Doug Christie: Our team is very confident when Dylan Cardwell’s protecting the paint

Jan 13, 2026 1:07 AM

Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie has been impressed with undrafted two-way rookie Dylan Cardwell both on and off the court (averaging 4.5 PPG/6.0 RPG/0.9 APG/0.8 TOV/0.8 SPG/1.5 BPG/48.8% FG/17.7 MPG in twelve games played).

(via Sacramento Kings):

“I have to always say the spirit animal. Dylan is… he’s a special young man. He has an energy about him. Whenever we talk basketball, whether it’s me sitting down with him and showing him film or him coming up and saying, ‘Coach, let me have it. What you got for me? How can I get better?’ I mean, those are moments that you as a coach, I personally love because there’s teaching, there’s communication. But watching him rebound the basketball, play with joy, physicality. And I think, personally, our team is very confident when he is protecting the paint. And I know from being a player that when you have somebody back there protecting the paint, it allows you on the perimeter to be a little bit more aggressive. And yeah, he continues to impress, man.”