The Kings Herald Show is back with an episode dedicated to one of the big talking points in Sacramento right now: Tanking.
Jerry Reynolds, Will Griffith, Tony Xypteras, and Built To Lose author Jake Fischer break down Sacramento’s history of failed rebuild attempts, tell some fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from the Vivek Ranadive era, and discuss the merits of tanking in the NBA today.
Timestamps:
- (4:15) Are the Kings tanking, or are they just bad?
- (5:45) The 2013 NBA Draft nightmare
- (10:50) Behind-the-scenes details from the Marvin Bagley draft
- (16:45) DeMarcus Cousins’ treatment of former Kings rookies
- (23:15) Challenges of the George Karl era
- (32:30) Vivek Ranadive’s secret weapon
- (34:15) The Sam Hinkie conversation
- (48:50) The 2nd Draft
- (58:00) Are the current-era Sacramento Kings in a good position long-term?
- (102:00) Is there a tanking problem in the NBA today? How would you fix it?
We had a great time speaking with Built To Lose author and Bleacher Report contributor, Jake Fischer, on the podcast this week. Jake told some fascinating Kings stories I had never heard before on the podcast with us, and his new book features a lot more of those never-before-told stories.
You can purchase Jake’s book Built to Lose: How the NBA’s Tanking Era Changed the League Forever here.
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In addition to our bi-weekly podcast with Jerry Reynolds, we also record a Patreon exclusive Q+A once a month where Patrons at any level can Ask Jerry Anything. The Jerry Reynolds Q+A for March was posted last month, here.
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Thanks for listening!
The stuff about Cousins being brutal to rookies is disappointing, but attributing Fredette’s failure to become an actual NBA player to that is ludicrous. Same with Stauskas, neither of those guys had any business being drafted by anyone.
How do you know that?
Jerry said that even Tyrese wouldn’t have made it.
Confidence is so important for especially young players.
I trust Jerry’s opinion on this topic. I am still shocked at what this franchise allowed.
The only possible environment that either could have flourished was to have been drafted to a team with a roster like the championship Warriors teams had. Both were shooters with sub-standard athleticism across the board, and no ability to create their own shots. Neither had any defensive skill or aptitude.
You surround them with enough talent so that they can get open looks? Sure, why not? You hardly need to be a lottery pick to benefit from such an advantage.
Listening to this podcast had made me realize how futile is it is to hope that the Kings turn it around under Vivek. It’s clear that he has no hope of leading this franchise in the right direction. His meddling nature will continue to be the reason this franchise flounders around in no man’s land.
What a complete and total disaster the Vivek era has been. 8 years of no playoffs and no clear plan in sight. Hell, just look at this season. We went from reading about McNair’s gap year plan to pushing for a 10th seed within a few weeks. That screams of a meddling owner who decided to shift courses in the middle of a season.
I honestly am not sure why I put any thought or invest any sort of emotional stake into this team. Greg wrote about feeling apathetic a few days ago that I think perfectly sums up my feelings. It’s just so frustrating that the loyal fans of Sacramento will never get rewarded for putting up with this bullshit.
Nice arena though. Sure would be fun to see a playoff game in there.
If there’s any hope, it’s that Vivek actually conducted a proper GM search when he hired McNair. That’s basically the first time he’s ever hired a coach/GM in a normal way.
In the podcast, it was suggested that Vivek played a part in putting together McNair’s staff. That doesn’t give me any sort of confidence. I was rather surprised when Wes Wilcox was added onto the staff and I wouldn’t be surprised if that was Vivek pushing McNair to add him since Wilcox was one for the 3 finalists for the job.
Nothing Vivek does gives me any hope. The little man refuses to learn from his mistakes. The team will keep making failed pushes towards the 8th seed and draft in the 8-14 range for the forseeable future.
All roads lead to…
NBA 0.30
Basketball Hell
We’re going back to the future!
Only half way through. This pod is amazeballs. Well done gents!
Jake is very knowledgeable about the Kings’ decision-making woes. I can’t think of anyone outside of Sacramento who knew this much about our plight.
Great show, everyone!
This is great. It confirms on record a lot of things we’d heard rumored for years about the dysfunction surrounding Boogie, Vivek, Pete, Karl, and the rest of the franchise.
Seems The Marcos Breton column in the Bee points to the Vivek problem as THE main problem in basketball futility ! Past, present and future ! Podcast was a nice reminder of Kings fans pain !
Vivek is terrible. Until the team wins, he’ll be a joke. And the team can’t win until he stops intervening, which he doesn’t seem to understand.
Great stuff! I disagree with the idea of having the teams that miss the playoffs enter a tournament and the winner gets the no. 1 pick. Play for your replacement, not sure how some players might like that.
Just throw the bottom 14 into a lottery with equal odds.
Yeah, the last thing anyone needs is a collection of the crummiest teams battling it out to be the best worst team.
There have been a number of years where teams with solid records got squeezed out of the playoffs due to there being enough teams with better records. The Nuggets in ’17-’18, OKC in ’14-’15, and Phoenix in ’13-’14 leap to mind. These were all teams that were very close to making the playoffs, and it would be a lot to ask a team with 15-20 wins to battle through several rounds of games to get the help that they need.
As ever, the draft is a crapshoot, but being at the top always allows for more possibilities.
Interesting. Although I think singling out the Kings as a contrast to the tanking teams is out of place. I get the concept of the book, it will sell, and the topic of tanking is fascinating, but as Jerry Reynolds pointed out the Kings finished last one year and got the 4th pick. Also with the draft picks they did have, they could have drafted the entire Warriors team, the entire Trailbrazers team, the Utah team, Kawhi, Doncic, the list goes on. So I think if Jake Fischer wanted to write about the Kings, it should have belonged in another book, and by putting it in the Built to Lose book, the product loses integrity. It’s just Kings-bashing because they’re an easy target, not because it fits with the main point of his book.
Have you read the book and the context of the Kings parts in it?
Do you know if it is Kings bashing, or are you assuming it?
Have you listened to the podcast and the reason Jake gave for including the Kings in the book? And Jerry Reynolds’ polite counter-points which totally undermine it?
I listened and agree totally !
I have no problem with Kings bashing. They should be bashed….over and over and over again, until ownership finally pulls their collective heads out of their asses.
In going back to its transition into the professional ranks in the 40s, through the present, this franchise is without a doubt the worst non-defunct franchise to grace any of the four major sports.
Great podcast episode, but it made me all kinds of sad because I don’t think we’ll ever be a good franchise with Vivek in charge.
This is gonna be a fun podcast to listen to, I suspect.
Excellent episode, so so insightful.
Just got around to this podcast and… wow. This is a great listen but boy are we truly and royally screwed. Vivek is a disaster and Jerry and Jake basically confirm that it’s actually worse than we think it is. I have always had in the back of my mind that we can’t win anything with him at the helm and after listening to this I can’t imagine how we ever win with this guy.
Wow this should be pinned up higher what a GREAT episode
Badge Legend