Home

NBA

Sacramento Kings News: Owner Frustrated as Team Continues to Underplay

Published 02/12/2020, 12:57 PM EST

Follow Us

Vivek Ranadive is living the American dream. Born in Mumbai, Ranadive moved to the United States of America at the age of 16. After earning his academic stripes at MIT and Harvard University, he went on to become a successful entrepreneur. In 2013, Ranadive became the first person of Indian descent to own an NBA franchise when he purchased the Sacramento Kings.

Sacramento Kings: Internal Blame Game

However, the Sacramento Kings are six games out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Reportedly, this is making Randive grow frustrated and impatient.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

According to Shams Charania, Sam Amick and Jason Jones of The Athletic, Ranadive has aired his grievances to general manager Vlade Divac, head coach Luke Walton, assistant general manager Peja Stojakovic and Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis throughout the season in a group text.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Sources say Ranadive has shared his frustration with both front office and coaching decisions in a variety of unfiltered ways. These include private conversations with business associates and in text messages during a season-long group chat. The chat included Divac, coach Luke Walton, assistant general manager Peja Stojakovic and Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis. The team’s underachievement is reportedly the focus of the complaints and the part they all played in it.

Ranadive has reportedly focused much of his frustration on the job Walton has done during his first season as head coach. “Several ownership officials” have reportedly offered a “sharp assessment” of Walton’s performance throughout the season, and the group text reportedly features many complaints from Ranadive regarding the coaching.

Walton was the Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach for three seasons before the Kings hired him, and his time in L.A. was largely considered a failure, as he went 98-148 and never led the Lakers to the playoffs.

Under Dave Joerger last season, the Kings finished 39-43, which was good for ninth place in the Western Conference. The Kings missed the playoffs by nine games. However, it was their best record since going 44-38 in 2005-06, which was the last season they made the playoffs.

Why the Kings Continue to Struggle

The Kings have an impressive collection of talent on paper. This includes Hield, De’Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Marvin Bagley. However, it has not led to the desired on-court success.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Part of the reason for that is the fact that the Kings struggled in close games. In fact, they have lost an NBA-high eight games by three points or less this season.

Sacramento has played better lately, as it was on a three-game winning streak prior to Monday’s 123-111 loss to the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks. Despite this, a big run is needed down the stretch in order to get into playoff position.

 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Maitreyee Joshi

372Articles

One take at a time