With the announcement circulating today of Chris Webber's retirement, Kings fans all over the Kingdom will be talking about #4. And hopefully, there will be talk of retiring his jersey - and that of teammate Vlade Divac - into the rafters at Arco sooner rather than later.
Webber was part of THE TEAM, the group of players that could take the court and within minutes take fans on the ride with them and literally take their breath away in the process.
What made THE TEAM so special? The precision passing, the back-door cuts, the dagger threes from way behind the arc, the obvious respect for one another, the heart and the hustle - all combined to make Kings games an all-encompassing experience.
You didn't just attend a Kings game. You LIVED a Kings game. You were drawn onto the court and into the action as the 6th man to an extent those who have never attended a Kings game at Arco couldn't possibly understand.
Chris Webber WAS the true warrior King. He battled and he fought, and he made players around him better. He was a generous player, on and off the court. He was a fan favorite and he loved the fans.
He - and the rest of THE TEAM - set a standard future Kings teams can only hope to emulate.
So, this is a bittersweet farewell. You may be gone from the court, Webb, but you will never be gone from our hearts. And hopefully, very soon your name and number will take an honored place in the rafters in Arco.
THANK YOU. The journey was well worth the price.
