When the Sacramento Kings were decimated by injuries in December, rookie center Dylan Cardwell came up from the G League and laid down the law. He returned against the Mavericks and delivered the kind of defensive presence the Kings need to be even remotely competitive now and in the future.
One of the few positives this season for the Kings has been their rookie squad. Before the season began, a lot of fans and pundits thought the big name would be Nique Clifford. He has played well, but not consistently, and sometimes lacks aggression. But he's getting there.