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10.12.17 | SN&R | 25

the kings

princes

kings by

the numbers

who the

f--- are

these guys?

still a

kings fan?

why?

pull-out

guide to

the 2017-18

season

smokin

ballers

ThewholeaTmosphereisnighTanddayfromwhaTiTsbeeninTherecenTpasT.GRa Nt Napea R

30-year veteran kings announcer

Young p l a Y e r s g i v e

s a c r amen t o a b o l d

n ew l o o k

Most NBA bosses would not bother showing up for a meaningless preseason game, but

Sacramento Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadiv sat courtside at the

Golden 1 Center last Monday during his teams debut. He surveyed the hardwood

with inscrutable eyes, sporting a baggy dark-colored sweatsuit and purple polo. General manager Vlade Divac towered to his right as the duo evaluated its new-look roster, which includes 10 players age 25 or under. The Kings went all-in on a youth movement this summer, and fan sentiment is that, in the ling run, the Kings better succeed with this rebuild or die trying.

Top brass finally slammed the reset button this summer after 11 straight seasons in which the team missed the playoffs (two on Divacs watch) while never surpassing 33 wins. A miserable stretch by any professional-sports standard, replete with enough drama to rival the entire seven seasons of Game of Thrones (which I will mercifully not rehash).

Anyway, on October 2, fans so dedicated as to make an appearance in the half-filled arena (still that new-car smell!) actually witnessed a victory, complete with impressive hustle. It was merely a notch on the pre-season belt, and against a vacation-mode San

by Nick Miller

The Kings Princescontinued on page 26

Frank Mason iii, one of 10 kings players under 25,

at Golden 1 center Monday.

photo by kimani okearah / @nbalensface

by Nick Miller

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26 | SN&R | 10.12.17

Antonio Spurs. But the young regime flashed reasons for optimism.

Near the end of the first half, and with the shot clock hemorrhaging seconds, rookie Justin Jacksonthe 22-year-old veteran of this years draft classencountered Manu Ginobili up in his grill. Jackson swung the ball to back-up point guard and fellow initiate Frank Mason III, who is 23. This sub-6-footer flipped the rock toward the rim, where 7-foot-1-inch bruiser Georgios Papagiannisin his third year but still under the legal drinking ageemerged from the scrum like the Greek god Hermes. Big Papa delivered a savage throwdown over Spurs defenders, a veritable Lob City moment that drew feverish applause from a smattering of Golden 1 faithful thirsty for highlight-reel moments.

That alley-oop jam was a peek at the teams promisea glimpse thats proven fleeting during the past 15 seasons.

Just ask Grant Napear, longtime sports-radio host and Kings play-by-play announcer. The 2017-18 season marks his 30th year covering the franchise, which means hes been down the rebuild and youth movement roads many times over. And yet Napear, known for his no-bullshit take and rabid dissent, feels the Kings franchise finally turned things around.

The whole atmosphere is night and day from what its been in the recent past, Napear told me during a recent phone chat.

How is it, then, that the very franchise ridiculed a mere eight months ago by the NBA talking headsand even fellow ownership and brasshas steadied course? I think its really simple, Napear explained: DeMarcus Cousins isnt here any more.

Its no secret that, if given the right team environment and leadership, Cousins could be a premier big man. But in Sacramento, the all-star was malnourished by a revolving door of coaches and steady diet of losing. Cousins also never kicked the on-court bickering and behind-the-scenes ego trips. And inside the organization, there was polarity as to Cousins future: folks who wanted to ink him to a max deal, and those urging divorce.

Ranadiv eventually balked at signing a $200 million-plus check, and Divac moved Cousins to New Orleans hours after last years All-Star game in a deal that, at the time, was widely ridiculed.

But that deal has aged very well, at least according to Sacramento-based reporter and founder of Hoop-Ball.com Aaron Bruski, whos covered the Kings for more than a decade. This past summer, the team received comparable value in its trade for Cousins as Chicago did for Jimmy Butler or Indiana for Paul George.

And there hasnt been any drama with the Kings for the first four or five months, Bruski said, adding that, at the teams media day earlier this month, the organization seemed calm and relaxed.

Is it possible? Are the Kings no longer the most dysfunctional franchise in U.S. sports?

The YouTh MoveMenTTheres an irony to the Kings newfound zen, of course, given its roster dotted with unproven teenagers and 20-somethings, including newly minted franchise-bearer DeAaron Fox, the 19-year-old No. 5 pick out of the University of Kentucky.

At last Mondays debut, Fox exuded this calmness while racking up 16 points on seven-for-eight shooting. Its a minuscule sample size, but it fulfilled the summers widespread hope, and fuels predictions that the rookie could be the best of his draft class.

Napear said hes chatted with Fox on several occasions and praised the hopefuls precocious-ness. When you speak to him, you would swear that youre talking to someone whos 29 years old, he said, specifically citing Foxs clear-headedness.

He told me, I dont let things that I cant control affect me, Napear said. Those are refreshing words for fans hoping the teen phenom will deviate from the path of Cousins, who seem-ingly never climbed a hill he wouldnt die on.

The good news for the faithful is that the teams destiny by no means hinges on whether Fox blossoms into the next Russell Westbrook. Again, there are nine other teammates under the age of 25.

Buddy Hield, whom the team acquired in the Cousins deal, likely wont mani-fest as some kind of perennial all-star. But this season will be a benchmark for the 23-year-olds development.

Forward Skal Labissire, 21, exhibited flashes of fast-paced, verti-cal brilliance last season, and Bruski claims he now looks an inch taller and even stronger. Harry Giles, another 19-year-old, was a marquee high-school player and top-five prospect before tearing both his ACL and MCL in 2014. Now, hes court-ready for the first time in a long while.

In a best-case scenario, swingman Jackson will emerge as a shutdown perimeter defender who can face off against elite scorers. Malachi Richardson, 21, is a fan favorite already, what with his long-range skills and speed. And theres Bogdan Bogdanovic, the 25-year-old who domi-nated in Europeand could be a sleeper force in America.

Bruski says one of the biggest obstacles to the development of these young hopefuls might simply be time on the floor. There are frankly too many players and not enough minutes, he observed.

Hes right: None of these 10 has so far cracked coach Dave Joergers starting lineup, and the organization is paying older veterans Vince Carter (40), George Hill (31), Kosta Koufos (28), Zach Randolph (36) and Garrett Temple (31) some $57 million, nearly two-thirds of the Kings active-roster salaries. Its unclear how Joerger will juggle the old-new mixand how soon he too will ride or die with the young Kings.

Napear, Bruski and most reporters that cover the team agree that fans should temper expectations for this season. The Kings arent trying to win now, Napear said, a concession that was difficult for Ranadiv during his nascent ownership.

Bruski expects a controlled style of play, with the slightest signs of development being a premium over wins. He said the defense will feature some major holes, and there will be those brutal blowout nights that leave fans running for the big rabbit outside the arena.

So goes the reboot. But Napear recalled how, five years ago, the Golden State Warriors were the Sacramento Kings: That team in the Bay had just traded its best player, Monta Ellis, and its owner was roundly booed during public appearances.

And look what happened to them, Napear said. They developed into a champion not because they signed all these free agents, but because they drafted well.

Las Vegas oddsmakers predict no more than 27 wins for this years Kings, a number that would perpetuate the franchises recent legacy of cellar-dwelling. Bruskis eyeing 35. Napear said hed wait until after the preseason to prognosti-cate this years ignominious shortcoming.

Like many OG fans, though, his eye is on a different prize, something just beyond this seasons horizon. And he reserves the right, after all these bad years, to keep up hope: In the NBA, these things change in a hurry.

The Kings Princes Continued from page 25

DeAaron Fox, who may be NBA Rookie of the Year, hits his first shot of the preseason.

photo by Kimani oKEaRah/ @nbalEnsfacE

10.12.17 | SN&R | 27

Who the

are these guys?

There are bunch of new faces on the court at Golden 1 this year. Heres what you need to know.

f---by John Flynn

Who the f--- are these guys? continued on page 28

AreigningEuroleaguechamp,Bogdanoviccombinescraftydribbling,deepshootingrangeandbottomlessself-confidenceintoacompletegame.Havingsignedhimtothefattestrookiecontractever,theKingslikethisflashyimport.

Bogdan Bogdanovic

G u a r d

8#

AftertheDeMarcusCousinstrade,Cauley-Steinexhib-itedsignsofpromisewithhisspringyblocks,relentlessmotorandthunderousdunks.Surroundedbyspeedyyouth,hisstaunchdefensewillbethekeytounlockingafree-flowingtransitionoffense.

Willie cauley-Stein

c e n T e r

00#

Afirst-ballotHall-of-Famer,Cartertransitionedfromhyper-athleticphenomtosavvyveteranwithexceptionalgrace.Stillacapableshooter,Cartercanoccasionallydustoffahighlight-worthymove,buthesmostvaluableasarolemodelandplayer-coach.

vince carter

G u a r d -f o r w a r d

15#

Alreadyamongthefastestplayersintheleague,Foxwillinjectalittleflairintothefran-chiseasafast-breakingfloorgeneralwhocouldeventuallybecomeanAll-Starifhegetshisjumpshotworking.Thisyearslotterypick,FoxholdstheKingsfutureinhishands.

deaaron Fox

G u a r d

5#

f o r w a r d - c e n T e r

Gileslefthighschoolasoneofthetopprospectsinthenation,drawingcomparisonstoChrisWebber.Theninjuriesstruck.Ifhecanstayonthecourt,thisagilebigmanwithasofttouchcouldrichlyrewardthefrontofficescalculatedriskofdraftinghim.

Harry gileS

20#

Kin GsNumbersby the

coacHeS

oWnerS

generalmanagerS

all Star

loSSeS

average WinS per

year

kingS17

SN

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1 1 y e a r s o f n o - p l a y o f f b a l l

28 | SN&R | 10.12.17

Who the f--- are these guys? continued from page 28John Flynn is a serious Kings fan. Here he is mouth agape at age 6.

Photo courtesy of dan and karen flynn

by JoHn Flynn

Still a KingS Fan?

Wi t h a n o t h e r r e b u i l d

c ommenc i n g a f t e r a d o z e n y e a r s ,

n i n e c o a c h e s , t Wo o Wne r s , o n e

a l l - s t a r a n d 5 7 7 l o s s e s , i a s k e d

t h r e e v e r y d i f f e r e n t f a n s : Why do you Still root

For thiS team?

About the time I started rooting for the Kings, my mom sat me on her lap and read me The Carrot Seeda book about a little boy who plants a seed in the ground and

patiently waters and weeds around it while people tell him repeatedly, It wont come up. And yet, the boy keeps watering and weeding, certain that one day his efforts will pay off.

As the Sacramento Kings enter their 12th season without a playoff berth, I can relate.

Growing up in the early 2000s, I fell hard for the fancy-passing team that dueled with the pretentiously dominant Los Angeles Lakers and played with a love for the game, each other and Sacramento. Then Chris Webber blew out his knee. And the front office replaced the Kings winningest coach, Rick Adelman, with Eric Musselman, who promptly got a DUI, marking the first flurries of an incoming blizzard of rotten luck and abysmal decision-making.

And so, I spent my formative years devoted to a hopelessly bad NBA franchise. The happy memories hinge on flimsy justifications and appear amid stretches of desolation.

So with another rebuild commencing after a dozen years, nine coaches, two owners, one All-Star and 577 losses, I asked three very differ-ent fans: why do you still root for this team?

Its real as fuck to stick with something thats really difficult to stick with, said rapper and Kings fan Harris Rudman. That love, that perse -verance, that vulnerability can bring you to a place that other things cant. Its fortified my sense of

loyalty to what Im about and what I believe in.Rudman has lived in Sacramento for all but

one year of his life, the year the team almost moved to Anaheim. In a dorm room at the University of Texas, he watched longtime broad-casters Grant Napear and Jerry Reynolds sign off for what could have been the final time with tears in their eyes and frogs in their throats. With the Kings as good as gone, Rudman stared silently in disbelief as a remote, yet cruel possibility neared reality. He said the only comparable feeling came on November 8, 2016.

Rudman admits its a bit much to compare what he sees as a devastating presidential elec-tion to the potential loss of a sports franchise. But I can relate.

Kings fan has always been part of my identity. As a kid, I shaved my head to look like Jason Williams. Ive listened to Napear and Reynolds talk more than anyone outside of my immediate family. And I still have Webbers autograph from when he made a random, unannounced visit to my basketball game at the Salvation Army in Oak Park.

The Kings helped me spend countless hours bonding over a mutual interest with my parents. Ive maintained long-distance friendships simply through discussing draft prospects. I unabashedly welled up with pride when I saw the Golden 1 Center, a physical symbol of hope that things would improveboth for the franchise and Sacramentoin a way that seemed impossible only a few years before.

g u a r d

24#

g u a r d

3#

f o r w a r d

25#

Why?Buddy HieldTheappleofownerVivekRanadivseye,HieldplayedhiswayintoRookieoftheYeardiscussionslastseasonwithhisspeed,gritandgorgeousjumper.Hellneedtoimprovehisconsistency,buthisworkethicandsunnydispositionaretailor-madefortheKingsnewera.

GeorGe Hill

HillisthecurrentbestplayerontheKings.Heshouldcontributeleadership,toughdefenseandsolidshootingwhilesettinganexamplefortheyoungunsasaconsum-mateprofessional.Iftheteamfollowshislead,thisrebuildwillbeheadedintherightdirection.

Justin Jackson

Thisrangy,reigningNCAAchampionisaversatilewingplayerwhocandefendmultiplepositionsandspacetheflooronoffense.Jacksonneedstogetabitmorebeefy,buthishustle,unselfishnessandhighbasketballIQcouldturnhimintoavaluableSwissarmyknife.

TheyresTarTingTobuildanucleusThaTundersTandswhaTwinningisallabouT.andTheyregoingTobringannbachampionshipinThenexTfiveyears.

Rick Jennings

Vice Mayor of SacraMento

10.12.17 | sn &R | 29

c e n t e r

41#

f o r w a r d - c e n t e r

7#

g u a r d

20#

iTsourTeamIt might be hokey to tie together a franchise

and its city. But thats how the two exist in the minds of many. Taro Arai, owner of Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar, came to Sacramento as a 15-year-old in 1985, the same year as the Kings. Since then hes bonded with players over sushi, none more than DeMarcus Cousins, who Arai said could be unfailingly counted on for checks toward charity.

When he got traded, Cousins held a going-away party at Mikuni where he choked back tears and said that even though he would no longer wear purple professionally, every soul in this city matters to me, reflecting the loyalty that die-hard fans feel toward players who are often the biggest celebrities in town.

Theres a core group that, through ups and downs, still stick with the Kings, Arai said. Im one of those stupid guys. This is the only team we have. Its til I die.

During the recent back-to-school season, Vice Mayor Rick Jennings and Kings coach Dave Joerger orchestrated a 500-backpack giveaway to needy students. He tells this story to illustrate that the team doesnt have to win in order to have an impact on the community.

Jennings, a former Oakland Raider, loves sports in general and has been a Kings season ticket holder for the last decade. An optimist, he sees borderline delusional promise in the current Kings squad.

Theyre starting to build a nucleus that under -stands what winning is all about, he said. And theyre going to bring an NBA championship in the next five years.

Bold prediction. But after a decade of the front office seeming to spin its wheels before making any decision, there does seem to be a coherent vision of the Kings future. Of course, I convinced myself that we could compete last year. And the year before. And so on.

Still, as I watched the new players congeal during the preseason, I couldnt help but fantasize about eventually returning to the playoffs. I get chills thinking about Sacramentans unleashing years of pent-up pride during nationally televised games, screaming about being the best cityhowever ludicrous that idea is when talking about much other than urban canopies or our proximity to fresh produce.

For now, I take solace in the end of The Carrot Seed, when a carrot sprouts out of the ground thats so big the little boy needs to carry it home in a wheelbarrow. Like him, I cant help but remain devoted to Sacramento and the Kingsjanky, imperfect and in-progress as both are. Because to me, theres nothing better than seeing signs of life in a place where most believed nothing special could ever come up.

championship inThenexTfive years.

Rick Jennings

Vice Mayor of SacraMento

Theyre starting to build a nucleus that under-stands what winning is all about, he said. And theyre going to bring an NBA championship in the next five years.

Bold prediction. But after a decade of the front office seeming to spin its wheels before making any decision, there does seem to be a coherent vision of the Kings future. Of course, I convinced myself that we could compete last year. And the year before. And so on.

Vice Mayor Rick Jennings decked out in Kings gear.

photo by kriStopher hookS

kings17

sn

&RkosTa

koufosSportingtheNBAswispi-esthairline,Koufoswillbeadependablebackupcenterthatcanbangwithburlierplayers.Armedwithsolidtouchandcourtawareness,Koufosspe-cializesingrabbingrebounds,settinghardscreensandknockingdownbabyhooks.

skallabissire

WithCauley-Steininthefrontcourt,LabissirecompletestheKingssuper-long,super-athleticfrontlineofthefuture.Ofalltheyoungguns,Skalhasthemostglassiestceiling,especiallyifhisbutter-smoothshootingstrokeextendsbeyondthethree-pointlinethisseason.

frankmasoniii

TheconsensusbestplayerintheNCAAlastyearcanprovidespeedyconsistencyoffthebench.Ifhisinsane47percentthree-pointshootingduringhisseniorseasoncancarryover,hellbeacriticalcomponentofthepace-and-spaceKings.

Who the f--- are these guys? continued on page 32

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10.12.17 | SN&R | 3130 | SN&R | 10.12.17

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32 | SN&R | 10.12.17

Abigbodyinthepaint,the20-year-oldPapagiannisneedstodevelophispostmoves,courtvisionanddefensiveversatility.Barringatremendousleap,hellprobablyshufflebetweentheendofthebenchandtheRenoBighorns.

GeorGios PaPaGiannis

c e n t e r

13#AftertearinghishamstringrightbeforetheAll-Starbreaklastseason,Richardsonshouldbuilduponhissweetshooting,precociousconfidenceandslash-ingstyleofplay.Ifhedoes,hellbeanothervaluable,versatilewingintherotation.

Malachi richardson

g u a r d

23#Afteravoidingcriminalchargesforpossessingapoundofpot,Randolphwillprovideatake-no-shittoughnessandareliablepost-scoringoptionforthesecondunit.Hesold,buthisHometownBuffetrangeofmovesinthepaintstillwork.

Zach randolPh

f o r w a r d

50#Templeactsasacalmingglueonthefloorwithhisstoutdefenseandpass-happystyleofoffense.Thetypeofplayerthatanyteamwouldbehappytohave,Templekeepsbothsidesofthefloorhummingandalmostnevermakesthewrongplay.

Garrett teMPle

g u a r d

17#

Smokin BallersLeague r e s p o n s e t o Z a c h r a n do Lph a r r e s t i n d i c a t e s s h i f t i n a t t i t u d e t owa r d ma r i j u a n a

by Michael cella

Forward Zach Randolph, who was arrested in August for marijuana possession just weeks after signing with the Kings for his 17th NBA

season, was sentenced to community service. Im not speaking a lot about it, but I felt that I was wrongfully arrested, Randolph told the media.

On whether he expects a fine or suspension from the NBA, Randolph says, No. I didnt do anything wrong.

One month after Randolph made those comments, it appears the NBA may agree, as it has yet to mete out any punishment. That silence speaks volumes about a dramatic shift in its attitude toward marijuana.

On ESPNs NBA Countdown this past December, former Boston Celtics point guard Chauncey Billups said, I honestly played with playersIm not gonna name namesbut I wanted them to actu-ally smoke. They played better like that.

Billups remarks came on the heels of a public admission from Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr: I

guess maybe I could even get in some trouble for this, but Ive actually tried [marijuana] twice during the last year and a half when Ive been going through this chronic pain that Ive been dealing with, Kerr told CSN. Kerr had recently undergone two back surgeries. I think the league should look into medicinal marijuana for pain relief, he said. Its only a matter of time before medicinal marijuana is allowed in sports leagues because the education will overwhelm the perception.

Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson, who conceded he smoked marijuana after his own back surgery, agreed. We have tried to stop [marijuana use] in the NBA, Jackson told CBS. I dont think we have been able to stop it. I think it still goes on and is still a part of the culture in the NBA. It is something that we either have to accommodate or figure out another way to deal with it.

The man tasked with figuring it out is NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Right now, NBA players are subjected to four random drug tests throughout the season. Its our strong preference that our players do not consume marijuana. We believe it will affect their performance on the court, Silver told GQ magazine in 2014. That said, marijuana testing is something thats collectively bargained with the players association, and we adjust to the times.

Those times may be nigh. In August, Silver retreated a bit from his earlier stance. I would say its something we will look at. Im very interested in the science when it comes to medical marijuana, Silver told a reporter. My

personal view is that it should be regu-lated in the same way that other medica-tions are if the plan is to use it for pain management. And its something that needs to be discussed with our Players Association, but to the extent that science demonstrates that there are effective uses for medical reasons, well be open to it. Hopefully theres not as much pain involved in our sport as some others, so theres not as much need for it.

Try telling Vince Carter, who signed with the Kings this offseason at age 40, how much pain there is. For Carter, though, any change would come too late to affect his day-to-day routine for pain management. If its not [legal], guys have to figure out how to subside the pain without using it, Carter told me in the locker room following Mondays preseason opener against the Spurs. At this point Ive been playing for ... he laughed and stopped short of saying the numberCarter is entering his 20th NBA season. Ive been playing for all these years and it wasnt there. So now you get to the end of your career, and I just know one way. Its gonna be tough. They have a decision to make.

Kings guard Garrett Temple may have a voice in that decision. This summer, Temple was elected to a three-year term as a vice president of the NBA Players Association. After the Spurs game Monday, Temple told me, Honestly, I think its gonna be legal very soon. The NBA being one of the most progressive leagues in the country, Im not surprised wed be the first to actually legalize it. (The NHL and MLB do not test for marijuana.) Some people it does help

with different ailments. Its up to Adam, if he decides to do that or not.

Players like Larry Sanders, whose promising career was cut short in part due to failing four drug tests in five years, have been ostracized for their marijuana use despite an outspoken belief in its medical benefits. I will deal with the consequences from it. Its a banned substance in my league, Sanders told NBA.com. But I believe in mari -juana and the medical side of it.

Now, only a few years removed from Sanders exodus, Randolph and other NBA players stand to benefit from the leagues newly progressive attitude.

the nBa BeinG one of the Most ProGressive leaGues in the country, iM not surPrised wed Be the first to actually leGaliZe it.

ViNce ca Rte R

20-year NBa veteraN

Who the f--- are these guys? continued from page 29

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