Alvin Gentry tests positive for Covid, Kings shootaround canceled

The call came early. Go back to bed, shootaround is cancelled.

28 games into the 2021-22 season and the Sacramento Kings had so far escaped the Covid-19 chaos that has gripped the league. That is no longer the case. 

Alvin Gentry, the Kings’ interim head coach tested positive for the virus that has killed over 800,000 Americans. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the 67-year-old Gentry is “largely asymptomatic, except for a scratchy throat.” The team cannot confirm Gentry's diagnosis.

During his time as head coach, Luke Walton confirmed that all of his coaches and staff were completely vaccinated, including Gentry. A league source confirmed to The Kings Beat that all but three players were vaccinated coming into training camp, although that number could have changed in the last three months. 

This isn’t the first time that the Kings have dealt with the coronavirus, but it is the first time it’s made its way into the walls of Golden 1 Center this season. 

Alex Len, Jabari Parker, Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes all tested positive leading up to the bubble in 2020. Of the group, Len and Barnes were the only two to show symptoms. 

During last season, both Hassan Whiteside and De’Aaron Fox tested positive. Fox had symptoms, while Whiteside did not. Parker was also placed in quarantine after close contact with Whiteside. 

The NBA is currently having outbreaks all over the league. The Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets have been hit particularly hard over the last few weeks, but cases are popping up with plenty of other franchises. 

With the Kings traveling back from Toronto together following Monday’s loss to the Raptors, there is a possibility that we could be in for a bumpy ride over the next few days in Sacramento. 

The Kings have yet to announce who will fill in as the interim to the interim when the Kings take on the Washington Wizards Wednesday night at Golden 1. Both Doug Christie and Mike Longabardi are under consideration according to Wojnarowski’s report.

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Fox has a moment

Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox is having a rollercoaster ride of a season and it’s taken a toll on the soon-to-be 24-year-old. His body language has been all over the board, which has led to plenty of questions.

Following Monday’s loss in Toronto, Fox took to the mic and was honest, passionate and even dropped a few profane words. The clips are worth a watch and a listen.

Language warning:

In the first year of a five-year, $163 million contract, Fox isn’t wearing the weight of expectations or the team’s 11-17 record well. He wants to succeed. He wants the team to succeed. He’s still trying to figure out both of those wants.

Fox is quietly raising his season averages and during the month of December, he’s posting 24.5 points, four rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 52.4 percent from the field. He needs to get others involved and he’s still shooting just 26.5 percent from 3-point range, but you can see his confidence returning after an erratic start to the season.

YouTube launch

If you like The Kings Beat Podcast, we have good news. As of Tuesday, we have launched The Kings Beat YouTube channel!

Mainly this is just another avenue to consume the podcast, but there is a possibility that we add more content to the channel from practice or video shorts with breaking news. Make sure to subscribe to the channel and give us some feedback and a thumbs up.

The plan is to continue to refine and add to The Kings Beat coverage as we move forward. We should have some exciting announcements soon. 

Lastly, the second Off the Record Kings Beat Happy Hour is tentatively scheduled for Thursday January 6 from 5:30-7. If you missed the first one, well, you missed out. 

The only way to receive an invite to the happy hour is to become a premium subscriber to The Kings Beat. So you probably need to get on that.