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Donté Greene was by no means kicking and screaming for his return to the Kings. The rookie was having fun in Reno with the Bighorns of the NBA Development League.

"I'm going to miss it – all the minutes and the guys," Greene, 20, said Sunday after Kings practice. "I got pretty close with the guys over there."

In his five games with the Bighorns, Greene averaged 31.8 minutes, 20.4 points, 1.2 blocked shots and 4.2 rebounds, while playing shooting guard and small forward. In his last game with the Bighorns on Saturday, Greene scored 28 points. Greene said he went into the experience knowing the D-League could do him a favor.

"It really gets you ready for the NBA," he said.

Greene said there are many day-to-day similarities between the NBA and the D-League, including scouting reports and watching film. Traveling, however, provides a stark contrast.

"I definitely miss my charter flights," said Greene, who traveled commercially to Boise, Idaho, to play the Stampede on Thursday. "We went on Southwest."

The luxury of the NBA may make many players cringe at the thought of playing in the D-League. Greene, however, was hesitant to say he's glad to be back with the Kings.

"We'll see as time moves on," said Greene, who has played in 24 games for the Kings, averaging 4.5 points and 14.1 minutes. "If I'm not playing I would love to be back down there. I was enjoying it. This is my personality. I don't look at anything negative. I look at everything as with a reason."

Greene related a story about his freshman year in high school, when many people expected him to make the varsity squad. Greene made junior varsity instead.

"I had high expectations coming to the Kings," Greene said. "I got out there, got some minutes, but it hasn't been going that way (recently). The Development League will help me out just like JV did."

Which is why Greene said he didn't go into the experience thinking the D-League owed him anything.

Greene said he even asked not to be placed in the starting lineup.

"I didn't want to start," Greene said. "A lot of guys, when they get sent down, they expect to just be 'that guy' and forget all the other guys that are there. I said, 'Bring me off the bench and let the other guys who were here do their thing.' "

Baby on board – Greene is currently waiting for a phone call summoning him to Charlotte, N.C., where his fiancée is due with their first child any day. The rookie joins several of his Kings teammates with babies on the way. Bobby Jackson said his wife is due in February, while Mikki Moore and Shelden Williams are also adding to their families.

"We are a baby-making machine team over here," Jackson said.