He has seen the Jason Thompson breakout, the Kings rookie forward playing so well as a reserve and a starter that his newest NBA peers can't help but take notice.
He has watched the Spencer Hawes coming-out party from the bench, often waving his towel in celebration while the second-year center performed at a level so few expected this early.
He has even seen Bobby Brown find his role, the rookie point guard playing significant minutes and occasionally providing a well-timed spark.
Nine games into his career, Donté Greene is ready for his time.
"The whole time since Kevin (Martin) has been out (with an ankle injury), I've been letting (the Kings' coaching staff) know that I can play," he said after scoring five points and grabbing two rebounds in eight minutes of Wednesday's win over the Clippers.
"I told (assistant) coach (Chuck) Person I was ready during introductions. And then I got out there and produced. I just want coach to know he can put me in there."
It's not that Greene is growing impatient. He said he's simply confident, knowing that a training camp's worth of work and practice sessions have helped his defensive inefficiencies and that the timing may be just right to impress. Based on original projections, Martin is still expected to miss three to six more days.
Thus, Greene has made a quick transition in attitude. Just last week, he was open to the possibility of playing in the NBA Development League. Now, he's yearning for a chance to start making his mark.
"I always felt I could produce, but I just have to get my chance," he said. "When (playing time) comes like tonight, I showed it and I'm going to keep doing that. Just keep working and keep being ready."
Pick and rolling – Beno Udrih couldn't get enough of the pick and roll.
More important, Kings coach Reggie Theus couldn't, either.
One night after the Kings' offense came to a fourth-quarter halt (15 points) when they went away from the picks and rolls that had worked so well through three quarters, Theus kept going to the play throughout the win over the Clippers.
"(Pick and rolls is) where I'm most comfortable," said Udrih, who had a career-high 30 points. "Pick and roll is the toughest thing to guard in basketball, in general. … You come off a pick and roll, they have to help (defensively), and the small guy is chasing you and it's already five-on-four basketball."
Defensive turnaround – After the Kings' 0-4 road trip to start the season, they were well on their way to setting franchise records for defensive futility.
They allowed an average of 111.8 points per game and watched passively as their opponents hit 52.2 percent of their attempts. But in winning four of their last five games, the turnaround has been dramatic.
Among Memphis, Golden State, Minnesota, Detroit and the Clippers, opponents have hit just 42.6 percent of their attempts (172 of 304) while the Kings are allowing 100 points per game. Entering Thursday, the Kings ranked 28th in the league in points allowed (105.2 per game) and 25th in opponents' field-goal percentage (46.8).
Read the Kings blog at www.sacbee.com/kingsblog.
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