Sacramento Kings: Richaun Holmes hopes to fulfill career goals with team

Richaun Holmes turned out to be a surprise addition for the Sacramento Kings this season but has just scratched the surface of his career goals.

After the Sacramento Kings signed Richaun Holmes last season, it appeared to be a win for both sides. The Kings locked up a big man to fulfill their vacant center position, and Holmes received an opportunity to start fresh after a lackluster season with the Phoenix Suns.

The two sides agreed on a two-year, $10 million contract, which has indeed worked out well for both parties. However, with Holmes’ rejuvenated play this season, a much more lucrative payday could be in his future.

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Although Holmes’ first season with the team was plagued by injuries, the 26-year-old was masterful whenever he stepped on the court.

In 39 games, Holmes averaged career-highs in several categories, most notably in his revamped offense. The center totaled 12.8 points per game on 65.4 percent field goal shooting, and 80 percent from the free-throw line, all career-bests.

The career-highs also exceeded beyond Holmes’ offense, as he achieved new highs in rebounds with 8.3, steals with 1.0, and blocks with 1.4 per game.

These incredible increased numbers provided a vital spark for the Kings all season long, something that depleted the team when he was not available.

All in all, Holmes’ career-best season came with the Kings because they offered him the best opportunity in his career. The center averaged a career-high 28.8 minutes per game as he shattered his previous best 20.9 minutes from 2016-17.

With more time on the court, Holmes offered a glimpse of just what kind of player he could be.

With his first season in Sacramento possibly over, Holmes has provided insight on what he hopes to achieve in the future. In a Twitter Q&A, he shared that his career aspirations go far beyond just being another average center in the league.

"“Me, personally, I’ve got big goals. I want to make an All-Star team, I want to win a championship and I want to try and put my bid in for the Hall of Fame. I want to try and reach for the stars, do the best I can, and get the best out of myself that I can, so I’m definitely going to push myself.”"

In a recent episode of the Purple Talk podcast, Holmes discussed where exactly he hopes to fulfill these career goals.

"“I absolutely love Sacramento. This community, this city, these fans – have shown me, in my short time here, that I really couldn’t see myself playing anywhere else. I would love to play here the rest of my career.”"

Some powerful praise from Holmes, especially considering he only played in 39 games for the franchise so far. With his desire to stay with the team long-term, the Kings should look to ensure that happens.

Holmes impacted the Kings significantly in his first season with the team, and with a reasonably young core that is on the rise, he fits in perfectly. At just 26-years-old, Holmes is still young himself and could serve as the team’s starting center long-term.

With All-Star and Hall of Fame aspirations on his mind and a career-best season behind him, hopefully, this is just the beginning for Richaun Holmes and the Sacramento Kings.