The Kings' Tyreke Evans drives toward the basket against the Grizzlies' Alan Iverson during the Kings' home opener at Arco Arena on Monday, Oct. 2.

Some of the questions surrounding Kings rookie guard Tyreke Evans before last June's NBA draft had to do with whether he was a point guard or shooting guard and if he had a consistent jump shot.

Some of the same things were said about Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo before the 2008 draft.

Things worked out fine for Mayo, who averaged 18.5 points and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.

Mayo and Evans made headlines nationally as high school underclassmen. But Kings coach Paul Westphal hadn't considered any similarities between Mayo and Evans before Monday's home opener against the Grizzlies.

Westphal sees more similarities not related to their play.

"The fact that they're both one year out of college walking into the league as an immediate starter, I'm sure they have a lot in common," Westphal said.