We will have more blog material from today's training camp session later this afternoon, but I wanted to pop in briefly to announce the end of the Spencer Hawes storyline.
The second-year Kings center who had refused to take a mandatory conditioning test succumbed today, passing the test in his first try. Hawes, who will likely be fined for his initial decision to pass on the test, said he planned on stopping the test if he felt any discomfort in his knees but was able to breeze through.
The test was unchanged from its original state: 10 full-court sprints that had to be completed in 62 seconds, constituting one of four sets needed to finish with short breaks in between. Hawes was apprehensive because of the history with his knees, as he has had three surgeries on his left knee (including microfracture when he was 14) and an arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. What's more, he injured his left knee doing this conditioning test last season in what led to an arthroscopic procedure.
"I got to the point where I felt like it bothered me a little bit," Hawes said. "But I just decided if I could get through it and I didn't think it would pose a significant risk I'd go ahead and do it."
He consulted his doctor in Seattle and Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie again on Wednesday before going ahead with the test. Kings coach Reggie Theus, however, was as relieved as the rest.
"He looked like there was a building lifted off his shoulders (when he finished)," Theus said. "He saved us all a lot of grief. I'm happy that he decided to do the test." - Sam Amick
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