Charlotte Hornets wing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist showed how impactful he is during last night’s win over the Sacramento Kings.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is by no means the flashiest player, but boy is he effective. The Charlotte Hornets were able to defeat the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, and the play of Kidd-Gilchrist was a major reason why.
It was arguably his best performance of the season. The seven-year veteran out of Kentucky finished with 15 points, which tied a season-high. He added two rebounds and two steals in 30 minutes of action.
MKG was, of course, active on the defensive end of the floor as well, like always. He’s gained a reputation for being one of the better perimeter defenders in the league over the years, and you could see why last night.
He uses his long arms to disrupt things for the offensive player. That 7’0″ wingspan he possesses certainly helps him on that end of the floor.
Kidd-Gilchrist doesn’t seem to get talked about as much this season. He had started in every game he played in over the past three seasons, but that changed this year, as he has accepted a bench role, which suits him very well.
When he comes into the game, you can just feel a potential shift in momentum coming. His energy is contagious, his motor is nonstop and it rubs off on his teammates. All he wants to do is win, and you have to respect that.
Once he checked into last night’s game, the Charlotte Hornets instantly started to play well, and eventually ended up with a 43 point second quarter and an 13 point halftime lead. Kidd-Gilchrist and the rookie Miles Bridges had a lot to do with that quick turnaround.
Many folk will tell you that he’s had a bad career, considering he was the second overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Kidd-Gilchrist has never been a flashy player, he’s an effective, team-first guy who will put his body on the line and win a game for you.
He became a laughing stock on the internet years ago when people saw his broken jump-shot. Instead of throwing a pity party, he developed his jumper and now you see that in his game every now and then.
No, he’s not a star, and he’ll never be one. However, he’s a very good basketball player, and deserves some recognition for his rock solid play this season.
The Hornets seem to be a better team with him on the floor, there’s no doubt about that.