Two prized rookies made their NBA debuts in the Kings’ season opener Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center, but Willie Cauley-Stein proved he’s still the best big man on the roster.
The 7-foot center put his entire repertoire on display against one of the league’s most elite defenders, scoring in a variety of ways in a 123-117 loss to the Utah Jazz. Cauley-Stein scored 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting with seven rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots, keeping the Kings close against a team that beat them by 39 points in a preseason game a week ago.