Report: Sacramento Kings signing Keon Ellis to three-year contract
Keon Ellis has been a solid contributor at times for the Kings over the past two years and is now being rewarded for it.
Ellis has signed a three-year contract with the Kings, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The second-year pro out of Alabama has appeared in 29 games this season, making three starts. He is averaging 3.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
“The Sacramento Kings are signing guard Keon Ellis on a new three-year contract, Corey Marcum of @ezsportsgroup tells ESPN. Ellis had been on a two-way deal and now gets a standard NBA deal after rising from an undrafted player out of Alabama,” Woj posted.
Ellis signed with the Kings in the summer of 2022 after going undrafted and played well in the summer league. That led to him getting a spot on the roster as a two-way player.
During his rookie year in 2022-23, Keon Ellis appeared in 16 games for Sacramento, averaging 1.5 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.
Ellis saw his production rise this season, leading to him getting another contract, this time for three years.
Sacrament is currently 29-21 and in seventh place in the West. The Kings return to action Friday night against the Nuggets.
Keon Ellis transferred to Alabama ahead of the 2020-21 season and played for the Crimson Tide for two years, after starting his college career at Florida Southwestern State College.
During his first season at Alabama, Ellis played in 32 games and made seven starts. He averaged 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
After that, he had an excellent season in 2021-22, excelling on both sides of the court. Ellis was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team that year after starting all 33 games for the Crimson Tide.
He averaged 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game that season, leading Alabama in rebounding, 3-point percentage, free throw percentage and steals.
As for his former team, Alabama is having another excellent season in 2023-24. The Crimson Tide are currently 16-7 (8-2) and tied for the SEC lead.
Alabama has a NET ranking of No. 6 entering this weekend’s game against LSU. Head coach Nate Oats continues to do a really good job with this Alabama team.
Keon Ellis isn’t the only former Alabama basketball star in the news lately. Former guard Kira Lewis was traded from the Raptors to the Jazz on Thursday. Lewis has appeared in 16 NBA games this season.