Dick Harmon: Should Jimmer vocally demand more minutes?

There’s a lesson there. It wasn’t what happened to Skylar but what he did with it. Same could be said for Fredette. He’s already proven this when he took his tough rookie year, learned from it and became a better player. He’s cut down on his turnovers, he plays better defense and has increased his game.

Griping doesn’t suit him. Neither does begging.

Doing it on this team certainly wouldn’t work.

Keith Smart once told me outside the Kings' locker room in Sacramento last year his team was loaded with alpha dogs — all of whom seek to mark their territory. His record shows he’s let them fight it out for the bone.

Rather than making vocal demands, Fredette might be better served to try to be a voice of humble reason in an army of ego-driven chaos. Picking up a trumpet with this crew is asking for trouble.

I’m reminded of some sound advice I came across this past week:

Talent is God-given. Be humble.

Fame is man-given. Be grateful.

Conceit is self-given. Be careful.

Dick Harmon, Deseret News sports columnist, can be found on Twitter as @Harmonwrites and can be contacted at dharmon@desnews.com.