Anthony Tolliver out to show he’s more than just a mentor for Kings: There can be a negative connotation to being known as a good locker room guy. Your best playing days are behind you. You’re great to have around as a mentor. Just don’t expect to play much, if at all. Anthony Tolliver embraces the opportunity to be a good teammate for the Kings, but he wants his contributions to extend beyond the locker room and onto the court. The Kings signed Tolliver to a two-year deal in the offseason because they like the professionalism and focus he can add to a team that has been lacking it. But Tolliver saw more than a chance to mentor. -- The Sacramento Bee
National anthem singer said taking a knee at Kings game was patriotic: The national anthem singer at the Sacramento Kings preseason game on Monday drew criticism and praise on social media after she decided to kneel during the performance. The action by singer Leah Tysse of Berkeley was an apparent protest against racial injustice, reminiscent of what San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been doing before NFL games. The Sacramento Kings went on to beat Maccabi Haifa of Israel 135-96 in an exhibition game – the first-ever basketball game at Golden 1 Center. -- The Sacramento Bee
Blowout exhibition win reveals new options for Kings: There isn’t much you can take away from a 135-96 win over a team like Maccabi Haifa. The Kings shot 67.1 percent from the floor. They knocked down 52.5 percent from long range and they handed out 30 assists. They led wire-to-wire and it wasn’t even close. This isn’t an NBA caliber team so you have to look deeper than just the numbers. With so little on the line, Dave Joerger was able to get creative with his squad and try new things. Sample size is small, but the Kings’ new coach might have found something very interesting. -- CSN California
