My introduction to Kings fans was awkward.
I was the Laker Fan.
That’s what happens when an NFL writer answers a question honestly and admits his favorite childhood team is the Los Angeles Lakers and says his favorite player is Magic Johnson in the bio on his job’s website and then gets moved over to the NBA beat.
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In the nearly 10 years since, Kings fans have reminded me they will never get over the 2002 Western Conference Finals and I’ve proven I do not cover the Kings through purple and gold lenses (though the jokes will never end).
The most important thing I’ve learned is you don’t need me to tell you the Kings lost a game.
You need me to tell you why the Kings lose games, and continue lose at least 50 every season for more than a decade.
You want to know more about the players beyond the rushed, off-day feature based on a brief group interview after a late-season practice.
Fans are as smart as ever, with ample access to statistics and data once reserved for media and coaches to use to analyze players. I can tell you in a tweet the final score of a game (one you likely watched) and fill you in on the leading scorer (which you also know), but fans want more beyond what they can see for themselves.
That’s why I’m writing for The Athletic.
I’m rejuvenated entering my 10th season covering the Kings and the NBA. Through seven head coaches, three general managers and two ownership groups, I’ve seen a lot covering the Kings.
The team almost relocated (twice), traded its only All-Star, moved into a fancy arena and been the target of jokes for years.
Getting to the root of how the Kings plan to change that and if they have the players to make that happen is what matters. That’s what I’ll devote my time to unearthing with The Athletic.
That’s not to say the games do not matter. They obviously do. But what I will not give you are recaps of what you’ve seen or click-bait stories that only reveal minimal details.
No more skipping Dave Joerger’s (sometimes very brief) postgame news conference to turn in a game recap.
No more exiting the locker room early to meet a print deadline.
Having been around the team nearly every day for nearly a decade, there is so much more to offer readers. When I subscribed to The Athletic, I saw a platform offering readers something beyond the box scores.
I’m excited to be able to join a deep, talented team of writers and editors to make this happen for Kings fans.