Kings' Aaron Brooks a natural leader

Aaron Brooks might have played last season in China, but one of the more quiet acquisitions of this NBA offseason comes to the Sacramento Kings with a foundation already set in leadership.

The Sacramento Bee reports that the Kings kept an eye on the Brooks during the past few seasons because he's still relatively young but already has a good deal of NBA experience. Their confidence in him showed, as head coach Keith Smart started Brooks in front of Isaiah Thomas in Monday's preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The point guard scored 16 points in 20 minutes while dishing out one assist.

While Thomas is expected to start come the regular season, Smart is molding Brooks into an all-around floor general, per the Sacramento Bee:

"(Smart is) just putting me out in front and telling me to be a leader," Brooks said. "We're in constant conversation, so it's about getting the reps in and being more comfortable."

Brooks was most recently with the Phoenix Suns before he spent the lockout season of 2011-12 in China. The 6'0 point guard had his most successful season in 2009-10, when he averaged 19.6 points and 5.3 assists per game with the Houston Rockets.

Brooks has NBA career averages of 12.5 points and 3.6 assists per game.