Kings sign former NBA champion
Dec 7, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; A view of the Sacramento Kings logo and basketball before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Kings at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Sacramento Kings on Thursday added some veteran depth with championship experience to bolster their frontcourt.
According to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Kings have agreed to a one-year deal with small forward Juan Toscano-Anderson. The 30-year-old Mexican last played for the Mexico City Capitanes in the NBA G League.
The Sacramento Kings are signing F Juan Toscano-Anderson to a one-year deal, sources tell ESPN. Toscano-Anderson — who’s had stops with the Warriors, Lakers and Jazz — has been playing with Mexico City of the G League.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 14, 2023
It didn’t take long for Toscano-Anderson to get with the program. He reacted to Woj’s tweet just minutes later with the Kings’ 3-word rallying cry.
“Light the Beam then!” said Toscano-Anderson on X.
Light the Beam then!
— Juan Toscano Anderson (@juanonjuan10) December 14, 2023
“Light the Beam” is what the Kings do to celebrate wins.
Toscano-Anderson most notably played three seasons with the Golden State Warriors from 2019 to 2022. He averaged 4.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 17.1 minutes per game during those three Warriors years. He also had brief stints with the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz last season.
Kings head coach Mike Brown reportedly wanted to bring in Toscano-Anderson for the team’s training camp in October. The two developed a relationship when Brown served as an assistant coach for the Warriors.
Toscano-Anderson was also linked to a Warriors return before the season began.
Kings head coach Mike Brown had strong interest in bringing Toscano-Anderson, who he’s known from their Warriors days, to training camp, sources said. Solid veteran addition that can be a team-first Garrett Temple-type for the Kings’ locker room. https://t.co/STST1uhbuM
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) December 14, 2023
Standing at just 6’6″, Anderson is relatively undersized as an NBA forward. But his long wingspan and versatility make him an intriguing piece to use off the Kings’ bench as a small-ball big.
In 11 G League games for the Capitanes, Toscano-Anderson posted averages of 19.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per contest.
