Sacramento Kings: Eight candidates for NBC Sports Kings TV

This article is a list of potential candidates that the Sacramento Kings can consider when finding a replacement for the Kings’ TV position.

It has been a week since Kings fans heard that Sacramento Kings TV commentator Grant Napear resigned from his job. With this news coming out, this article is about taking a look at potential candidates that could successfully provide a creative entertaining voice to the Kings’ TV position for the future!

1. Kayte Christensen-Hunter

Kayte Christensen-Hunter would be the ideal candidate for the job. She is always knowledgeable about different types of players in NBA and always finds very insightful stats about each NBA team, games and historical trends.

A little bit about Christensen is she was drafted in the WNBA by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2002 WNBA Draft coming from UC Santa Barbara. She played for five years ending her career for the Chicago Sky.

While making a name for herself in basketball, she also got her first position in radio broadcasting with the Arizona State Sun Devils in 2003. She later got her second broadcasting position with the Sacramento Kings on Comcast SportsNet at the time but left for a brief time from 2010-2013. After the brief break from the Kings, she was hired in 2013 and is currently with the Kings and NBC as their sideline reporter and studio anchor.

2. Gary Gerould

Gary Gerould started broadcasting for the Kings in 1985.

Before taking over as the Kings’ announcer, he started his career at age 14 in Michigan where he was born. He later went to Anderson University and after graduating got his first job in Chico, California at KHSL Radio. After his first position, he moved to KCRA in Sacramento, California. He later went to become a broadcaster nationally on ESPN and did select NFL games as well as the 1988 Summer Olympics, although the majority of his early broadcasting was done in motorsports.

Although he is on the list of potential candidates for the Kings, I would not be surprised if he does not take the job. He is 78 and could take over during home games as he does have 35 years of knowledge that he can describe. During his radio broadcasts, Gerould is quite elegant in his choice of words whenever he describes the games and is why he would not be a bad choice for TV even if it is for home games.

3. Vince Carter

It would not be bad having Vince Carter in the broadcasting booth after having him on the Sacramento Kings for one season. What would make this ideal is if he can not only provide the Kings fans with knowledge from his 22 seasons in the NBA.

He can also provide a voice to Kings players that are half of his age trying to make an established reputation for themselves in the league.  He did say in a recent podcast in May 2020 that he “wants to do something in broadcasting”, so this is good timing for the super veteran.

4. Mitch Richmond

Although Mitch Richmond has been seen in select Kings broadcasts this season, fans wouldn’t mind having him on the broadcast in an expanded role. Although it is unclear what Richmond can bring to the table, he does have a bond with the Sacramento Kings community during the 1990s when he was one of the top players on the team. He can also provide some insights into how the best players think offensively, and how to guard NBA greats as he played against one of the best in Michael Jordan.

5. Chris Webber

A long time Kings player from 1998-2005, it would not be surprising to see the former-Kings come back for a TV role. Although he has been criticized by fans for his commentating, what would make a better position than his current position on TNT is being a voice for what Vlade Divac is trying to do in Sacramento. He can also make suggestions to Divac behind the scenes indirectly to which way the franchise should go as this would be an ideal situation for getting hired from TNT.

6. Kenny Smith

Kenny is currently an anchor for TNT. He is formerly a player for the Sacramento Kings who drafted him with the sixth overall pick in 1987. He was traded halfway through his second year on the Kings. Despite his short connection with the Kings, he could provide basketball knowledge to the Kings’ telecast and help the fans process to the plays during games.

7. Bill Walton

Back in 2013, Walton was hired as the Kings’ co-commentator to ramp up their ratings. Although many fans disliked him for his horrible takes Napear needed to correct at times, if the Kings need a quick replacement then he could ideally do it as his son Luke Walton is the current head coach of the team. Two of his famous lines from 2013 which fans can get used to is “Throw it down!” and “Where would the Kings be without [insert player’s name]?”

8. Jim Gray

Much like Bill Walton, Jim Gray’s first appearance with the Kings came in 2013. He mainly served as a sideline reporter. If a person like Christensen has an expanded role such as taking on the role as commentator, someone else will have to able to fill in the void as Sacramento’s sideline reporter. This is where Gray comes in. He has experience with ESPN, NBC Sports and CBS Sports. He also appeared on broadcasts such as NBA on NBC during the 1990s.

Although he would be better as a sideline reporter, he also has experience with commentating if Christensen does not want to replace Napear’s position.

Overall Thoughts

Although some of these candidates could be impossible for NBC to hire, all should be considered as they have connections to broadcasting and the Kings. Whoever NBC decides to hire, they should be able to provide a creative, entertaining voice and be able to express the energy and excitement of what is happening game to game as well as to be able to connect with fans.