UCI’s Johnny Rogers Released by Kings
Former UC Irvine star Johnny Rogers was cut by the Sacramento Kings Tuesday as the National Basketball Assn. team reduced its roster to 12 players.
The careers of Rogers and rookie power forward Joe Arlauckas rode on the Kings’ last preseason cut, and it was Arlauckas who came to an annual tip-off lunch Tuesday.
King Coach Bill Russell went straight from the luncheon to Rogers’ hotel room to give the waived player some career advice, said Joe Axelson, team president and general manager.
“John is not a complete player,” Axelson said. “He’s a specialist. He needs to work on two or three more things.”
Rogers, who was known as an excellent shooter, was a second-round draft pick in 1986 after he averaged 21.2 points and 9 rebounds his senior season for the Anteaters. He started the final 15 games last season for the Kings, averaging 7.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists.
The Kings drafted Arlauckas in the fourth round this year from Niagara University, where he led the club in blocking all four years.
Guard Franklin Edwards also was placed on the injured list Tuesday.
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