The NBA Draft Lottery is less than a week away and the Sacramento Kings have an open invitation to New York. Who should represent the franchise at next Tuesday’s gathering out east? There are numerous options and in no particular order, we’ve compiled a list below with some suggestions.
Vivek Ranadivé
Why? The leader of the new ownership group. Ranadivé has major plans of revamping the franchise and revitalizing California’s state capital with his fellow private investors.
Mayor Kevin Johnson
Why? Without him, the Kings probably would’ve bolted Sacramento two years ago. As a point-guard-turned-politician, Johnson had the connections to the NBA, local and state legislators and big business leaders to end this saga with a happy ending for Sacramento.
Carmichael Dave
Why? For a month, he drove cross country to NBA cities in an RV, spreading the word about Sacramento’s story. Despite losing his radio job a year ago, Dave didn’t let that setback stop him growing his online presence to help lead the fan grassroots movement.
Grant Napear
Why? One of the faces of Kings’ broadcasts for the last two-plus decades. He used his radio platform to energize the fanbase and they followed suit by taking action and not giving up.
Barbara Rust AKA the Sacramento Kings Sign Lady
Why? An icon of Kings fans. Jason Thompson told Rust and her husband recently that he would campaign for her to represent the team in New York. But if you ask Rust, she’d humbly defer the honor to Ranadivé.
Kevin Fippin and Ed Montes
Why? The Kings of social media. These two fans came up with the idea to send underprivleged youth to two Kings games this season and used social media to turn the effort into a reality. Also, hilarious tweets would ensue from the Sactown Royalty Twitter account if Fippin somehow made it out to New York.
Mitch Richmond
Why? Part of the old guard and new guard (no pun intended). Richmond played the prime of his career in Sacramento and now is part of the ownership group that’s helped keep his legacy intact.
Mike Tavares
Why? The general of Crown Downtown. Their white shirts have become synonymous with the grassroots movements in Sacramento. You’d likely see Tavares sporting one along with his signature military cap on the ESPN broadcast.
Gary Gerould
Why? Napear may be one of the faces of Kings’ broadcasts, but the G-Man is the voice. The radio play-by-play man has called over 2,000 games in his illustrious career, which ranks him in the top five in longevity among NBA broadcasters.
Jerry Reynolds
Why? No one has been with the franchise longer. Reynolds came with the Kings from Kansas City and has become a beloved figure in the Sacramento community.
Honorable mentions: Isaiah Thomas (if there was no resolution on the Kings’ future, would’ve ideally represented both Sacramento and Seattle), Mark Mastrov (one of the original “whales”), Phil Oates (an enthusiastic and passionate local investor), Jason Thompson (the Kings’ longest-tenured player)
Do you agree with the list or did we miss anyone? Feel free to leave suggestions below.
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