Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, moved to Sac in 2001, and prefer to be here for awhile. I’m a Kings fan because of Pete Carrill’s Princeton offense, and the joy of seeing a team of elite athletes whip the ball around at ridiculous speeds to get open shots. It just looked like they were having fun.

I’m still a Kings fan because of another guy from Ohio, and because I really think a solid nucleus is being built here that will be a lot of fun to watch for many years.

I also await the day they can that hack, Grant Napear, and let Koz do the play-by-play. And if Jerry ever wants to leave, that Kayte Christensen has some analyst skills.

I could turn this into a love note to Kayte, but I’m not gonna do it.

Grew up in Sac, and started rooting for the team lukewarmly in 1990. (I remember Lionel Simmons coming to my elementary school in a sweatsuit. Not sure why I remember, but I remember.) By 1993 I was interested in the team, and for some reason, maybe Geoff Petrie had a lot to do with this, I started following the team pretty closely from 1994 on.

The worst memory I have of this team is watching Robert Whorey beat us with that crappalicious shot in 2002, but I’m pretty sure Stockton’s shot to beat us in 1999 was equally as bad. I became a better fan in my 20’s (i had more access), and now, here we are.

I come to StR to relieve my stress on the Kings, and get peace that isn’t available, in Sac, or anywhere else. Last but not least, I’m going to do one better than Andy. If Gary Gerould and Kayte Christensen hook up in the TV booth, that’s immediate Tivo time. (Better than Koz & Kayte in my humble opinion.)

….my folks were thrilled when the Kings moved to Sac. I used to go see Larry Bird, Jordan, Barkley, etc. growing up. A kid in my grade school used to do modeling for the Kings in the mid 80s so Reggie came to my grade school a couple times. Got the 4 1990 first round pick autographs on a basketball that my dad ran over when I was 12. Moved to San Francisco during 2000 and watched the Webber knee injury, Horry shot and the glory years from SF and Santa Cruz (college). StR is by far the best Kings site and I love the analysis, other members’ passion and fine lookin’ layout of this space.

Hi, I’m from Spain and I always live in the same city: Palencia.
I’m a fan of Kings since C-Webb, J-Will-Divac, Christie, Stojakovic…and now my blog is a “church” of Sacramento Kings.

Grew up a football fan first, so when the Kings moved to town in 85 I was indifferent (was also just in the 6th grade). But the next year I started watching them on TV and got hooked. Used to also listen to them on the radio and would shoot nerf hoops during homework breaks while hearing about the Tizzy Flip…cried after each loss (cried a lot during those times!) Went to games at Arco (remember Dwayne Schintzius looking really big and untalented, and watching Greg Kite block a rookie Shaq dunk, which Shaq rebounded and then dunked on his head)…Chilly Willy…remember seeing a player on my (Valley High School) JV football team wearing a R.I.P. Ricky Berry note he wrote on his helmet (also remember being bullyed by Rae Carruth during gym class, and also thankful I didn’t get run over by him one time we were playing a pickup football game)…going out to meet Mitch and the 4 first rounders at the Train Museum for autographs…Mitch was always the classiest guy….rooting for guys like Dennis Hopson, Randy Brown, Les Jepsen, LaBradford Smith, Vinny Del Negro, Rodney McCray….

Had to put up with a Laker fan/studio apartment roommate in college for two years (Cal Poly, SLO), lived in Vancouver BC the year after they lost the Grizzlies and watched Horry sink that dagger 3 (with the assist from Vlade), lived in Florence, Italy during the 1998-99 year when JWill/Chris and Vlade surprised the league, livedin San Francisco and had to take BART to see Warriors/Kings games in Oakland, lived in Boston when the RedSox won their first of the recent World Series’ and learned about “East Coast Bias” and having to stay up hella late to watch West Coast games, now living in Los Angeles while going to UCLA for an MFA and playing pick up games at the John Wooden Center, getting schooled by young bucks.

I guess I stick with the Kings cuz I love my hometown and all my friends and family that are still there. And heck, its been a long time.

Born in Sacramento in 1984. The Kings were so impressed with my birth that they moved to Sacramento the following year. How could I not like them?

My first game at Arco was April 18th, 1991 against the visiting Denver Nuggets. I couldn’t tell you about the game, but I still have those tickets, hung proudly in my kitchen. I’ve always loved basketball, and in Sacramento that meant cheering for the Kings. I went through a phase where I so frustrated with ownership that I swore off the Kings. Honestly, what kind of kid cares enough in middle school to be frustrated with the direction of the organization? I dabbled with the Charlotte Hornets. I was a very short kid, and Muggsey Bogues gave me hope. I quickly realized that it wasn’t going to work, and I was going to be stuck as a Kings fan.

I moved to Colorado ten years ago. It ain’t easy being a Kings fan here, but I know better than to dabble with other teams. I go to Nuggets games just because I love experiencing live basketball games, but my favorite games are still when the Kings come to town. I’m very excited for the January 20th game. I decided to treat myself to some front-row, lower-level tickets. And you can bet your ass I’ll be fanposting about the experience.

I remain a Kings fan because nothing else feels right. The Nuggets are a fun team to cheer for, and I love going to games, but my heart isn’t in it. No matter how heartbreaking it may be to be a Kings fan, I know that it’ll all be worth it when the good times comes again.

formerly known as “beans”.

I first declared the Kings as the team for me two years ago my sophomore year when I really started getting into sports

I remember flipping on NBA Live 07 picking the 83 overall rated Kings and never looking back. There’s no real reason why, there’s just something about the small franchise Kings that feels right.

I started out as nothing more than a casual fan cheering against my cousin when the Kings faced the Lakers, but this past year I stepped it up a notch spending my free time in class hitting up sactownroyalty and basing my after school activities on whether or not the kings are playing.

Pre-Kings Laker fan- Magic was always my favorite but I converted when the Kings moved to Sac. I started going to games a lot in my late teens, I even hitch hiked into the stadium a couple of time to save on parking and I would buy standing room only tickets for $6. When I was 19, my friends and I bought season tickets (1994-95)- section 207 row J, cost- $387 with preseason included. I had gone to 20 games the year before but the season I had my tickets I made it to every game except Toronto while commuting from Grass Valley.

I once sang Teddy Bear by Elvis Presley in the Karaoke booth at Incredible Universe (now Fry’s Electronics) with Olden Polynese. I have autographed Michael Smith, Lionel Simmons and Lawrence Funderburke rookie cards to name a few. Until last season I shared season tickets with a friend, attending 10-15 games a year but I now have two young sons- 15 months and 5 years and it’s too expensive and too hectic to attend games with the fam. Between Tivo/DVR, radio and attending games I have maybe missed a handful of games over the last decade.

Raised – Sac, Gonna die – Not Sac

Became a Kings fan when Greg Lukenbill bought the team. So I guess I was a Kansas City Kings fan 1st. Still a Kings fan because you can’t change teams.

by way of Ridgecrest CA. Probably never heard of it. Southern CA in the high desert. In high school I used to go to the LA Sports Arena to see Clipper games as my sister’s company used to get season tickets directly behind the players bench. Basketball is the best sport in the world to watch live. Didn’t watch as much basketball after high school as I was pursuing baseball dreams and women. Ended up dating my wife when I lived down south and she lived in Roseville back in 1999. I would drive up on my days off and I was just blown away about how the community supported the Kings. My stepkids had Kings colors days in school throughout the playoffs. Everywhere you went people were talking Kings basketball. So when I moved here later that year, I started following the team. What a great era of Kings basketball to start following the team from.

The glory years were great, but it is awesome following the transition from a great basketball team to a team that is rebuilding with an very talented youthful core. Sacramento is too good of an organization to repeat less then mediocrity year after year much like the Clippers. I look forward to the coming years with a talented young team and salary cap space. Sprinkle in a all star vet. like oh, i dunno, Chris Bosh, and I believe the magic will return to ARCO and the buzz in the community will be there as strong as ever.

NYC for my childhood. Starting playing and at the same time it was the 69-70 New York Knickerbockers (yeah, I am an antique). Clyde, Willis, Dabe Debuschere, Bill Bradley, Fall back Baby! Dick Barnett as the starting five which also featured a gangly garbage time player, #18, Phil Jackson. Coached by Red Holzman. It was “hit the open man” team basketball and I fell head over heals as they beat the Lakers with Baylor, Chamberlain and Mr. Clutch (now known as the Logo) on a black and white TV. First pro game I ever went to was the first game of the first round playoffs at Madison Square Garden – Knicks vs. the Baltimore Bullets – double overtime, Earl the Pearl, Wes Unseld and crew. The most perfect match up, player to player I have ever seen. But this is not about basketball history…

Grew up overseas for HS, back to the States for the rest. So folks, I have seen a ton of games. I have followed the Kings since they arrived at Old Arco, 1984 with the wooden flooring in the stands and the place would rumble. I was a local spectator, new to the area, not a committed fan until GM Petrie and Coach Adelman and Coachie Carrill molded the Kings team into a “hit the open man” offensive juggernaut, a thing of beauty. The 2001 playoffs were exhilirating from the first minute and remain one of the highlights of my spectator-filled days. You couldn’t sit down and watch those games. I would yell at my TV (a lot of “shut ups” to one of the best BBall players ever – announcer Bill Walton). I took any affront against those Kings personally (shame on you Chuck Barkley). Vlade, Webber, JWill/Bibby, Christie, young Peja/young Hedo, BJax were of a special chemistry that is unusual in professional sports and the embrace that cradled this city and this area was unique. That team and that style of play is long gone, but I look forward to seeing winning basketball return to Sacramento.

I am currently living halfway between Kings and Warriors country so I steal off to Oracle every now and again. I was a Kings partial season ticket holder for their first 12 seasons but with a change in my address and commitments to work and family I have had NBA league pass since. I still manage to go to Arco on occassion. I will be at the Dec 9 game next.
I have a dinner bet with one of my buds where best regular season gets treated (I take the Kings and the last few seasons have been expensive, he has good taste). Sadly, this year will be interesting as both teams are troubled.

I will again thank those involved in establishing this website – you are doing wonderful work. We would love to learn the stories of those dedicated fans that make this all possible.

It’s nice to have the opportunity to introduce ourselves here. You know the one thing I love about this community is that there’s a really friendly atmosphere. This is rare in forums/blogs etc, especially the ones that have to do with sports. So…

I am from the other side of the globe, Athens, Greece. I love the NBA and basketball in general since I was around 10 in the early 90s. Until 1998 I wasn’t rooting for any team in particular. That was the year when Peja left Greece and moved to Sacramento. Although he was a rival to my home team I always admired him. I also loved J-Will back in his best days and Divac’s super high basketball IQ… so I started playing the Kings in my NBA LIVE seasons and I fell in love with them.

However, it wasn’t until Bibby joined Sacramento when I really started to watch many games. I got obsessed with the team in all those series with the Mavs, Lakers etc. I still remember I couldn’t sleep in that cursed 2002 night vs the Lakers and I could only “watch” the game in text and listen to it in audio streaming.

A bit after that I bought a couple of Kings t-shirts from the NBA store and you know how it is… when you receive a “gift” from 6000 miles away, it means something more to you, it’s precious. It kind of be became official inside me that I am a Kings’ fan. Anyway, It’s not just they players or our playoff runs that made me love the team. It’s the whole community. I’ve always been reading (since I have no direct experience) that Sacramento had some of the most loyal and noisy fans. The past few years, I became more active as a fan and as time passes by I feel that I’m falling deeper into the hole. I don’t care if we’re losing or if Hawes never becomes better than Troy Murphy. I’ll be a Kings fan for life.

born and raised in Yuba City, CA-about an hour north of Sac- and currently living and going to school in Chico, CA.

If anyone is in Chico holla at me and we’ll watch some games together, because I keep seeing a bunch of scrubs walking around school wearing “Evil Empire” stuff and it gets kind of annoying. I haven’t seen any Kings fans here-NONE!!! I mean its Northern California, why the hell isn’t there any Kings fans.

I became a Kings fan when I was a little kid, but I started paying attention when I was about 9 years old, which coincidentally was Chris Webber’s first year.

lived in San Jose, moved to Foresthill and now I live in Auburn, about to move again because I am attending UC Santa Cruz next year.

Started following the team because I saw a game with Vernon Maxwell and I just really liked the way he played.
Then came the glory years

I never looked back.

the best..thread…ever.

Should let you know where I live now.

I was born in Kansas City, MO. I moved with my family to Chico, CA in 1985 and lived there until my wife and I moved to Portland in 2004. We lived there 2 years then moved to Seattle after a short stint back in Chico.

I haven’t always been a diehard fan. Like so many I became obsessed back in the golden age when they made it to 7 games against the Lakers. Good, bad, just plain ugly, I try to watch every game I can.

I’m pissed about the Sonics leaving Seattle because now I don’t have a team that the Kings can own on the road anymore. I have to go to the Rose Garden in Portland and that hasn’t gone so well for them historically (even though every game I saw them play against Portland at the Rose Garden when I lived there, they won).

I may be moving back to Nor Cal soon as the company I work for has gone under. We’ll see what happens. Best part about it aside from being close to friends and family, is that I’ll get to see every game again without League Pass or some laggy web stream.

Born: Paradise, California
Hometown: Oroville, California (no methamphetamines involved thank you)
Other: Provo, Utah; Sao Paulo, Brazil
Current: Lodi, CA (and UOP McGeorge student)

The franchise’s move to Sac nearly coincided with my birth. Like many, I’ve been a fan since the preMaloof 90’s dominated by mediocrity and Jim Thomas’ shallow purse. Specifically remember being at a Kings-Blazers OT game when Rasheed Wallace went off for 40+ but The Rock countered w/ an equally impressive game and won the game catching an alleyoop inbounds pass from Billy Owens as time expired. Being a Kings fan is part of my identity…

Worst moment: Divac tipping the ball to Horry…

Born in So Cal, moved to Roseville while I was in Jr. High. Graduated from Oakmont. Have lived in Sacramento area, Bay area, the greater Chicagoland area, and now in a small Utah town that vaguely resembles a Norman Rockwell painting.

Didn’t really care much about professional sports except baseball until I got married. I was an Angels fan, SB was/is an A’s fan. The two teams played each other while we were on our honeymoon and we’d bet on the games. I lost every time, so I became an A’s fan.

SB was also a Kings fan, so I’d watch the games with him. We got season tickets when we’d been married a few years, back in the Mitch Richmond era. We lost a lot of games, but I was hooked.

Then came the sudden and immediate rebuild, when we got Vlade, Webber, JWill, and the games got good, then great.

I love the game, I love the players, and I watch every game, the good ones stay on my DVR until I’ve watched them a few more times.

And even though I know in my head that I’m just another League Pass subscriber, in my heart I believe that the Kings are MY team and they stand a better chance of winning if I’m watching the game and yelling at the players, coaches and refs through my television.

Born and raised in Loomis (a little town between Roseville and Auburn on I80). Went down to UCSB for college. Moved to NYC this summer.

Basketball has been my favorite sport for as long as I can remember, so naturally I was a Kings fan as soon as I was old enough to follow sports. Survived the Garry St. Jean years with a variety of coping strategies, like picking the Pacers as my co-favorite team. I really fell head over heels when the Kings drafted my idol, Tyus Edney and I closely followed those Richmond-led teams with Edney, Michael “The Animal” Smith, Corrliss, Brian Grant, The Wizard, L-Train, OP, Duane Causwell, etc.

Miraculously, the Kings became the most entertaining and, eventually, the best team in the NBA, thereby cementing my permanent fanhood. I’m still here because every now and again Martin, Hawes, JT, Bobby B, and the rest of this motley crew remind me of just how fun it was to watch the development of a great Kings team from 99-04.

that means S Palin can see the asshole from her back yard, LOL I crack myself up sometimes

Born here pre-Camelot. I’ve had the opportunity to watch Stormin’ Gorman Thomas launch homreuns over the 230’ left field fence (augmented with 60’ high screen) at Hughes Stadium. I watched the Sacramento Surge play in the World League of American Football, as well as the Sacramento Gold Miners of the CFL – both teams called Hornet Field (now Anderson Field) their home.

My earliest basketball memory was watching Lew Alcindor at UCLA, and I became a Bucks fan when Milwaukee drafted him. A year later I was very confused to review the agate type boxscores in the Bee, only to find that Alcindor had been replaced by some guy named Jabbar, though the guy was sure filling it up. Almost a month later I learned that Alcindor had changed his name.

I used to drive down to Oakland to catch the Warriors, and it seemed that every time that I went Geroge Gervin was finger rollin’ 40+ on the poor Dubs.

When Jabbar was traded to the LA I became a Lakers fan, and that was cemented with the arrival of Magic Johnson, even though Magic was the first pro athlete that was younger than me, a rather depressing transition in life.

When the Kings arrived it seemed that they played in a different NBA than the Lakers, so I retained dual citizenship until Jabbar retired. I have shared season tickets since the first year at the new (now old) gas pump, and have had them in name since ’95.

The Kings have replaced the SF Giants as my sports mistress, and sometimes my day is severly impacted by how my beloved/beloathed Kings play. It’s a sickness, but at least I know that I am not occupying the ward by myself.

I was born and raised in Hayward, CA but since all we had was the Cliipers-North (Warriors) to root for I was never much of a hoops fan. Let’s just say I could pick Jordan out of a crowd, but not Dominique. Lived in Nashville, TN for about 9 years and saw that the Sacramento Kin gs had made the playoffs! WTF?!?!?! I said t myself. I watched every game of that series vs the Jazz (97-98????) with Vlade just missing the series winner at the end. I’ve been a fan since.

Now I reside in North Sac and haven’t missed a televised Kings game in years. So, while I may not be as intellectual (or as old) as Section…I’m a die hard fan now!

Born in California, grew up in Loomis, went to D.O. with a few other notable StR members (furious.d, and Original ballboy). Shout out to beevenator as well, a friend from Granite Bay.

I mostly idolized the 49ers, but really caught on to the Kings when Jason Williams started passing off his elbow and launching ridiculous threes.

Over the years I progressively became more and more entrenched with the team. I realized I was truly sick during the playoff game against Minnesota when Peja hit a go-ahead three. I screamed loudly to the dismay of local Laker Fans seated next to me in the dorms of San Diego State. I fought 5 long hard years of Laker insults in So Cal before deciding to move closer to home in Walnut Creek.

I’m thankful for having discovered this site about 2 years ago. Thankful for the fact the Kings have a sense of direction, and exciting youth. Thankful for having a job during these times.

I grew up in South Sac, so becoming a Kings fan happened naturally. I remember in elementary and junior high we would have a field trip every year to Kings games in the nose-bleed sections, so it isn’t hard to become a fan when you grew up here.

Like a lot of people I knew growing up, I didn’t really appreciate the Kings or realize how great it is to have an NBA franchise in your back yard until we got Webber, Vlade, and the rest, and actually became a contender. Now I follow the NBA Draft and watch every Kings game that I can. Football is still my favorite sport, but as long as they remain in Sacramento, the Kings are my home town team and will always have a special place in my heart.

That the KIngs have been in Sacramento longer than they’ve been in any other stop. So much for being a small out of the way cowtown that was just in between frisco & tahoe eh?

Born and raised in Lima, Peru. I started getting into basketball during the end of the Jordan era. I clearly remember where I was when MJ crossed Russell and hit the shot for the Bulls’ 6th championship. From then on I remember always trying to catch the end of the Friday night ESPN game they had in cable. I became a fan of three teams then: Blazers, Spurs, and Kings. I guess that’s when my Lakers hate began, when they swept all three in 2001 (if I remember correctly)

In 01 I moved to the US and landed in Modesto, CA. The Kings won me over with their style and I’ve been a crazy fan since. I have a soccer fan background so I’m as crazy as it gets when it comes to the Kings.

I live in Davis now (just graduated from UCD in June) and hope to go to as many Kings games as possible (it would help if I could find a freaking job). I’m one of the optimistic fans who’s gonna follow this team through good and bad and I’m staying optimistic about out future. The great times will feel even better after going through this rebuilding years.

then moved to Miami for college (had a class with John Salmons and I was the only person in the class who knew who he was at the football school) and now live in China, near Shanghai. I have been a fan since I was three and the Kings moved to Sacramento. My Dad has had season tickets since then and my brother and I (Out of Service Pervis) have literally grown up with the team. The amount of Kings trivia knowlege we know is sickening, and the amount of jerseys/ basketball cards we have is idiotic.
  My favorite Kings moment was Bibby’s game 5 shot. Favorite personal moments are being the originator of the “OP Sucks” chant during his first game back against the kings when he was playing for Seattle, a chant that got renewed every time he stepped back in Arco until he retired. Least favorite moments all involve the Lakers and I don’t want to talk about them.
  Least qualified NBA player I have ever seen has to be Randy Breuer, who had a comb over and looked like more of a threat to balance my budget than run a fast break. The most exciting player I have ever seen is Jason Williams, and the most physically talented has to be Ron Artest. Most failed potential would be Kenny Thomas and the player to do the most with the least has to be Jim Les.
  Kings are having a horrible season but they will be back.

I’ve also lived in Guatemala and Provo, Utah.

I was always a Kings fan as a little kid, but in (I think) ‘88, my dad took me to my first game. The Kings played the Blazers (RIP Kevin Duckworth). I knew it was going to be a magical night when it snowed in Sacramento for the first time that I had ever seen (I was eight years old). In the game, coach Jerry Reynolds passed out on the sidelines and fell to the floor. He was even called for a technical foul by one of the refs, who thought he was mocking the refereeing. Eventually, everybody realized that he wasn’t faking it, and they wheeled him out on a stretcher and took him to the hospital. The Kings won the game on a buzzer-beater by Harold Pressley. It was the most exciting thing I had ever seen in my life.

Every 2 or three years, my dad took each of his kids to a game, and the Kings always won. Arco’s always been good to the Kings. I remember getting so excited when the Kings were up on the big, bad Malone/Stockton Jazz. The game where Stockton hit the game winner to silence the loudest crowd I’d ever heard was the first time they ever lost a game I went to. I was part of a group of people that went to the airport to cheer for the team as they got back from losing the series to the Jazz. We were so proud of our guys for playing so hard and bringing exciting playoff basketball to Sacramento.

I remember countless days and nights that I spent out on my half-court at home, listening to the radio broadcasts of games while shooting three pointers. I even mimicked Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf’s Tourette’s Syndrome by making myself swish 10 turn-around three-pointers in a row. I’d close my eyes and imagine that I was Mitch Richmond and shoot. And shoot. And shoot. I would go back inside after having shot the ball for the whole broadcast of the game. Wayman Tisdale was my favorite player until Mitch came along. It’s hard to explain my love for players like Abdul-Rauf, Sarunas Marciulionis, Michael “The Animal” Smith, Lawrence Funderburke, and Walt Williams. It’s easy to know why I loved Peja, Vlade, J-Will and C-Webb. I once watched J-Will score 15 points in a couple minutes on a barrage of 30-foot three-pointers.

I moved to Guatemala for two years and didn’t get to watch the Kings during their epic battle with the Lakers. But my brother sent me clippings from the Sacramento Bee sports page (Kriedler, etc.), and I mourned the losses. I frequently looked in Guatemalan newspapers for any information they had about the Kings. Even though I couldn’t watch them, they were always on my mind.

After Guatemala, I lived in Utah for 4 years, and didn’t get to see them play unless the games were broadcasted nationally. But I didn’t follow them any less passionately. I left a dent in our metal apartment door from my shoe (which I threw after the refs blew the game on a missed goaltending call for the second time that week). The neighbors even went to my wife’s work to check on her to make sure I wasn’t yelling at and beating her. We were both yelling at the refs.

The Kings haven’t given me a ton to cheer about. It’s hard to stay interested about the day-to-day happenings when you can’t see them play. And I’ll never see them play out here unless I happen to be in a town with high-speed internet (which we don’t have on our tiny Japanese island). But I check every box score and get excited to see the numbers that Shock and Hawes are throwing up. I think Kevin Martin is the most underrated player in the league. I cheered when Artest was traded (he was talented, but truly a black hole on offense), and am excited to see what the young guys can do.

Born in Woodland, CA …. live in Dixon, Ca …… been a Kings fan since I was about 10 (I’m 28 now). I knew I was hooked when I was writing Jim Les a fan letter. Got some super cool Kings stickers in return.

My favorite moment was my very first Kings game i ever went to. It was a playoff game against the Mavericks. I believe it was the series where C-Webb blew his knee out. Kings won that game. The atmosphere was unbelievable, and well worth the $120 bucks a ticket for section 210, row G. Totally cool when they busted out the black lights and Been to about 5-6 other games, and loved every minute of it. going to the Knicks game in 2 weeks, and i can’t wait.

I’ll always remember where I was for that damn Horry shot. I was working and watched it on a tiny hand held TV. Thank god I wasn’t home, or else something would have been broken.

I’ll always be a Kings fan. Always.

I’ve been a Kings fan as long as I can remember. When they switched from the old blue and reds to the new black and purples, I went to school everyday for about a month wearing any piece of the new kings gear I could convince my dad to buy me. I think I got my first Kings jersey – a black Richmond jersey – that year for Christmas. I remember wearing all my gear to a preseason game that year and getting filmed by the Arco in-house crew and being included in the opening video montage on the Jumbotron that played all that year. That could have been the best thing to ever happen to me.

In high-school (‘99-’02), my dad had season tickets, and we made the hour long drive to Arco for every single home game, every playoff game, and most preseason games. I graduated a few months after the loss to the Lakers, and moved to Southern California for school. Sometimes I still blame myself for their steady decline since ’02.

Some other assorted memories – wearing #42 and knee-high socks in my rec-league basketball days. Meeting the L-Train at Carl’s Jr. in Grass Valley, and getting a Polaroid as proof. The 30-1 run at Arco against the Sonics one year with Billy Owens leading the charge. Sitting at home watching the news when Bobby Hurley got in his accident, and asking for a pair of ITZs (In The Zones) for christmas that year, complete with the little lace-lock thing.

I’ve caught about 75% of the games over the past 4 years thanks to League Pass, and anxiously look forward to my trips home, knowing that there is an off-chance the Kings will be playing a home game.

Father taught at Purdue, so college B-ball was a way of life. If you think all the basketball passion there is for the Hoosiers, well, you have no idea how B-ball crazy Indiana is.
In those days it seemed if you followed the pro game in the midwest at all you were probably a Celtics fan, and the lakers were the enemy.
My first pro game was a KC Kings pre-season game in St. Louis after we moved there in the 70’s. I believe it must have been 1978(?).
After my time in the service and a return to Indiana (Purdue) for college reignitted my interest in basketball (GO BOILERS!) I Really enjoying the evolution/transition of the great teams Boston to Detroit to Chicago, without being particulary a big fan of any of them. I vividly remember as Boston gave way to Detroit and then Detroit gave way to Chicago, the fans of each team – on their way out – left the next group with the mantra ‘BEAT LA’.
 I moved to LA in ‘90 and refused to root for the lakers in any way on any day and rather aimlessly rooted for anyone else as above.
Attended a lakers Kings game somewhere around ’93 – ’94 and rooted for them as the ’underdog’ team.
When the Shaq-Kobe era started it cemented by disgust for the lakers. Shaq particulary showed none of the respect to the opponents that the great players from earlier teams, Bird, Magic, Isaih, Hakeem, always seemed to go out of their way to show after beating people up. Kobe was often just as guilty. I depised them and mourned any success they had.
I soon refastened on the Kings and started following them more and more until the ‘Glory’ years started – then I began buying gear to walk arounf LA in (a real conversation starter)
Moved to Sac in ’02 – and have been going to 10-20 games a year since and watch just about every game (sometimes twice).
I still have hope for the future but have some actual physical pain this last week or so, leaving our last game, the choke job against NJ, raging mad.

Born in Fresno. ’85
Moved to Cincy, Ohio. ’88
Moved to Hurricane, West Virginia. ’90
Moved to Wichita Kansas. Jan. ’02
Moved To Los Angeles Aug. ’02

Started as most young males who were born in the mid 80’s did as a Michael Jordan fan. Fell in love with the Bulls first because of Jordan and the way he played the game. at about age 5 (or when i moved to West Virginia) I had a couple MJ Jerseys and tons of other Bulls swag (hats, sweat shirts, sweat pants, etc.). Then one day i was looking through my basketball cards and saw a card for a team called the Kings. Then I saw they were from California (I had never liked the Lakers or the Clippers) I asked my Dad about this team called the Kings. He told me they were from Sacramento CA. Which when i looked on a map at age 7 did not seem all that far from Fresno. From that point on I was hooked… I put all my kings player basketball cards in special places of honor I started to play as the Kings on all my basketball games for my Sega Genesis. I bought hats and jerseys and knick-nacks to show my support for my California team. Then honor of honors Mitch Richmond was traded to the Kings and MJ had said that Mitch was the best guard he ever played against! I carried on a dual relationship until the final Bulls championship banner was raised.

 The Kings stole my heart. I watched them every time they were on television. I have my yahoo open to check the boxscores or have a live stream of the game up while the games are going on.
During the playoffs in 02 I watched with pride as Bibby was talked about more than Kobe. Then I cried my eyes out when we lost the series and a shot at the championship. Then I moved to the Evil Empire and have had non-stop “Why don’t you cheer for the Lakers?” and “The Kings Stink” questions and statements hurled at me but I sojourn on. With the hopes that one day I will see my Kings raise a championship banner.

I learned about being a true sports-fan from my father. His favorite sports team is the Pittsburgh Pirates. (talk about long suffering) While I cheered for the Cleveland Indians, the San Diego Chargers and the Kings.
The only team that i cheered for in the ’90’s that won anything was my parents university Marshall (the Thundering Herd). They gave me a taste of winning and glory. (With players like Randy Moss, Chad Pennington, Byron Leftwich). These days I cheer for the Hometown Dodgers (my fathers father, whom I never met because he passed away before i was born was a Dodgers fan so I feel like a kindred spirit) i Still pull for the Indians and the Chargers… and have a bit of a fascination with the Cavaliers and I really like Tim Duncan and the Spurs (they play ball the right way). But my team is the Kings. (I recently announced to my wife that we have three rules in the house we put God first then Family… and we cheer for the Kings and Marshall) Then proceeded to hold my two month old daughter and watch the game at Arco against the Pistons on my computer.
I know this is a time of rebuilding and a time for patience. But there is also hope. I believe in the Kings we shall overcome.

-Kellen

But I’ll jump in anyways.

I was unlucky enough to be born in the middle of Lakerland (Long Beach), so my early sports loves were primarily LA teams (Rams, Lakers) – but not the Dodgers (my first little league team was the Yankees, so I despised the Bums). My family moved up to Sacramento when I was seven years old, so it was a natural transition to become a Giants fan (as a Dodger hater). My love for the Rams tailed off when they moved to St. Louis, but I still loved the Lakers. And that love stayed with me through the championship years of the 80’s and early 90’s.

I was a Kings fan from their original arrival into town. My family lived in the “Indian River” subdevelopment in Citrus Heights (off of Greenback and 80), when the Kings came to town. Turned out that many of the players moved into the area right round my family’s house – Mike Woodson lived directly behind us, Larry Drew was around the corner, Reggie was in the same area. LaSalle Thompson drove into our culdesac soon after the announcement that we were getting the team from KC – he was asking questions about the neighborhood, etc. My parents still have a picture of LaSalle with his arm around my diminutive 70 year old grandmother – she had a slight look of horror on her face. But a nicer guy you will never meet. As a matter of fact, they were all great guys – good family men, active in the neighborhood during the offseason.

I became a huge Kings fan, of course. But I did not abandon my Lakers – the Kings were my regular season love, the Lakers my post-season. But the arrival of Phil, Kobe, Shaq, Rick Fox and crew would change all that – what a lacking group of sportsmen they were in contrast to the very professional teams led by Magic and Pat Riley. The newer, “improved” Lakers made it so easy to jump ship to 100% Kings fan status.

I’ve got some great memories of the old arena…that place rocked like no other venue I’ve ever attended. I saw Jordan play there, saw the Kings pull off a miracle and beat the Larry Bird-led juggernaut Celtics. I saw Karl Malone kill us too many times to count.

Back then, we found hope in the strangest places….double digit road wins, a .500 record on the home floor. A guy having a chance to make the All-Star team. The sadness was there occasionally…Ricky Berry, Bobby Hurley, Jerry Reynolds collapsing on the sideline. Lionel Simmons giving his heart and soul on two wretched knees. There was also the hilarious – RE Graswich trying to impersonate a beat writer and nearly getting rendered apart by Olden Polynice, and the whole Jackie Christie-Doug Christie relationship. And there was the greatness of that squad from earlier this decade – the pride this whole community took in supporting a team that played basketball the right way. Guys that were all clearly flawed in one way or another, but combined to make the sweetest music imaginable. And ARCO Arena claiming its status as the home of the best fans in not just the NBA, but all of professional sports. We were able to witness some of the greatest battles seen in NBA history – epic struggles with the Jazz, the Mavericks, and of course the dreaded Lakers. Oh, and the uppercut heard round the world – can’t forget that.

What a great run it’s been for this franchise. This is what sports was about in the old days…traditions being built year-in and year-out. Even the bad years gave you something to remember. I expect this team will have my heart for decades to come.

And that explains a bit of why I love this team so damn much…

I’m from Hungary… started following the Kings back around 2000, and I remember my favourite Kings player in the early years was by far Bibby. I always loved PGs. Though I admit my favourite team is, and has always been the Suns, but I always hold a place in my heart for Sactown. We need all the california teams that we can have to offset the Youknowwhats. so i still support the team and will alway will. go kings

I found this post by Louis back in the day. Good stuff in there. (I’d rec it, but, you couldn’t do that then.)

I grew up around Fresno and moved to Sac in 1999 during high school. During this time I became a huge Kings fan (before that I watched them as I was a Mitch fan but mostly rooted for the Bulls and Warriors). Left to go to school in LA in 2001 where I was entrenched in constant sports wars for the next couple of years. Now I’m over on the Central Coast in Santa Cruz where I still follow the Kings as actively as I ever have. Still catch games in person when I come home to visit the family in Sac.

Well first of all, I’m a Cali born individual.

I was born in Ventura and raised in Oxnard which is like an hour away from L.A. I was an odd duckling in my family as far as sports go. Having been born in a community that was mostly Latin, soccer was the preferred sport. I never really liked it much, maybe only the World Cup. I loathed going to the park in the weekend to watch people play Soccer. All the time, I would walk around the park looking for something fun to do.

Then one day I was invited to play some basketball by some kids in the playground. Never looked back since.

I love basketball, started watching it at a young age. While my relatives were talking about Soccer I was collecting basketball cards. I watched basketball everyday but realized I never had a favorite team. I just watched any game that was on. Being close to L.A I got to see a lot of Laker games. I was never avid about them though. I preferred watching the Bulls play but of course, so did a lot of kids my age back then.

Then at the age of 11 we moved to Sacramento. My dad got a better job offer so we moved here. I kid you not, the first thing that hit me was the cultural integration. Never before had I seen so many people of so many races. It was like a whole new world opened up to me. Of course being new in Sac was a hard thing at first at that age. I mean I had to start making friends again and familiarizing myself with my environments again.

So the first thing I got attached to was the Kings. Naturally I was already a basketball fan, so it was an obvious thing to do. But I loved the Kings, also in school I was amazed with how much more in common I had with other kids. I know it might sound strange but I didn’t ever really feel like I belonged, but all of a sudden I felt like I was really part of my environment. I didn’t feel secluded anymore.

The Kings were underdogs back then, I related to that I guess. So I become such an avid fan of the Kings. I cheered for them got mad at them, and even cursed them. I was first a fan of the Kings when The Rock was here, then we had Billy Owens, Polynece, I remember Michael Stewart…I think his nickname was Yogi? or Yoda? One of those lol. AJ was still here. XD

So That’s my long story about my journey as a Kings fan. I’m 23 now, and I will forever bleed purple. I wasn’t born here, but I consider Sacramento MY hometown. It’s where I really turned into the individual I am today…which by the way is an awesomely awesome individual. ;P

Parents have been season ticket holder fans since ‘85. First in 105, then 114 and now 118. Since I moved to AZ in 1998 I have adopted all Phx teams except the Suns (although I used to work in their corporate sales dept.) I can’t think of a team I would rather be die-hard about.

I went to the game on Sat against Dallas and I have to say I was embarrassed. Since residing in AZ I only get to a home game a year and I was shocked that there was no need for cops for parking, the blue-red in the lower bowl was plentiful and the beer lines were non-existent. It did, however, give better views of the “talent” the Maloofs flew in for the night. So there’s that.

I think i’m the third one from our country.

Before i move on to how the love affair started, you must understand that in the Philippines, basketball somehow is the only team sport that counts. boxing and billiards are popular, but most Pinoys don’t really want to grow up a pugilist or a cue artist.

The sport is so ingrained in the country that there are rural areas where electricity is sporadic, but there will always be a makeshift court with a rusty ring, an uneven wooden backboard, and lines drawn on the ground.

Where else can you find a country where players barricade streets so basketball tournaments can be held there? Where else can you find a cable channel devoted to basketball — local, FIBA and NBA? Where else do teams agree courtside to meet up later at a vacant lot to continue a brawl? Where else do people bet on the last digit of the final score?

Most of us grew up playing on the streets and in gyms, and harbored the dream we would one day be playing pro. most of us didn’t make it, but we were happily going old watching those who did.

—
I was a hot/cold NBA fan back in the eighties/nineties, more interested in highlight reels than watching an entire game.

In 2000, i found 3 things that i was looking for in the Kings:

1. An offense that prefers the ball in motion until an open man is found. Even better, guys like J-Will, Vlade, and C-Webb who go really creative in doing so.
2. A match for the hated Lakers. Most NBA fans outside the US root for whoever is the champion, so you see a plethora of Lakers, Bulls, and Heat bandwagon jumpers. No geography, no loyalty…
3. Unis in purple that still look cool.

I started with a simple hobby of collecting NBA caps. When i finished all 30, i began to hunger and decided to take my Kings interest a step further by collecting items. Now, i have my home office decorated with all Kings stuff i find, some i even ordered directly from the Arco store. The more items i get, the more i can’t stop hoarding. Never mind that the Kings were a shadow of their former self (damn that C-Webb injury during the playoffs vs. Dallas), i have too much emotional investment in the Kings to switch teams now. If i get the chance, i will have my picture taken at the Arco Arena floor. That will be the high point of the collection of this incidental fan.
 
No hope or agenda. Go Kings!

Born in Sacramento, and lived there until I was 19. I remember going to games in the 80s when I was a kid (80s baby), and being mesmerized when the rollers came out the scoreboard when the crowd would scream loud enough. I also remember walking court side with my brothers and asking Wayman Tisdale how he got so big. He said by eating beans and rice! I’ll never forget that…So I loosely followed the team since I was a kid, and then I joined the Air Force the same year as the strike shortened season. I remember hearing the news while in basic training that the Kings had stretched the Jazz to five games, and being so excited to hear it. Ever since then, I moved into the next level of fandom. Later that year, I moved to Japan. And it seemed like that was the start of when the Kings started getting fans outside of Sacramento. So I was a proud Kings fan, from Sac, living in Japan. Since I couldn’t go to the games, I would watch whenever they were broadcasted and follow box scores. I did have the pleasure of coming home on leave and being greeted with free tickets for several years, since one of my high school homies was a ball boy…Well after 5 years in Japan and a few years in Hawaii, I’m back in Japan now and still following the team. The funny thing is that I can’t remember how I first ended up on this site. But hear I am, following this thing we call an NBA team with all of you. Go Kings.

Prior to their move from Kansas City I was a ……WARRIORS FAN. But didnt take me long to become a loyal Kings follower. I was born and raised up in the Sierra Nevada foothills east of Marysville/Yuba City (Clipper Mills is the name of the town). I watched the Kings on KOVR Channel 13 when they were on (antennae reception prior to satellite dishes – no cable up there in the sticks) and when they were not on TV I listened on the radio. The only place for good radio reception at my house was out where I stored my firewood, so I would spend countless nights with the G-Man on the radio splitting wood/kindling listening to the (then record)all time road losing streak. I moved to Oregon 15 years ago and have been a member of Sactownroyalty for quite a while, (atleast since Otis29 became a member). NBA League pass and JTV are my best options now for seeing the Kings. We used to go to Portland when the Kings came to town but now tickets are not as readily available (thanks Kevin Pritchard)

I appreciate this site as I get quicker updates on the status of Kings here than anywhere else.

Born and raised. Started paying attention to the NBA right as the Kings were getting hot. Not only did I love the Kings playing style, but I loved the fact that they had guys named Divac, Stojakovic and Turkgolu on there. Loved the offense so much went to the alma mater of origin. So, basically, I’m a bandwagon jumper. Clawed right onto the bumper, and have been pulling myself on the bus bit by bit throughout the years towards destination titletown.