Michael Kidd-Gilchrist played his first game of the season after suffering a shoulder injury in the preseason.

Kidd-Gilchrist started and played 33 minutes, getting 13 points and seven rebounds.

"I was a little winded," he said. "I had a spurt of sprints up and down the floor o I got a little tired but that's going to come."

Kidd-Gilchrist had surgery for a torn labrum after getting injured in the team's first preseason game at Orlando on Oct. 3.

DeMarcus Cousins and Kemba Walker have been named the NBA's Players of the Week.

Cousins has seven 30-point, 10-rebound games so far in January. Cousins led the Kings to a 3-0 record, averaging 36.0 points (.526 FG%, .667 3PT%, .722 FT%), 14.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks in 37.7 minutes per game.

Walker scored a career high 52 points last week. During the week, Walker led the Eastern Conference in points per game (34.8), field goals made per game (11.3), free throw percentage (.923, 36-of-39, min. 20 FTA), while also ranking fourth in steals (2.25) and ninth in assists per game (6.0). He also averaged 6.0 rebounds per game. Walker led the NBA in total points (139) and total field goals (45) and was the only player in the NBA to record at least 125 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists during the week.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has been cleared for full-contact practice by team orthopedist Dr. Marcus Cook. The fourth-year player suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder on Oct. 3, 2015, in a preseason game at Orlando and underwent successful surgery performed by Dr. Cook on Oct. 6.  As part of his rehabilitation, Kidd-Gilchrist has participated in non-contact practice for the past two weeks. 

There is no timetable for Kidd-Gilchrist’s return to the active roster.

Kidd-Gilchrist signed a four-year, $52 million extension with the Charlotte Hornets before the season.

The 6-7 forward averaged career bests in points (10.9), rebounds (7.6) and minutes (28.9) in 55 games (52 starts) during the 2014-15 season. His 7.6 rebounds per game ranked first among all small forwards in the NBA. Last season, he registered career highs of 12 double-doubles and 35 double-figure scoring games after totaling one and 14, respectively, the previous season.  The University of Kentucky product holds career averages of 9.0 points and 6.1 rebounds in 26.2 minutes per game in 195 career appearances (191 starts) in three NBA seasons. 

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has been cleared for all non-contact activities following shoulder surgery in October to repair a torn labrum.

If he progresses successfully in non-contact drills, he could be cleared in the coming weeks to start contact drills.

Kidd-Gilchrist's original timetable suggested a six-month recovery time.

“For sure. No question I’m going to play this season,” Kidd-Gilchrist told the Observer Wednesday at shootaround. “I’m going to play. It’s a matter of when now.”

In Kidd-Gilchrist’s absence, Steve Clifford has started P.J. Hairston at small forward.

“He’s been doing all the 5-0 and 3-0 drills in practice. Frankly, it’s just nice to have him around because he brings such energy to everything he does. They seem pretty ‘So far, so good’ with his recovery,” Clifford said.

“I’m not a doctor, but I think (he’ll play in the regular season). The only thing they’re hesitant about is the nature of these injuries. Literally it has to be step-by-step. They are hesitant to put out a timeline. They just want to make sure."

Vlade Divac told the Los Angeles Lakers he planned on retiring when they traded him to the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 for Kobe Bryant.

Divac was scheduled to make $4.7 million during the 96-97 season, so trading him gave the Lakers the chance to acquire Bryant and clearing cap space to sign Shaquille O'Neal.

"That was the best deal in NBA history," Divac told Yahoo Sports. "You got Vlade there in Charlotte and then you were able to sign Shaq because you cleared the salary cap and you got Kobe."

Divac was stunned when informed of the trade.

"It felt like someone from behind hit me with a hammer," Divac told Yahoo Sports. "It was the first time in my career that something happened in a way I didn't plan. I was devastated. I was thinking, 'I play basketball for fun.' My father said when I brought my first [basketball paycheck] back home, 'Who gave this to you? Are they crazy? Do they know you would play basketball even if they don't pay you?'

"I am not going to play basketball because I have to play. I am going to play for fun. I was 28. I am not going to go somewhere and be forced to play basketball. I told my agent that I am not going to Charlotte. I loved L.A. I loved the Lakers. For every kid that played basketball, it was basketball heaven being with Magic and the other guys."

Within 10 days after the draft, Divac said he returned to Los Angeles ready to retire, yet he agreed to meet with West. After an "emotional meeting" with West, Divac changed his mind and agreed to the trade.

"Jerry called me and I flew back to L.A. and we had lunch," Divac said. "The trade happened [in principle], but I was holding it up. … It was a great conversation. He said, 'Why don't you go over there and explore and see if you like it or not?'

"Me and Jerry had a very good relationship. He was the guy who was waiting for me at the airport [after being drafted in 1989]. It was an emotional meeting for both of us. And I trust him so much. He is the best basketball mind in the world. When Jerry tells you something, you believe it."

Divac signed as a free agent with the Kings in 1998 with his family and a return to the West Coast in mind. 

Jeremy Lamb was traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Charlotte Hornets after three disappointing seasons in which he was given limited opportunities. 

Lamb has been given more minutes with the Hornets.

“I just wanted an opportunity," said Lamb. "I had some OK moments there (Oklahoma City), I just wasn’t able to find my niche. So I really wanted to just find a way to get an opportunity, and I was able to be put in that position.”

Lamb was asked if he's had an improved relationship with Steve Clifford as opposed to Scott Brooks.

“I’m in the rotation more so I talk to coach Clifford more. When I was in OKC, I was a rookie, I was in the D-League a lot, and then I wasn’t as involved, so I didn’t talk to coach Scotty as much. But they’re both great guys. I just didn’t have an opportunity there. They’re both good coaches and they both have their style, so it would be hard to compare.”

Lamb was asked if he requested a trade from the Thunder.

“No … just the way things played out. The way things played out it wasn’t a great situation for me there. The GMs were very encouraging of me, just saying I’m going to be a good player in the league and it was best that I could go somewhere and play, so I was excited about it.”