Kings' Jesse Mermuys running video coaching clinics during NBA pause

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During the 2011 NBA lockout, Sacramento Kings coach Paul Westphal would go to local gyms and teach basketball 101 to Kings season ticket holders. Groups would sit in chairs with notepads as the Hall of Fame player diagrammed basic sets.

With the NBA once again on hiatus, this time due to the coronavirus pandemic that has shuttered all professional sports, the Kings have turned to assistant Jesse Mermuys to do a similar, although updated version.

“I want to make sure you guys know that in this unique time, that your Kings family is with you, that we’re in this together and part of the reason we’re doing this is to just share our love of basketball and provide some joy for you guys,” Mermuys explained.

A holdover from coach Luke Walton’s Los Angeles Lakers staff, Mermuys knows the playbook well.

In his first video, Mermuys breaks down the Kings’ pick-and-roll offense.

In video No. 2, the Kings’ assistant jumps to transition offense.

And in the final video, Mermuys looks at an end-of-game sideline out-of-bounds play that they used to free up Nemanja Bjelica for a 32-foot 3-pointer in the Kings’ win over the Houston Rockets on Dec. 9, 2019.

[RELATED: Kings' biggest NBA draft busts since moving to Sacramento]

The videos dig deep into a few technical aspects of the Kings’ schemes. Known for his positivity and non-stop energy, Mermuys is a great host for the film series. In the third episode, he even brings in Bogdan Bogdanovic from his home to help add context to Bjelica’s game-winner.

Whether you’re looking for a basketball fix, trying to take in some extra coaching knowledge for your rec team or looking to improve your overall understanding, Mermuys is sharing some trade secrets.

[PURPLE TALK PODCAST: Listen to the latest episode]

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