a team, and hopefully one day, I just get my call-up.”