Will Kings Retire Peja's Jersey?
- Thread starter chasen4r1
- Start date
Have read all the thread, still don't have a problem with retiring Peja's number. Obviously he's not a no brainer, and he's a debatable choice, but he's one of the franchise's best players and played in the best team we ever had. I don't think Peja really cheapens the honour, to be honest. He wasn't a bad defender either, despite the stereotype. At least not with regards to man defense.
That's pretty tough for the Kings. My criteria for retiring a number is that it be a player we don't want to forget but there needs to be a compelling reason. Peja doesn't fit that criteria for me, personally. For example, Vlade might not be retired on a team that usually has great players (Lakers, for example) but Vlade was the glue that held our best team together both on the floor and in the locker room.
So when does Bibby get his jersey retired?
If we're going to hang Peja's jersey in the rafters, the argument for Bibby isn't that tough to make if Peja level players are getting their number retired. Both were vital pieces to that squad. Webber was the foundation and Vlade/Bibby/Peja were all about equally important behind him, Vlade more for his presence.
I loved both Peja and Bibby, however don't believe either should have their jersey retired. Seems like a gimmick to me in an attempt to drum up excitement.
If we're going to hang Peja's jersey in the rafters, the argument for Bibby isn't that tough to make if Peja level players are getting their number retired. Both were vital pieces to that squad. Webber was the foundation and Vlade/Bibby/Peja were all about equally important behind him, Vlade more for his presence.
I loved both Peja and Bibby, however don't believe either should have their jersey retired. Seems like a gimmick to me in an attempt to drum up excitement.
I've changed my mind; I think I would lose sleep over this. I usually roll my eyes when guys like Bricklayer go on one of their "laughingstock of the league" benders but, honestly... I don't want my team to be the one that has three numbers retired from a squad that didn't even get to the Finals.
Stojakovic wasn't the guy who held the team together (Divac), he wasn't the guy who was the workhorse for three quarters (Webber) or even the guy who carried the team down the stretch (Bibby). He was a good player but, let's be real: Divac made that guy.
Stojakovic wasn't the guy who held the team together (Divac), he wasn't the guy who was the workhorse for three quarters (Webber) or even the guy who carried the team down the stretch (Bibby). He was a good player but, let's be real: Divac made that guy.
Why? What real difference does it make?
I'm not even arguing specifically about Peja in this instance. I'm more arguing about the whole "He didn't deserve it" as though there is something cast in stone about when a franchise can retire a number.
If the new regime chooses to honor a player by retiring his jersey and holding a special celebration, does it really matter in the large scheme of things? We're already the "laughingstock" of the NBA because we hung up our Pacific Division championship banner...
Almost without exception, the players on the squad that we all cherish were summarily dismissed, traded away and only shown recognition when it was good for the Maloofs to do so. Remember, they wouldn't even allow the cameras to show the reception Rick Adelman received on his first return to Arco.
Should Peja's jersey be retired? Maybe. Will it provide the renewed fanbase an opportunity to once again show their appreciation for everything those guys gave to us? Oh, hell yes if the previous two celebrations are any indication. One thing we know for sure is Vivek will do it up right.
I'm not even arguing specifically about Peja in this instance. I'm more arguing about the whole "He didn't deserve it" as though there is something cast in stone about when a franchise can retire a number.
If the new regime chooses to honor a player by retiring his jersey and holding a special celebration, does it really matter in the large scheme of things? We're already the "laughingstock" of the NBA because we hung up our Pacific Division championship banner...
Almost without exception, the players on the squad that we all cherish were summarily dismissed, traded away and only shown recognition when it was good for the Maloofs to do so. Remember, they wouldn't even allow the cameras to show the reception Rick Adelman received on his first return to Arco.
Should Peja's jersey be retired? Maybe. Will it provide the renewed fanbase an opportunity to once again show their appreciation for everything those guys gave to us? Oh, hell yes if the previous two celebrations are any indication. One thing we know for sure is Vivek will do it up right.
In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't make any difference. And, since I don't work for the ball club, neither does anything else the Kings do or don't do. But, I choose not to let "what difference does it make?" serve as the determining criteria for whether or not something bothers me.
If that was the bar, I wouldn't be bothered by much of anything, and surely you know me better than that, by now...
If that was the bar, I wouldn't be bothered by much of anything, and surely you know me better than that, by now...
I'm not sure where you got that idea from.
Every NBA team hangs division championship banners except for the Lakers and Boston Celtics, winners of 33 NBA titles.
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...clippers-potential-division-title-banner-hung
Every NBA team hangs division championship banners except for the Lakers and Boston Celtics, winners of 33 NBA titles.
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...clippers-potential-division-title-banner-hung
hm. i think i would have preferred to see a championship banner hanging in the rafters before the kings decided to retire yet another jersey number. they already have ten of 'em up there (including the "6th man" jersey, representing the fans). that's not to say that peja stojakovic isn't deserving of such an honor; if it were my decision, i probably wouldn't retire his number, but a fair enough argument can certainly be made to the contrary...
i think i'm just put off by what could be thought of as an increasing amount of... gimmicks? that may be a more harsh descriptor than i would like. "distractions," perhaps? the kings are doing an unbelievable job in the PR/marketing department, but the product on the court remains the biggest question mark, with few realistic pathways remaining to improve it. i guess i just don't like feeling as if the new regime is throwing legacy bones in the fans direction to keep us happy while the losses continue to pile up. then again, perhaps i'm just being cynical. my spirits may brighten as we get closer to the start of the regular season (and the start of cooler weather)...
i think i'm just put off by what could be thought of as an increasing amount of... gimmicks? that may be a more harsh descriptor than i would like. "distractions," perhaps? the kings are doing an unbelievable job in the PR/marketing department, but the product on the court remains the biggest question mark, with few realistic pathways remaining to improve it. i guess i just don't like feeling as if the new regime is throwing legacy bones in the fans direction to keep us happy while the losses continue to pile up. then again, perhaps i'm just being cynical. my spirits may brighten as we get closer to the start of the regular season (and the start of cooler weather)...
Hey look, we're a rinky-dink organization that has had some sunshiney moments and is truely going somewhere...somewhere where success is both attained and sustainable. Were it not for that team with Peja, we might never have the ambitions we now have, and we might not believe that greatness is even possible for the Sacramento Kings. We know it is, because we've seen it. If, on the journey we're taking, those taking us there want to celebrate the parts of our Kings story that remind us of these things, then I am all for it. Retire that jersey. Hang it high and proud. And if we run out of room, well hell...we'll just build a bigger arena.
