Category: Sacramento Kings Blog

Kings blog – Sacramento Kings basektball blog

Peja Stojakovic steps down as Sacramento Kings Assistant General Manager

The Sacramento Kings announced today that Peja Stojakovic has stepped down as Assistant General Manager.

“It has been a great joy and honor to work in the Kings front office for the past five years,” said Peja Stojakovic. “I want to thank the organization and especially the incredible fans around the world for the support over the years. Sacramento will always be home to me and I wish the franchise nothing but the very best.”

“We are deeply appreciative to Peja for his contributions and commitment to the Kings and to the city of Sacramento both as a legend and as an executive,” said Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “Peja is a pillar of the community and he will always remain a part of our Kings family. We wish him and his family all the best in the future.”

Since 2015, the former Kings standout has served in various front office executive roles, including as Assistant General Manager for the past two seasons and prior to that as Vice President of Basketball and Team Development.

Vlade Divac steps down as Sacramento Kings GM; Joe Dumars named interim replacement

The Sacramento Kings announced today that Vlade Divac has stepped down as General Manager. In the interim, Joe Dumars has been named Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and will immediately assume General Manager duties.

“This was a difficult decision, but we believe it is the best path ahead as we work to build a winning team that our loyal fans deserve,” said Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “We are thankful for Vlade’s leadership, commitment and hard work both on and off the court. He will always be a part of our Kings family.”

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the General Manager for the Kings,” said Vlade Divac. “I want to thank Vivek for the opportunity and recognize all of the incredible colleagues who I had the great pleasure of working with during my tenure. Sacramento and the Kings will always hold a special place in my heart and I wish them all the best moving forward.”

The team will work with Dumars to develop a long-term strategy for the organization’s basketball operations structure, to include a search for a permanent General Manager. No further personnel decisions will be made until a new General Manager is in place.

“Joe has become a trusted and valued advisor since joining the team last year, and I am grateful to have him take on this role at an important time for the franchise,” said Ranadivé.

In June 2019, Dumars was named Special Advisor to the General Manager and has over 30 years of NBA experience both as a player and front office executive in addition to an extensive executive business background.

Health update on Kings guard De’Aaron Fox

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, who sustained a left ankle sprain during practice on July 15, continues to make progress and has returned to on-court, non-contact basketball activities. Fox is ruled out for tonight’s scrimmage vs. the Miami Heat and his return to game action will be updated as appropriate.

A third-year guard and fifth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, Fox is averaging 20.4 points (.475 FG%, .307 3pt%, .703 FT%), 4.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 31.7 minutes per game in 45 games (43 starts) for the Kings during the 2019-20 season.

Kings forward Marvin Bagley out with foot injury

During an intra-squad scrimmage on July 19, Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III sustained a right foot injury. Evaluation of his MRI results by a foot specialist today confirmed a lateral right foot sprain.

The team has decided to hold Bagley III out for the remainder of the season.

Here’s the Sacramento Bee:

This represents the latest setback for a player who has appeared in only 75 games over two seasons since the Kings selected him with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft following his freshman year at Duke. His second season has been especially difficult for the 21-year-old big man.

Bagley missed 22 games after breaking his thumb in the season opener against the Phoenix Suns in October. His return to action lasted only eight games before he suffered a left midfoot sprain that caused him to miss 29 of the last 33 games before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

During the 2019-20 season, Bagley III has accrued averages of 14.2 points (.467 FG%, .806 FT%), 7.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 25.7 minutes per game in 13 games (6 starts) for the Kings during the 2019-20 season.

Kings guard De’Aaron Fox out with sprained ankle

An MRI conducted this evening in Orlando, Fla. on Kings guard De’Aaron Fox confirmed that he sustained a left ankle sprain during practice today. He will be reevaluated in 7-10 days and his status will be updated as appropriate.

A third-year guard and fifth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, Fox is averaging 20.4 points (.475 FG%, .307 3pt%, .703 FT%), 4.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 31.7 minutes per game in 45 games (43 starts) for the Kings during the 2019-20 season.

Kings center Richaun Holmes put into 10-day quarantine

Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting on a Kings player who made a mistake that hopefully no player will make again in the coming months:

The Kings will be without a key player over the next several days as they prepare to resume the Western Conference playoff race at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida.

Kings center Richaun Holmes said he was placed under mandatory 10-day quarantine after leaving the NBA bubble for food. Holmes issued a statement Monday, apologizing for breaking COVID-19 protocols.

“After the initial quarantine period, I briefly and accidentally crossed the NBA campus line to pick up a food delivery,” Holmes said. “I am currently in quarantine and have 8 days left. I apologize for my actions and look forward to rejoining my teammates for our playoff push.”

Kings will restart the 2019-20 NBA season vs Spurs July 31

The Sacramento Kings will restart the 2019-20 NBA season in Orlando at the Walt Disney World Resort as one of 22 returning teams to play eight “seeding games” as selected from its remaining regular-season schedule, beginning with a matchup against DeMar DeRozan and the San Antonio Spurs on July 31 at 5pm PDT. The seeding games are part of the NBA competitive format plan, featuring the eight teams in each conference with the highest current winning percentages and the six teams that are currently within six games of the eighth seed in either conference.

All Kings seeding games are listed below and will be broadcast on NBC Sports California (NBCSCA) and Sports 1140 KHTK. Fans can also watch the Kings take on 2019 No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans on August 11 at 6pm PDT in a nationally televised game on TNT.

“We are looking forward to this opportunity in Orlando, and getting back to playing the game we love,” said Kings Head Coach Luke Walton. “We continue to work with the NBA to prioritize health and safety, while recognizing our responsibility to use our platform to bring attention and drive sustained action to issues of racial injustice.”

“We are thankful for the chance to restart the season while also remaining focused on using our platform to make a positive difference and drive meaningful change in our community,” said Kings General Manager Vlade Divac. “We continue collaborating with the league as we all work to resume play in a safe and responsible manner.”

SACRAMENTO KINGS 2019-20 SEEDING GAMES SCHEDULE

(All Times Listed in PDT)

Game 1: Friday, July 31, 5 PM: Kings at San Antonio Spurs (NBCSCA, KHTK)

Game 2: Sunday, August 2, 3 PM: Kings at Orlando Magic (NBCSCA, NBATV, KHTK)

Game 3: Tuesday, August 4, 11:30 AM: Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks (NBCSCA, KHTK)

Game 4: Thursday, August 6, 10:30 AM: Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans (NBCSCA, NBATV, KHTK)

Game 5: Friday, August 7, 2 PM: Kings at Brooklyn Nets (NBCSCA, KHTK)

Game 6: Sunday, August 9, 5 PM: Kings vs. Houston Rockets (NBCSCA, KHTK)

Game 7: Tuesday, August 11, 6 PM: Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans (NBCSCA, TNT, KHTK)

Game 8: Thursday, August 13, Time TBD: Kings at Los Angeles Lakers (NBCSCA, KHTK)

Following the seeding games, the seven teams in each conference with the highest combined winning percentages across regular-season games and seeding games will be the first through seventh seeds for the NBA Playoffs for that conference. If the team with the eighth-best combined winning percentage (regular-season games and seeding games) in a conference is more than four games ahead of the team with the ninth-best combined winning percentage in the same conference, then the team with the eighth-best winning percentage would be the eighth playoff seed in that conference.

If the team with the eighth-best combined winning percentage in a conference (Team 8) is four games or fewer ahead of the team with the ninth-best combined winning percentage in the same conference (Team 9), then those two teams would compete in a play-in tournament to determine the eighth playoff seed in the conference. The play-in tournament will be double elimination for Team 8 and single elimination for Team 9.

The NBA’s standard playoff tiebreaker procedures will be used to break any ties on the basis of winning percentage. Once the 16-team playoff field is set, the NBA Playoffs will proceed in a traditional conference-based format with four rounds and best-of-seven series in each round. The 2020 NBA Finals will end no later than Oct. 13.

Kings hire Gary Gerould as interim TV play-by-play announcer

The Sacramento Kings announced today that broadcasting icon Gary Gerould has been named the team’s interim TV play-by-play announcer for the remainder of the 2019-20 NBA season. Affectionately known among Kings players, personnel, fans and throughout the NBA as “The G-Man,” Gerould will call the historic game action in Orlando with Kings TV color analyst and Kings Legend Doug Christie virtually from Golden 1 Center when the season resumes on NBC Sports California, the exclusive home of Kings basketball.

Jason Ross, currently the pregame, halftime and postgame host on Kings Radio, will take over the team’s play-by-play duties on the team’s partner station Sports 1140 KHTK in the interim. Ross has been a member of the Kings radio broadcast team for 25 years, participating in over 2,000 Kings radio broadcasts, and is also the sports director for KHTK where he has served in a variety of capacities at the station since 1994.

Over the coming months, the organization will conduct a formal search for the team’s new, permanent TV play-by-play announcer to begin in the 2020-21 season.

“G-Man is a true legend and has been the ‘Voice of the Kings’ on both radio and TV from the day the team arrived in Sacramento in 1985, so it is natural for him to assume this role through the rest of the season,” said Kings President of Business Operations John Rinehart. “I stand with Kings fans around the world, players past and present and all associated with this franchise, in saying we have had the distinct honor of enjoying Gary’s trademark style and signature calls since this team began calling the Capital City home. We are also excited to have Jason fill in for G-Man on radio, and look forward to his energy, excitement and deep knowledge of the team as we take the court in Orlando.”

“Gary Gerould is one of the most accomplished and respected play-by-play announcers in the NBA, and his decades-long association with the Sacramento Kings has given him an unsurpassed connection with the team and the community,” said Matt Murphy, Senior Vice President and General Manager of NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California. “We are thrilled to welcome G-Man to NBC Sports California and look forward to him sharing his passion for the game with our viewers.”

“I’m so pleased to have this opportunity and excited to be alongside Doug to call the team’s return to the court in Orlando,” said Gary Gerould. “It is an absolute joy to return to the game I love and welcome the challenge of once again calling Kings game action on TV. I am grateful to the organization for entrusting me to resume the season and deeply appreciative to all the Kings fans for their tremendous support over the years.”

“I am so excited about this opportunity provided by the Sacramento Kings and really look forward to calling the restart of this unprecedented season,” said Jason Ross. “I am also thrilled to see the pairing of the G-Man with Doug Christie on TV. Having worked with Gary for 25 seasons, who has been a mentor and a role model, I accept the challenge of filling his big shoes.”

First NBA signing in a long time: Kings sign Corey Brewer

The Sacramento Kings have signed guard/forward Corey Brewer, according to General Manager Vlade Divac.

The 13-year league veteran, NBA Champion (2011) and two-time NCAA Champion (2006 & 2007) returns to Sacramento following his first stint on the team during the 2018-19 season. In February 2019, Brewer signed back-to-back 10-day contracts with the Kings before re-signing through the rest of the season.

Over 24 games for the Kings, Brewer averaged 4.1 points (.446 FG%, .333 3pt%, .733 FT%) and 1.2 assists in 14.7 minutes per contest. Throughout 814 career games (310 starts), Brewer has amassed averages of 8.7 points (.425 FG%, .284 3pt%, .713 FT%), 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 23.0 minutes per game with the Minnesota Timberwolves (2007-11, 2013-14), Dallas Mavericks (2010-11), Houston Rockets (2014-17), Los Angeles Lakers (2016-18), Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-18), Philadelphia 76ers (2018-19) and Kings (2018-19).

While with the Timberwolves, Brewer registered his career-high 51 points versus Houston (4/11/14), joining Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson and Rick Barry as the only players to record 50 or more points and at least six steals in a game, while also becoming the sixth player in NBA history to score 50 or more points without having scored at least 30 points previously.

Sacramento Kings designate Juneteenth as an annual paid holiday

The Sacramento Kings today announced the designation of a company-wide annual paid holiday to observe Juneteenth on Friday, June 19, the oldest nationally celebrated holiday commemorating emancipation from slavery in the United States.

“We are proud to celebrate Juneteenth, honoring Black history and further committing ourselves to creating positive meaningful change,” said Sacramento Kings Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis. “The Kings remain dedicated to working with our community to address racial inequity through sustained action.”

Per the team, the anniversary will provide Kings members with an opportunity to reflect, learn more about addressing racial inequity and participate in civic engagement.