Hawes awaits results from MRI on left knee

Spencer Hawes sat courtside as the arrival of Kings training camp became official, a monstrous ice pack on his left knee and a stoic look on his face.

This, certainly, was not the plan. And this, he hopes, is not a scene to be repeated for long.

The Kings' rookie center picked No. 10 out of Washington in the June draft continues to wait for word about the knee he twisted during conditioning last Thursday. An MRI taken Friday, Hawes said, was sent to his personal doctor in his hometown of Seattle for further examination. Kings coach Reggie Theus, like Hawes, was in a holding pattern until more is known.

"We're just taking it day by day," Theus said. "We're looking at three or four days to a week to really make sure he's all better. ... The main thing is that training camp is very important, but the season is more important."

Hawes has a history with his left knee, one that immediately prompts red flags but is thus far considered unrelated to the current situation. On the eve of Hawes' first day at Seattle Prep High School, a knee injury led to microfracture surgery for a 14-year-old hoping to make the varsity team.

What was then an obscure procedure is now a well-known operation that has threatened the careers of many NBA players. Former Ohio State center Greg Oden is the latest to enter the undesirable club, requiring microfracture surgery to repair his right knee just months after being taken by Portland with the top pick.

Hawes said he has been told the current injury is unrelated to his previous surgery.

"It's not even the same spot (on the knee) where they did (the surgery)," Hawes said. "I always try not to get too worried about it until you really meet with all the right (medical) people. ... I'm confident in this one that it won't be that bad."

All run, no gun -- They sure can run.

That was the consensus from the Kings' first official practice Tuesday, when Theus had his squad sprinting end to end for much of the team's session. It's not quite what he meant when he promised to produce a team that could score on the run, but it was enough to get a good sweat going on Day No. 1.

Nary a jump shot was had in the final 30 minutes of practice, as a full-court layup drill featured a brisk Brad Miller showing off the speed that comes with losing 25 pounds and nearly 10 percent body fat since last season. The slower parts of practice came in the form of defensive walk-throughs, with Theus continuing to pound his point about defensive dedication.

"I thought one of the team's biggest problems (last season) ... was that the help defense was nonexistent," Theus said.

Et cetera -- As expected, Shareef Abdur-Rahim sat out of practice and remains day-to-day. The Kings forward is in the final stages of recovery after having loose bodies removed from his right knee in a late June operation.

About the writer:

• The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.