The Sacramento Kings finally revealed who their play-by-play announcer will be for the 2020-21 season, and it was well worth the wait. Welcome to Sacramento, Mark Jones!
The Kings announced through a press release on Friday that veteran ESPN sportscaster Mark Jones would be taking over permanent play-by-play duties for the franchise. Kings radio broadcaster Gary Gerould carried the team through the Orlando bubble on an interim basis after long-time play-by-play announcer Grant Napear resigned following his firing from KHTK over backlash from an “All Lives Matter” tweet that sparked more troubling allegations by former Kings players.
Vivek Ranadive issued the following statement on the hiring of Mark Jones:
We are delighted to welcome Mark to the Kings family and watch him partner with Doug to form a new, dynamic broadcast team for the franchise and its proud fans, said Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadive. Throughout his impressive career, Mark has amassed a tremendous wealth of experience broadcasting some of the largest events this league has hosted. We are excited he has chosen to continue his career in Sacramento as we look towards the bright future of this organization.
The Kings also announced that Doug Christie is staying with the organization in his prior role as color analyst.
Mark Jones released a statement of his own regarding his new job in Sacramento.
“I am thrilled to join the Kings broadcast team. During my years of covering the league extensively, Sacramento has always stood among the top for its passionate and deeply loyal fan base, said Jones. I am thankful to Vivek and the organization for this incredible opportunity. My family and I are excited to move to Sacramento and become a part of the community.
Needless to say, this is a huge win for Sacramento, and I’m excited to see Jones and Christie work together here next season. For now, you can enjoy some of Jones’ best calls in a compilation below.
And you can welcome Mark Jones to Sacramento on Twitter @MarkJonesESPN.
Great news in a shitty year! And I have a feeling I’ll be in a GREAT mood by the end of tonight as well!
Awesome news!
If you don’t like that, you don’t like socially conscious and publicly astute firing/hiring practices!
BREAKING: Kings announce partnership with Thin Blue Line USA, change name of Golden1 Center to All Lives Arena. “Because F it,” said owner Vivek Ranadive, when asked to explain the abrupt change. Also, Grant Napear will now wear the Slamson suit and only fire the t-shirt cannon at fans with their backs turned.
Hilarious. That will be 10 laps and a history lesson.
glad to hear the kings have not learned their lesson and have decided to hire the wokest man in all of sports.. hopefully the organization can get mark the sensitivity training he needs so that he won’t be afraid of the fine men and women who work security at the G1C.. i look forward to solely listening to G-Man next season.
For all of the confused Kermits.
I believe he’s made an oafish attempt to describe this controversy.
I must have missed something.
Yep.. Here are a few of his asinine tweets/RT’s from the past few days/weeks… You all might like it, but watch fans cancel their season tickets and tune out of games.. After two decades of a horrendous on-court product, many fans are begging the organization to give them a reason to cancel their tix/turn off their games. I think this could be it.
Polls don’t have an algorithm for racism.
The fact that people really voting for this racist to stay in power shows you how this country really feel behind closed doors.
Saturday at my football game I’ll tell the police officer on duty to protect me he can just take the day off. Fr. I’d rather not have the officer shoot me because he feared for his life because of my black skin or other dumb ish. I’m not signing my own death certificate.
Still haven’t found a new job yet, huh Grant? Sorry bud.
So to be clear: You’re cool with Cancel Culture?
Someone sounds salty about current events and doesn’t like socially conscious black men. Maybe basketball isn’t the best sport for you?
Aww, did PA and GA trigger you? Maybe trying hugging your Peaches emotional support plushie. XD
My ADD must be kicking in, because that made no sense. Which comments are yours and which are his?
Learn to message board.
Your ADD is just protecting you from focusing on comments like this.
Somebody is mad about somebody losing.
why would fans in the arena need to cancel their tickets? fans in the arena don’t hear the PBP announcer?
I wasn’t really a fan of the dislike button, but now I understand it’s purpose.
i was thinking the same thing. It’s like you know me or that we are related.
WTF?
Is this the record for most down votes?
I remember seeing someone get a lot of downvotes around the time Grant was fired, but I don’t remember if they got more downvotes than that.
I’m just happy that I’m no longer the person that said the dumbest thing on the site.
No joke, I don’t even fully understand what this person is saying. I’m guessing there was an extended period of oxygen deprivation at some point in his/her existence.
we all have faith in your ability to regain the title
Thank you, 2021 is going to be a big year for me in that regard!
Lol
I literally just logged on to say how much I admire your courage for saying that. If more us were open to acknowledging our mistakes, learning from them and moving on, there wouldn’t be a need for a down vote button.
I find your lack of ambition disturbing.
The G man is the best. Still can’t keep me as a fan after this absolute BS hire. They fired Grant for what? And then they hire this clown after he said what? Eat a bag of, as that clown would say, ish.
I bled purple, from as far back as I could remember. This team and city should unite us but ownership decided to stay woke. I’ve been mourning this death I just wish with all my heart it didn’t have to come to this. Good job KANGS
Welcome Mark!
P.S.
Please do not get your own radio show and yell at callers or be a shill for the organization.
Yea.. Grant was definitely a “shill” for Vivek Ranadive. Grant carried KHTK for over a decade and their ratings are in the tank now that he’s gone.
Guys… I think I found Peaches.
I can think of a reason why he’s so salty this morning. 😉
Peaches is right here baby!
Hooo-aooooooh BOY! We got ourselves a dandy ^
Now we must seek and find Herb, and reunite them…
Cling Peaches
Peaches has apparently been bitter since he was canned.
As I’m about to be a first time father & brushing up on my Dad Jokes, I appreciate this pun.
Congrats on the imminent little one!
I think his stones have been freed.
I can’t imagine why you are so whiny this morning.
KHTK’s ratings:
May: 0.7
-Napear fired June 2
June: 0.8
July: 0.6
August: 0.6
September: 0.6
October: 0.8
If you don’t like getting owned, you don’t like fact checking.
I mean, I realize we now live in a world where A TON of people don’t care if what they say has any relation to verifiable reality. But, if you’re going to make shit up at least stick to things that are subjective. Not things that easily, objectively disprovable with a 10-second Google search.
BestHyperboleEver is going to the Plaid Icon ..
This just seems like a good move all the way around.
Napear– Jones +Walton– Anyone +Kolokotronis– Any law student +No more legacies, no more holdovers, let’s build something new and a lot better!
Meanwhile, Grant acknowledges Jerry’s retirement…
Is this supposed to be controversial?
How’s the weather in Florida Grant?
It isn’t controversial. Just hilariously passive aggressive.
I didn’t get that first time I read it. After reading your comment, I see it now. I think kings are probably waiting for the start of season to honor him. I’d be a little disappointed if kings don’t put a banner or something lasting up for him at g1c. Met him couple of time like most of you. Such a beautiful heart and high character guy.
Yes this is highly controversial. I plan on contacting his boss and expect her to follow up with an appropriate response.
I’m a class act bro.
Meanwhile, Grant is at the South Beach Dollar Tree yelling at the cashier for double charging him for his Ragu.
And somehow Grant still makes it all about Grant
This organization really did a 180 this year. I’m duly impressed and somewhat surprised by the last few moves
the moment I was let go the organization seemed to take off and make smart moves. Coincidence?
I had just inquired yesterday in another thread as to who my replacement would be, and there you go.
Mark Jones is stellar play by play man and much better than me. Jones and Christie should be a dandy of a duo. If you don’t like them, you don’t like NBA basketball.
The Vlade firing, the Mcnair hire and now the Jones hire, somebody turn on the sprinkler system because the Kings franchise is on fire!
Would be hilarious if this was actually Peaches. The ultimate troll job.
Kings games. Volume up.
Next.
(Shown above, Jones interviewing past Kings draft pick(s).)
That dog could shoot and make free throws! Can run with anybody !! He is a tough interview..
Great announcer, huge upgrade!
Take THAT, 2020!
Don’t love or hate Jones, but mostly I tune him out. But that probably has to do with the ESPN influence, he might be much better at PBP than I realize.
Either way, no reason to not give him a chance. He’ll either sink or swim.
Agreed. He’s just kind of there. Better than a “meh”, but unspectacular. Probably perfect for a mid-market PBP guy.
Genuinely curious to know if you have other announcers that you would have preferred, that you think may have been realistic options? I don’t know many of the names out there.
I don’t know much of Jones’ work, but I guess for my rock bottom expectations of this franchise, he feels like a great get to me.
Oh, I think he’s fine and probably a solid enough option. If Gary were younger, I’d say move him over, but I doubt he’ll be doing this too many more years.
Had a better announcer two days ago..Mark will be fine
Unspectacular is a great term in this context.
For those without the ability to grasp the unspoken part of KG21’s post
No, it’s a bit like Ryan Ruocco actually. I think he’s much better on Nets telecasts than on ESPN. Whatever narrative ESPN is trying to sell makes it harder to call the game. I think Ruocco is worse on ESPN telecasts.
I’m wondering if the same applies to Mark Jones.
I’ve heard him call college football & he seemed fine, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard him call basketball.
I mean, he’s…fine? A little overly clichéd at times, but solid enough. Doesn’t seem like the complete asshole Napear is, so I suppose that’s a bonus.
Tough crowd.
I must be the only one who thinks he’s really good.
Agreed
So you agree that Marty is the only one who thinks he is good?
Is he bad? What point are YOU making?
I guess when I listen to him, his work doesn’t overwhelm me, and isn’t super memorable.
But he’s solid. I think he’d be great with a Doris Burke or someone we could upgrade over DC in the other seat.
Praise be to Cthulhu that it wasn’t Kevin Harlan.
I agree that Jones is solid & that his work isn’t overwhelming, but what’s wrong w/Kevin Harlan?
Harlan is the best in the business
He’s definitely among the best PBP guys IMO.
I’d rather listen to Matt George do PBP. 🙂
My god, he’s terrible.
Little chance of finding another gem of an asshole like GN.
Sounds like a good hire… Looking forward to hearing him team up with Doug!
For me, most announcers range from forgettable to unbearable. Exceptionally few are really worth not muting (Jerry Reynolds, John Miller, etc.). Jones, from what I’ve seen, is forgettable. Which will be a nice upgrade.
I really like Mark Jones and he seems like a solid hire. As much as I disliked Peaches…I always loved when he called a game and screamed-“If you don’t like that, you don’t like Kings Basketball!!”
I hope that Mark Jones almost becomes a little less-professional and we get some passion, fire, and excitement. I also hope he brings some Kings perspectives to his national broadcasts and talks positively about Sacramento.
Welcome to the family Mark!
Agree with the sentiment that I’d like to see him become a little less “professional/objective” that he is now calling the game for the Kings. I don’t want him shilling or anything, but a little more himself, whoever that might be.
Seems like a real quality hire. I’ve heard him call many basketball games and he did a good job as a network announcer.
In the interview with DC (You can find it on YouTube) Mark said he had to tell both sides of the story with national games and he’s looking forward to being tied to a team and region.
My personal checklist:
1) Be competent
2) Don’t be annoying
3) Don’t be Jim Gray
4) Don’t try to finagle your way into becoming GM (oh wait that’s for assistant GMs/consultants)
Meets criteria. I approve of this hire.
(edited to lrn2spell)
https://twitter.com/CoachKarl22/status/1324874688108113926?s=20
That is nice, but won’t mean a whole lot if we do not improve the product on the court significantly.
I think Mark Jones is perfectly adequate and that’s better than Peach’s any day of the week in my book.
Getting back to the press release….”Proud” fans??? Proud of what?
Intestinal fortitude?
I just want to say I’m in a REALLY good mood right now!
Democracy won
I’m four glasses of champagne in and am chronologically belting through Springsteen’s discography, but the joyous chants outside of Trump Tower (two miles away!!!) are drowning it out. I got married in July, but this might be me at my most celebratory day in years. Glad that you’re sharing the mood.
I haven’t slept well since Monday night, and this is probably the first time since then I will be sleeping like a baby.
Do you believe that the Mark Jones hire may inject some more PR positivity on a National level to the Kings? (assuming no more major or at least consistent major F ups)
In a few years, this franchise may not be constantly ridiculed, if we keep adding the right pieces (on and off the court).
As always, changing the national narrative about the Kings is up to the Kings. The truth is, the media LOVE the plucky upstate story. The moment, the Kings start to show any real life they’ll get plenty of love. It’s part of why the 00s Kings were such media darlings. Heck, at the end of the 2019 season we started getting a lot of love. Post season articles constantly included the Kings in their “up-and-coming” articles. As much as Kings fans love to complain able media bias, the Kings being good is a narrative the media would love to jump on and, likely, amplify beyond what the team may or may not actually merit.
Yes, agreed.
And I hope Vivek tries harder to put together a winning franchise, and not just be happy with PR moves.
Dammit! Plucky upstart story. Not upstate story. This isn’t about Buffalo.
New #Lensface? 2019 Media Day + Training Camp? Wow
Badge Legend