GUY
around a Texas-sized chip on his shoulder. He's listed at anywhere from 6-foot-1 to 6-3, which is pretty short for an NBA point guard. And, Guy says, people doubt him because he's skinny, listed at 167 pounds on the G League website.
Whatever.
He's also averaging 26.6 points, 5.6 assists and 4 rebounds a game for the Stockton Kings. A former Indiana high school basketball Player of the Year and an NCAA champion last season with U.Va., Guy says people have doubted him at every level. He's used to it. Just give him a chance.
“If I'm able to get an opportunity tonight, I'll seize the moment,” Guy said Friday. “I've been waiting for this ever since I wanted to play in the NBA. Everything that happened this year was a lot, but it has all just helped me become more focused. There were a lot of blessings that happened this year.”
It's been busy, no doubt. In April, Guy won an NCAA championship with the Cavaliers. It was a striking turnaround from 2018, when Guy and Virginia became the first No. 1 seed to lose in the first round of an NCAA tournament. Guy openly struggled to rebound from that loss.
His time at Virginia is something Guy carries with him. A tattoo on his right thigh reads “Sisi ni Sawa,” which is a line from a song in the “Lion Guard” TV show, a spinoff of Disney's “Lion King.” The Swahili words translate to “We are the same.”
He used to watch the TV show while babysitting his little brother. While that might be a cute anecdote, it's not the reason he got the ink.
It was the infamous 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville that inspired him. A woman was killed when a white supremacist plowed into a crowd of people protesting the neo-Nazi rally. Guy says the woman's name, Heather Heyer, off the top of his head when the incident is mentioned.
He has plenty of other tattoos, mostly covered by his uniform. Many of them express his deep Christian faith.
He has a newer tattoo around his wedding ring. He got that one after his July marriage to Alexa Jenkins, whom he dated starting in eighth grade.
“It's another form and another way to express my beliefs,” Guy said. “I obviously think they look cool or I wouldn't get 'em. At the same time, it's a deeper meaning. I've just kind of fell in love with it and will definitely get some more.”
Whether he will add to the tattoo collection while with the Kings (10-13) is an open question.
While the Kings are hobbled, they are also deep at point guard. Fox and Joseph are the top two, while Yogi Ferrell and fellow rookie Justin James are also getting key minutes. Bogdanovic helps run the offense more than usual with Fox out.
James, a fellow secondround draft pick, has impressed with his athletic ability. When he jumps, he soars over the rim. During a recent pregame warmup, Guy showed he can get up and dunk, but he's clearly not going to play above the rim.
Still, it's not out of the realm of possibility Guy will step in at some point. Though he's limited to just 45 days on the Kings' roster this year because of his two-way contract, Guy seems to have already won over Walton.
“He's impressive. We give him credit,” Walton said Friday. “He's played in big games in college and we think he'll be ready if we need him.”