Beware of the PKs.
That’s short for Preacher’s Kids, occasionally known to be tormentors of congregations with their rebellious antics and their proficiency in profanity, among other misdeeds. In some cases, they are seen as walking headaches that too many adults give a pass. You just can’t say anything bad about the offspring of the officers of the church.
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But in other cases, the PKs become solid citizens. Because in the midst of all their resistance to authority, the lessons do stick at some point. Some even follow the path of their parents, taking up residence in the pulpit.
Sacramento Kings guard Terence Davis II, a PK himself, believes there’s more he can and will do on the spiritual side.
Toronto is where Davis began his career, and the team’s G League coach, Patrick Mutombo, joked about Davis being someone who would look to save souls.
“He used to tease me,” Davis told The Athletic. “He said he had a dream of me preaching. He called me pastor sometimes, it’s crazy. But that might be something I end up doing once I’m done playing. I’m not fulfilling my role right now. I’m definitely supposed to be a professional basketball player who can bring people closer to God. But it’s tough, it’s a tough lifestyle.”
Apostle Terence Davis, of The School of Intercession Global Ministries in Southaven, Miss., liked when those words were relayed to him from his son.
“I know that there’s much more that he can do and is going to do,” Davis Sr. said. “This thing is way bigger than basketball. I know that he sees it as well. Thank God for the vehicle of basketball, but it’s bigger than basketball. But God uses people like that with a platform like that to give him glory.”
Davis II still has a lot he wants to do in the NBA. He’s in his third season and the journey to make it to the pros and stay there has had its ups and downs. This season, he’s been in COVID-19 protocols twice. Once in the preseason and again in the regular season. He played so well in the preseason, he was being called “Microwave” — a la Detroit’s beloved sixth man from the Bad Boy days, Vinnie Johnson — for his ability to score in bunches off the bench. It was the second time that happened. Norman Powell called him Microwave in Toronto and Tristan Thompson brought it back in Sacramento.
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But Davis II wasn’t in the rotation to start the season.
“Even though Luke (Walton) was the coach, Alvin (Gentry) would always come to me and say ‘Just stay with us, man, your time will come,’” Davis II recalled. “That was always helpful … I knew I wouldn’t be in that position all year.”
Walton was fired in November and replaced by Gentry as the interim coach. Davis II saw his playing time increase and he played well. But the minutes still fluctuated. Then came a bout with COVID-19 and some minor injuries. When Davis plays extended minutes, it’s generally been good for the Kings. He’s averaged 11.9 points with a .552 true shooting percentage in 20.2 minutes over nine wins — and 7.8 points with a .478 true shooting percentage in 15.4 minutes over the 13 losses he’s played in.
This is where the PK in Davis II comes through. He has an expectation and understanding there will be struggles, as if those stories from the Bible were a part of his daily life from the time he moved to Southaven with his father and stepmother in the fifth grade and implemented rules. Life would be about school and sports. No cell phone, or in his mind – “no social life.” But the advice from his father to remain humble stuck.
“Being from Mississippi you never really had anything handed to you,” Davis II said. “So when things aren’t going my way, I’m not feeling entitled to certain things because if you look at it, I’m not supposed to be here.”
Davis II went undrafted in 2019 out of Ole Miss. That made his draft party a downer, but Davis Sr. saw a moment of growth out of that situation.
“I saw my son really grow up as a man that night,” Davis Sr. said. “He left out and talked to his agent and when he came back in he stood up and he said ‘Hey, family, this is what it is. They want me to take a two-way, but I feel like I’m better than that. I’m just going to have to lace it up going into the summer league.’ I went in and embraced him and said, ‘That’s what I’m talking about.’ We’re behind you 100 percent.”
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Davis II saw a video about Fred VanVleet, one of the league’s better success stories, going undrafted and finding success. He would eventually be VanVleet’s teammate with the Raptors.
Davis II signed with Denver for the summer and quickly caught the attention of Toronto, landing a standard NBA deal. He did so well as a rookie, he made the All-Rookie second team. He was excited for his second season, but an altercation with his ex-girlfriend led to two counts of third-degree assault against him. His playing time decreased in Toronto to start the season and he was eventually traded to the Kings in March 2021 and later addressed the situation after the deal. Davis II learned from the NBA last August there would be no league discipline after he signed a two-year contract with Sacramento.
The young guard said the time period “messed with my mental” but the trade to Sacramento reunited him with Rico Hines, the Kings assistant coach who he’d worked with before. Davis II has connected more with assistant coach Lindsey Harding this season.
“She’s been wonderful,” Davis II said. “She’s very very intelligent on the game and on the aspects of life, going through certain things like not playing. She had great words of encouragement, so I was definitely working with her pretty much all year.”
Davis II credits his father for rearing him into someone who could make it to the NBA. Part of that was moving to Southaven, which is closer to Memphis and offered more exposure and opportunities.
Dad said the glory goes to God, and his son who did the work and kept the faith to make his dream come true.
“I wanted to give him as well as my other kids a good foundation,” Davis Sr. said. “A biblical household, a God-fearing household where they could come up in and have good morals, good values. That’s all we were trying to instill.”
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So what will Davis II do with that foundation beyond the hardwood? Is the ministry in his future? For those into secular music, they’d tell you his voice resembles Future, the popular Atlanta-based rapper. Those on the other side of the musical aisle might think his voice resounds like a preacher’s – it’s the same deep and raspy tone of his father.
Only time will tell what this PK will do, but he feels the calling to at least help his community and give hope to youth from Mississippi. That’s a start.
(Photo of Terence Davis II: Ben Green/Getty Images)
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