Kings guard Ellis reveals which NBA player is toughest to defend initially appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Keon Ellis is understood and cherished for his defensive prowess, however even the younger Kings guard has endured challenges on that finish of the ground within the NBA.
After emerging in Sacramento’s rotation and finally the beginning lineup through the again finish of the 2023-24 season, Ellis oftentimes was tasked with defending the opposing crew’s finest participant. Whereas there is no stopping a few of the recreation’s best stars, Ellis did his finest to restrict what the world is aware of they’re able to on the hardwood.
However amongst the flurry of superstars the 24-year-old has needed to face, whom does he consider is the hardest to defend? Earlier than NBC Sports activities California’s Deuce Mason may get the total query off, Ellis did not hesitate to disclose his reply.
“Kyrie Irving might be the hardest to protect,” Ellis mentioned on a current “The Deuce & Mo Podcast” look. “As a result of for me, I’m essentially the most anxious about guarding guys who can shoot it from deep. If you happen to can shoot the three at a excessive clip, it is like, rattling, as a result of now I’ve to press up and I can not use my wingspan.”
Ellis continued to clarify how different explosive gamers, resembling Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, can have an effect on the sport in a number of other ways, however they do not essentially depend on the 3-ball as a lot, making it barely simpler to defend them.
Not with gamers resembling Irving, although, who can rating on all three ranges.
“However a man like [Jalen] Brunson or [Steph] Curry, [Damian Lillard], you must be of their airspace as a result of any little little bit of room, it is going up, and we all know how these guys can get it going,” Ellis continued. “However Kyrie, he can shoot it from 3, however he can even get to his spot within the mid-range. He’ll do one thing that you simply ain’t ever seen. You will suppose you might have him, and he’ll simply toss something up with the left hand, and it will hit nothing however web.”
The NBA has loved the privilege of watching the cheat code that is Kyrie Irving for greater than a decade now. His handles alone elevate his recreation to a degree the place only a few within the historical past of the sport reside.
Whereas Ellis acknowledges the nightmare that’s defending Irving, he will not ever neglect the time he nearly — nearly — picked his pocket as soon as.
“His handles are simply so tight that he is aware of what he is doing, he is aware of easy methods to get to his spots,” Ellis mentioned. “I nearly stole it from him one time — nearly. He hit a crossover, and I plucked it and it would’ve went out of bounds, however he thought I kicked it. He was like, ‘You kicked it?’ I used to be like ‘Nah, I nearly stole that one.’
“If I’d’ve stole that one, that might’ve been a core reminiscence for me.”
Fortunately for Ellis, he’ll have a lot extra alternatives with the 2024-25 NBA season proper across the nook.
