Kings rookie guard Devin Carter, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, recently shared the challenges he faced during his long recovery from shoulder surgery. He spent the first 5.5 months of his NBA career on the sidelines after the surgery, which he underwent due to an injury sustained in a pre-draft workout.

In an interview with NBC Sports California, Carter reflected on the hardest part of his rehabilitation. For him, the toughest aspect was watching his teammates play while he was unable to join them. However, he also found value in the situation. The extended downtime allowed him to observe the team’s dynamics and get a closer look at the speed and physicality of NBA games before stepping on the court himself.

Carter made his long-awaited debut on January 3, during a thrilling win against the Memphis Grizzlies, where his father, Anthony, a member of the Grizzlies’ coaching staff, watched from the sidelines.

Despite the challenges, Carter believes that his time away from the game ultimately gave him insights that will benefit him moving forward in his NBA career.

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