The new year brought nothing new for Kings guard Quincy Douby and forward Shelden Williams.
Same dead-end situations. Same probability of hitting the NBA unemployment line come summertime as free agents. Same hope that they either see unexpected playing time or are traded by the Feb. 19 deadline. But the frustration level has changed for both, rising by the week as they grow anxious over the notion that things might stay the same for the rest of the season. In the 15 games since coach Kenny Natt took over for Reggie Theus on Dec. 15, Williams has played in four games while Douby has played in three.
"I've been saying for pretty much three years now that I just want to play," said Douby, who was taken with the 19th pick out of Rutgers in 2006. "Being in a contract year, I just want to be in a better situation for me and my family. Whether that's trading me so I can play or playing me over here, it's fine. I just want to play, and establish myself and show that I belong."
Williams said he has managed to stay composed during the challenging time. But his frustration boiled over Jan. 6 before the Kings played in Chicago, when he said he was told through the locker room grapevine that he would be inactive for that night's game. The breakdown in communication in the chain of command, he said, was just the latest disappointment. It resulted in a heated Williams sharing his views with Natt.
"I was told that I was going to play that game, and I came in with the mind-set of being ready and lathered up to play," said Williams, who was taken fifth overall by Atlanta out of Duke in 2006. "And unfortunately, I heard from somebody that I shouldn't have heard from that I was inactive, and that's what caused the problem."
Natt said he has been trying to keep his little-used players in good spirits, sharing stories of players from his past who took a similar road before becoming productive in the NBA. His latest example is Mo Williams, the Cleveland guard who was stuck on Utah's bench during Natt's nine seasons as a Jazz assistant.
"There are so many success stories, and sometimes you're just with the wrong team at the wrong time," said Natt, who totaled 49 games in three NBA seasons as a player.
"Quincy is a very capable player. He's an NBA player. And I think, so is Shelden. They have a future in this league in the right situation where they can get playing time."
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