April 14, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Sacramento Kings point guard Tyreke Evans (13) during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Wednesday is the latest installment of a recent NBA tradition. The heart felt, emotional, noisy, cowbell ringing last time the Sacramento Kings will play in Sacramento, ever, or until next year.
We supposedly find out the fate of the franchise Friday. David Aldridge wrote that after the NBAs Relocation and Finance Committees meet on Wednesday, followed by the annual two day NBA Board of Governors meeting we should know. We don’t know the fate of the franchise today, but we know the Kings will play the Clippers Wednesday, possibly for the last time as the Kings.
And we also know where the Kings have been. Its been long since Chris Webber dominated the post, Vlade Divac flopped, and Doug Christie pissed everyone off. The Kings have been an embarrassing franchise over the last five years.
The devastating defeats at the hands of the Lakers, Robert Horry, and allegedly one or more NBA officials, have knocked Sacramento down, and they’ve stayed down.
Last year’s threat to the Kings’ residency in Sacramento was the Maloof brothers, who were once brash, young, respected owners akin to Mark Cuban, who were expected to take the team down to Anaheim. No one wanted them. No one wants the Maloof brothers anymore. But this year someone does want the team…Seattle.
Without a team for the past 5 seasons, Seattle has been very upfront about their hurt feelings after the Sonics were stolen from them, and their intentions to take another franchise back to Seattle. Enter Sacramento.
April 14, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Sacramento Kings point guard Jimmer Fredette (7) takes a shot against the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter at the Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Kings 121-100. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
When Sacramento fans have something to cheer for, Sleep Train Arena (formerly Arco Arena) is one of the loudest buildings in the league. The Sacramento Queens were, and this annual game is, a testament to it.
The threat of the Kings leaving has made their home finale a raucous, must-watch game for each of the past several years. This year the threat to jump S-A-C town for the S-E-A is very real. Sacramento’s only professional franchise may escape to play this traditional game another year however thanks to its former NBA All Star mayor, Kevin Johnson.
There is already a binding deal between the Maloofs and hedge fund manager Chris Hansen and his ownership group. The deal needs to be approved by 23 of the 30 owners for it to stand. But Johnson has rallied an alternative group of local ownership, and has a stadium plan in place, although they still are required by the state to complete the year long Environmental Investigative Study.
So fans are preparing for this possibly monumental game in Sacramento sports history, preceding what could be a monumental day in Seattle sports history. So the players must prepare accordingly too. The Sacramento fans may be the victim, but stuck in the middle of this divorce of team and city are the players. Point guard Isiah Thomas gave up tweeting almost 2 months ago, probably so he wouldn’t Tweet anything about his desire to go back to the city where he starred at UW, and alienate his current fanbase.
The players haven’t fielded many public questions about their feelings on the possible move, likely out of respect for the players. It affects them in the short term, and the two cities much more in the long term. But the player’s image is wrapped around not throwing Sacramento under the bus, which is a delicate line to walk.
I have my suspicions, but I do wonder what the players feel about the situation. Thankfully we have the not shy, ever thoughtful Demarcus Cousins to express his emotions on the subject. A change of scenery might do him good, but he Tweeted this week
Mind in one place, heart in another ....
— DeMarcus Cousins (@boogiecousins) April 13, 2013
The only question is whether his mind or his heart is in Sacramento.