Some of the questions surrounding Kings rookie guard Tyreke Evans before last June's NBA draft had to do with whether he was a point guard or shooting guard and if he had a consistent jump shot.
Some of the same things were said about Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo before the 2008 draft.
Things worked out fine for Mayo, who averaged 18.5 points and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
Mayo and Evans made headlines nationally as high school underclassmen. But Kings coach Paul Westphal hadn't considered any similarities between Mayo and Evans before Monday's home opener against the Grizzlies.
Westphal sees more similarities not related to their play.
"The fact that they're both one year out of college walking into the league as an immediate starter, I'm sure they have a lot in common," Westphal said. "A lot of things they can compare, what's it like to step from one world into this one. But style-wise, their games are different."
The Kings prefer to have Evans run the team from the point. The Grizzlies, however, would rather not have Mayo run the team full time, as to not take away from what he gives the team on offense. Memphis starts third-year pro Mike Conley at point guard.
Westphal believes too much can be made of what position either player plays on offense because whom they defend is probably more important.
"They both can guard several positions, and they both can do a lot on offense, so what difference does it make what number they are on offense?" Westphal said.
High pick, big improvement – The Grizzlies used the second overall pick in June's draft on Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet.
Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said Thabeet had more to work on than any other player taken in the first round.
"When we brought him in for his press conference after the draft and he stayed in town and worked for four days, he was not even a good minor league basketball player," Hollins said. "He's come a long way."
Hollins' praise came after Thabeet blocked four shots in 12 minutes in Memphis' 133-123 loss at Denver on Sunday.
Sellout campaign – Mayor Kevin Johnson and the group of local businessmen that formed the Sellout 2009 Committee were recognized after the first quarter.
After only three sellouts last season, the goal was to sell out the first two games of the season. Monday's game was sold out.
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