Nearly two years ago now, Stockton Kings center Chance Comanche was arrested for the kidnapping and murder of 23 year old Marayna Rodgers. It was a shocking and tragic story, but today new revelations revealed by the New York Times give the story an even stranger turn, as it appears that Anjali Ranadivé, daughter of Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé and then GM of the Stockton Kings, was also romantically involved with Comanche.
From the Times:
Codi Simmons, an athletic trainer with Stockton, said that Anjali and Comanche had been romantically involved. Three other people with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed their relationship. “They were the closest two people of anybody in that organization,” Simmons said. “I believe that she liked him more than he liked her. She was with him out of love. I’m not sure what it was on his side.”
The Times goes on to mention that Ranadivé had already decided to re-sign Comanche for the 2023-24 season and often “asked for Comanche’s statistics so that she could champion his chances with the Sacramento Kings”. One month after his arrest, Ranadivé quietly resigned from the team with the statement reading that she did so to pursue a Ph. D and focus her attention on her nonprofit Jaws and Paws. There was no mention of Comanche in the statement, but given the timing it seemed more than a coincidence although most speculation at the time thought it was merely because it happened on her watch. The fact that she had been involved with Comanche however casts a different pall.
Vivek naming his daughter as GM of the Stockton Kings always reeked of nepotism. Anjali had no real basketball experience, serving as Assistant GM of the team for one season before being promoted. Vivek’s not the first owner to do something like this, and he won’t be the last, but it doesn’t make it right. But to learn that she was actively romantically involved with one of the players she managed (regardless of what he did) in what was somewhat of an open secret according to the New York Times is a line too far. It’s not even the first time Anjali has been linked to a former Stockton Kings player, as she rather publicly was in a relationship with former Sacramento and Stockton Kings guard Jeremy Lamb, who spent the 2023-24 season with the team while she was GM (It should be noted that it’s not clear if their involvement started while she was managing the team given they only publicly announced their relationship 9 months after she resigned, but it’s not a good look given this new information).
Yes, this indiscretion is a small line item in a much larger and far more tragic story, but it’s still yet another example of the ineptitude and chaos that has followed Vivek Ranadivé since he became the owner of the Kings in 2013.
What an embarrassing franchise. Also, would someone in our local media grow pair of balls to ask questions and report on this kind of stuff. I’m sure there is more of this kind of dirt on the Kings, but no one dares to report on it.
Maybe Grant will cover it today on his show. No one else in the local media has the balls.
You’re an idiot!!!
Just getting you ready in case you call in.
The only thing I remember in skipping past that show on the drive home is that no matter when you turned it on, you’d hear one of Stanley, Freakin’ idiot or New York Giants. That was pretty much the whole show.
Sometimes he would just read a schedule for long stretches of time.
Really, that was some of his best “analysis.”
Lol!!
He covered it.
He gave credit to the NY Times.
He was accurate.
Kings fans seem to by and large dislike Grant. Personally, love the guy. No filter. Total transparency. I can’t say that about one other Kings beat reporter I met Grant in Miami. When he was residing here. I live in Miami. He was the nicest most genuine guy. TolD me then,
loved the fans, love the city, despise ownership and management to the core.
He was a loyal company shill until he was sacked.
He used to bash the fans who were critical of the franchise (no filter), and after he got booted he did a 180 and started to bash the franchise (no filter).
But we agree that this is total transparancy.
I didn’t know we have local media covering the Kangz. We suck in all aspects.
Totally. And been given shit for coming on here pointing out that Vivek is a piece of shit. Because he is and this is another example of how he’s running things.
worse than that, it doesn’t matter is the kings win because Vivek. just wants to make money. He’s killed this franchise. Fucked the city and fans and he doesn’t care.
I find him and all these billionaire assholes running the country to be egregious and offensive. It’s the billionaire corporate right wing playbook. Sell the people shit and pretend like you’re doing them a favor
this point the only hope is that Vivek will get caught up in a scandal like his daughter. That’s the only way to get them out.
I never got the impression that Vivek was right-wing. Quite the opposite. He fully embraced the BLM and other social justice causes. I do agree that making money is his prime motivation, winning not so much.
Would anyone be surprised if Vivek had a romantic relationship with Stauskas?
Probably Stauskas
Funnily enough in the most recent Kings Post Podcast, they covered it, its fascinating the way each host covered it, Ham was uncomfortable and and tried to punt to subject, Brenden Nunes was great and Sean Cunningham was just a complete disaster, how he is hired by any media company is beyond me. Has no opinions ever, craps on everyones elses opinions and then acts like a know it all
Was this train ever one the tracks?
Quick, somebody get Pablo Torre on the phone. Perhaps this is the way to get Vivek to sell the team.
Imagine if this was the son of the owner of a WNBA team?
This kind of thing is Not okay
It seems like it’s been a good decade since this guy has had a positive story written about him. You’d think the tradeoff of occasionally mingling with B-grade celebrities would be outweighed at some point by YEARS of articles and videos covering this guy’s bottomless failures, documented by pretty much everyone who covers the NBA.
Putting your completely unqualified kid in charge of an organization, and then having that person publicly prove that they have ZERO boundaries around intimate relationships with their subordinates, MULTIPLE TIMES, is just an incredible, credibility destroying failure on every level.
Doesn’t it ever get old having the whole world constantly reminded that you’re a moron? Just take the fucking money and sell the team. You have a billion dollars or whatever, and no one will ever care again that you’re stupid.
Well said Carl!
Good stuff, Carl. I’m guessing this doesn’t even phase Vivek. His ego far surpasses his stature and he surrounds himself yes men. He’d likely prefer to target the messenger of this story than address the real problems he himself has created.
Nepotism is just an old fashion word the haters use to minimize he and his family’s greatness. He’s gone through so many GMs, coaches, and players that it must be everyone else who is at fault, because it sure as heck ain’t him. This roster is making the franchise great again. There will be 1000% more wins this year. Winning, winning, winning!
I wonder how many of the other owners care about the stuff Vivek has done in the past, what, 13 years?
At some point enough is enough. The losing seasons, constant turmoil on the basketball side, and now his unqualified daughter bringing bad publicity to the team.
I hope many of the other owners somehow band together and vote him out.
They don’t care. He doesn’t hurt their bottom line and they probably see him as a tool to tap the Indian market. For those who really do want to gun for a title, he’s no threat to them. It would take a far more egregious public fuck up to warrant his exit. Even then it would take national media and players to get on board, much like the Donald Sterling saga.
I think Hobby was talking about the other Kings owners, not NBA team owners.
I was. The minority owners of the Kings to step up and take action.
Why would the owners care? His ineptitude and meddling only affect Kings fans. If I owned another team I’m thinking that’s one less team to compete against.
Hear, hear!
What sucks about stupid nepotism decisions like putting Anjali in charge is that her actions are a minor set back for women execs in general. It’s certainly not a good look.
“How is that not fucking cap circumvention!?”
-Marc Cuban (probably)
Jim Crandall maybe the first local sports journalist to cover this disgusting story . Revolting on many levels .
Brings new meaning to the words “tip in.”
Vivek must be proud.
I mean…
Just…
…
…goddamnit.
According to the athletic trainer, Anjali was with the alleged murderer out of love.
It’s just interesting that this isn’t a bigger story. I imagine if it was a male superior with female subordinate with a murder mixed in, it would be the talk of the NBA and MSM.
Owner’s daughter sleeps with the staff and it’s virtually crickets from whose sole job is to report on the owner and staff. The fact that it took a free lance reporter based in NY to even hint at this story (it’s not even the core of the article) is just shameful.
As you said in another comment, where the F is the local media?
The fact it took an out of town reporter is just unbelievable. This whole debacle is movie material. Maybe some of Vivek’s B grade celebrities could even star in it.
Clearly local media finds this to be acceptable behavior.
Local media finds many things acceptable behavior that wise and good people do not.
I’m guessing players involved with her aren’t using the term “romantically involved”.
It provides a new perspective to when Perry stated, “I am looking for volunteers, not hostages.”
Now we know why players look so excited on draft night being selected by Ranadive.
Once you go Comanche, no one else has a chance.
Once you dated a murderer, pivot to an innocent Lamb.
While agreeing the entire family is a hillbilly sh*tshow, how about this idea? Kuminga signs the qualifying offer and we sign Al Horford. He’s a far better fit on this team and for Sabonis and we can still use more size up front. He’s a one-year contract and you only have to pay him more than the Duds will offer.
Well well the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree. Like father like daughter the meddeling runs in the family along with bad decision making.
This was the nail-in-the-coffin moment and just reaffirms my decisions, like many others, not to invest any money on this organization going forward. It’s a shame that the rest of the minority owners can’t or wont come together to convince(force) Vivek to sell his share of the team.
But as we all know, its all about the bottom line and as long as the rat bastard is making money he’s basically teflon.
Vivek, his horny ass daughter and the rest of his family need to be shot out into the depths of outer space. And take Matina with you. The loyal and passionate Kings fan base doesn’t deserve the constant shame and humiliation that comes with supporting this organization.
Talk about fucking up your chance.
Underrated comment…
Agreed. Had to upvote to get it purple.
Y’all are just mean-spirited and jealous.
Recording artist, director and founder of non-profits, NBA All-Star weekend participant, and front-office executive.
Just think of all the education, experience, and recognition it takes to possess such a wealth of skills and accomplishments.
I promise you I have no jealousy or desire to be like any Ranadive.
Wait so Anjali wasn’t actually doing anything as GM of the Stockton Kings? Sorry, she was DOING something it just wasn’t basketball related.
ESPN just did it’s future power rankings and the Kings were rated dead last in the “management” category. I can’t imagine why…
Pretty impressive to be rated last in management when one team just traded Luka Doncic for almost nothing, one is being investigated for cap circumvention, and one that’s leadership has traded every pick from now until the end of time and is somehow worse than the Kings.
Truly remarkable. The incompetence knows no bounds.
“One month after his arrest, Ranadivé quietly resigned from the team with the statement reading that she did so to pursue a Ph. D and focus her attention on her nonprofit Jaws and Paws.”
Anjali and Vivek have completely PH****D the franchise.
As low as expectations were when Anjali became GM, using the roster as her own personal Tinder was not on anyone’s bingo card of ineptitude.
Let’s get some “sell the team” chants going at G1 this year! It’s more concise than “don’t date murderers that are also employees of yours that would be dumb.”
Perhaps we can get Lou Williams out of retirement, still only 38, not that old considering DdR is 36 and considered a core player for this franchise.
Lou is famous for having 2 gf’s openly at the same time. Seems like this sort of arrangement appeals to some in the Kangz’ ownership. Just sayin.
There’s serious money to be made off t shirts from this scandal. Wish I was smart enough to design one.
Picture of Anjali with the caption “Are you up for a Chance encounter?”
Well played
Someone with good photoshoping skills needs to put Anjali’s face here. She’d even have her own theme song!
So you are saying there is a Chance?
Nothing surprises me with the Vivek clown show, absolute trash family. These people need to be run out of Sac. It may only be sports but these people are an insult to the city on an even bigger level than organization failure, just pathetic.
My NBA fandom was already on the rocks. This… doesn’t help.
And 1 – this is the first time I’ve ever fretted the start of a season, not just because I think the team will absolutely suck this year, but because I think the Ranadive family’s moral corruption and the NBA’s acceptance of rich and greedy owners will finally turn me away. I’ve already completely detached myself from the NFL and MLB, neither of which I would have thought would occur about 10 years ago. The NBA seems determined to end my interest. Maybe time to divorce myself from another greedy sports league that cares more about making money than about the fan experience.
Oh, there were signs, like the constant pandering to DMC, even when he tried to physically intimidate an older, smaller journalist who wrote something about his brother, the Darren Collison mess that was largely ignored, signing that POS Matt Barnes and other questionable guys like Ty Lawson.
The inmates were running the asylum under Vivek and his “bridge-building” henchman Vlade, and somehow the latter is still viewed as an unpright dude.
Vivek was also one of the first sports owners to furlough his employees during Covid and the first NBA owner to do so, if I am not mistaken.
Most fans don’t care about such things, even if they say they do, and they’ll find ways to justify staying a fan. Even more so if they think that the “tainted” players they acquire can help win a Championship. I saw it firsthand with the Browns, and I have turned away from that morally bankrupt, sorry franchise.
That’s a slightly different discussion, but I hear you.
These words seem to apply just as well to the Vivek-run Kings.
Boston HC has an affair with staffer, news blows up and HC immediately gets fired.
GM (blech) of Stockton Kings has relationship with, not 1 but 2 players that are her family’s employees, crickets.
It speaks not only to the lack of fortitude of the local media, but also to how insignificant this franchise is nationally. This is lead story stuff on ESPN if it’s the Lakers, Celts, Dubs, etc.
Just playing devil’s advocate here but the Ime Udoka situation was apparently unwanted advances. He was suspended when they thought it was consensual, but once they learned it wasn’t, he was let go.
Maybe the Ranadive things is more on the scale of Jeanie Buss and Phil Jackson? Actually, the life of Jeanie Buss might be more in line with the trajectory of Anajali. At age 19 daddy Buss bought Jeanie a tennis team to manage.
Maybe more like Jennifer Aniston’s character in Horrible Bosses? Would it seem unusual for someone in power to take advantage of a subordinate and the subordinate had little choice but to ride along so that he doesn’t lose his job/gets favorable treatment?
Not at all, and that could very well be the case here. I just don’t want to presume anything on the dynamics of the relationship. The issue I have is that there was an unprofessional relationship.
Copy that on the unprofessional relationship.
On another note, this is the sad state of Kings fandom these days…when the side show/clownshow becomes more entertaining than the product on the floor. Then again, there is nothing to be excited about the product on the floor.
Last times I felt this apathetic going into a season was was the 2016-17 and 2019-20 seasons.
Yeah this year is absolute peak apathy for me. I just don’t care at all about this franchise anymore because the ownership is so toxic. It’s really sad. My kids are 2 and 4 and I want them to love basketball but especially living in the Bay Area, it feels like an inevitability that they’ll be Warriors fans. I hope it brings them more joy than Kings fandom has brought me lol.
Well I would like Jennifer Aniston to take advantage of me… I’m joking, cause I don’t agree with people in higher positions taken advantage of others below them. But dang I’ve always had the hots for Jennifer Aniston, so I could be the sacrificial lamb in this case.
Huh huh, he said Lamb.
W2W was taking a Chance you would notice it, Rik
This is national enquirer news….. except it actually happened! Nothing surprises me when it’s something crazy involving him or his nepo family. The only shock is I expect something crazier/dumber to follow sometime in the future. As the Kings turn!
Roy Al definitely knew something. Why else would they kill him?
Oh shit. Major blow to the Rockets.
Greg just mused on the socials to send them Devin Carter and draft capital for Tari Eason. I’d do it in a heartbeat and fuck on off with any Kuminga idea. I doubt Houston does that, but if FVV is done for the season they are going to need a PG replacement. Schröder won’t be available for trade until Dec. 14th.
The Kings going so hard after a guy who isn’t even good is just peak Kangzy’ness.
How many games into the season before Vivek trots her out to warble the Star Spangled Banner again? How did he allow her to date players in the first place. Wrong on so many levels. Another failure on his part. Take the money and run, dude. It’s enough for ten generations of family. Better to be rich and anonymous, than rich and despised.
From your mouth to Vivek’s ears. It would be fabulous if he just sold the team.
So she dated a few ballplayers, She is young so what? Meanwhile Vivek got me feeling like a traumatized Diddy victim since he got here
[…] in that line of work. Imagine that son became romantically involved with one of his players – more than one. Frowned upon, yeah? Now, imagine one of those player-lovers kidnapped and murdered someone. Sound […]
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