The biggest story from the Sacramento Kings' preseason opener on Monday wasn't DeMarcus Cousins launching three threes or Rajon Rondo commandeering head coach George Karl's clipboard for a key possession.
Instead, it was offseason signing Marco Belinelli setting the nets afire with a 12-of-18, 32-point outing.
He also chipped in three rebounds, four assists, and three steals, continuing a torrid stretch of play that extends back to his EuroBasket performance last month. Belinelli helped lead the Italian squad by averaging 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, including a seven-triple game in an upset win over Spain.
The Kings added Belinelli on a three-year, $19-million deal this offseason, with the 29-year-old penciling in as the team's first wing off the bench. He could be in line for a bigger offensive role than he played with the San Antonio Spurs last season, when he averaged 9.2 points in 22.4 minutes and knocked down 37.4 percent of his threes.