Amid the ice packs, the soaked jerseys, the dirty towels and the oppressive, overpowering stench of defeat following the Kings-Lakers finale last spring at Staples Center, there were two truly encouraging sightings.
Chris Webber, ticked off.
Scot Pollard, really ticked off.
So ticked off that he finally broke his silence. Instead of banging and shoving and slamming his way onto the scene, in essence, once again leading merely by example, the Kings’ valuable backup center vented long and loudly, lent his voice to a critical situation, covered Webber’s back like a pro.
He, too, had seen enough.
He had seen the Kings succumb meekly, displaying an astonishing lack of defensive intensity and toughness ingredients essential to any serious playoff contender and said so.
Over and over, he said so. And on a steamy Tuesday afternoon, the sometimes-serious, often-acerbic Pollard, bolstered by a new six-year $30.7 million contract, came back and promised to deliver the message again.
By any means necessary. Kick. Shove. Punch. Scream. Shriek.
“I always felt I was too young or didn’t have enough of a role with the team to be that guy,” the fourth-year pro said, grinning, “but now I take up enough of the salary cap to speak my mind, to be more of a vocal leader.”
That other sound out of Arco Arena?
Sighs of relief.
If there was a player the Kings absolutely had to retain and the departure of Tony Delk and need to re-sign Jon Barry are not to be minimized it was Pollard, all grit, guts, guile. At 6-foot-11 and 265 pounds, he is the Kings’ best interior defender, only bona fide banger, their most unusual character. For someone only midway into his 20s, Pollard is also uncharacteristically mature; he understands that you don’t mess with a great situation.
So he didn’t. He barely considered leaving Sacramento, where he emerged as an ideal complement to the finesse, offense-oriented Vlade Divac, though when asked what motivated his return, he deadpanned, “Money.”
In a more serious discussion moments later, Pollard, 25, explained that he enjoyed living here, enjoyed his role, enjoyed the Kings’ success the past two seasons and was optimistic about the upcoming season.
In fact, Tuesday’s developments jump-started a franchise still shaken from Delk’s departure and Webber’s recent murmurings about his future plans.
At the least, it’s a nice start: Pollard re-signs. Free agent Bobby Jackson signs, giving the Kings a legitimate backup point guard who is Delk’s equal as a defender and his superior as a playmaker.
Former Kansas University standout Pollard even promises to add a little offense to that defense-dominant repertoire. Low-post moves. Mid-range, one-handed jumpers. More free throws. More dunks. More points, period.
“I haven’t reached my potential,” he said, “and now my left ankle is fine.”
At the time of his March 8 injury, Pollard was in the midst of the best stretch of his professional career and was consistently chipping into Divac’s minutes. He returned from the severely sprained ankle a week later but remained hampered throughout the season and into the postseason.
“Scot was the one (free agent) we had to have,” coach Rick Adelman said. “He just keeps getting better and better.”
With that, Adelman smiled.
A much-relieved King for a day.