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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11772825p-12657613c.html
Ailene Voisin: Home again
He never should have left, but Vlade Divac, the man who was King, returns to Arco Arena - as a Laker
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Sports Columnist:
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Vlade Divac came home today, came back to the city where he belongs, to the arena he never should have left, to the community still coming to terms with his departure.
He was a king among Kings.
He was the face of a franchise.
He was ... beloved.
"I don't want to cry when I step on the floor at Arco," said Divac, who is anxiously awaiting Thursday night's appearance with the Los Angeles Lakers, "but I know it's going to be hard. The best six years of my career were there. People were so good to me. The crowd in Sac is unbelievable. That's what I miss most - the atmosphere and the people."
For six consecutive years, youngsters sang songs about him, old ladies adored him, grown men embraced him. Most importantly, by becoming the first major free agent to sign with Sacramento in 1998, Divac, a familiar sight around town with his thick dark beard and the warmest of eyes, anchored the renaissance of an organization.
Even the critics who complained about the veteran center's chronically poor conditioning - and these past few seasons, his ability to convert around the basket was also diminished - were romanced by the totality of his contributions: his complete immersion into the community, his accommodating nature with fans and media members alike, his generosity of spirit in the locker room, on the court, in the world.
He should have known better. He never should have left. This was a mistake, a mid-life gamble that should have been averted. Instead of trotting off to the Lakers, to the team that drafted him out of Serbia, Divac should have re-signed for less money, shrugged off the immense disappointment of his reduced late-season role (as unfair and ill-advised as it was) and assumed his status as revered elder statesman.
Instead, by returning to the Lakers, Divac becomes just another bit player in the L.A. soap opera that never ends, or another aging NBA star wasting away his final moments in distant surroundings. Patrick Ewing. Hakeem Olajuwon. Michael Jordan. Charles Barkley. Maybe Karl Malone.
Shouldn't the final will and testament be read among best friends? Isn't there comfort in that? And perish the thought that Divac's jersey will hang from the rafters of Staples Center; that happens here. No. 21 will be permanently affixed to Arco - or any new arena here - shortly after he calls it quits.
"There is no question about that," said Kings co-owner Joe Maloof. "Vlade represents the best of this franchise. Sac was perfect for him, and he was perfect for Sac. The thing I feel bad about is that we had to make a business decision. We wanted to keep him, but we just couldn't offer him what the Lakers did."
There is another reason for Divac's conflicted feelings; he signed a two-year, $10 million contract during the offseason, yet thus far has been a minimal contributor. Hobbled by a herniated disk since early October, he has played in seven games and averaged fewer than five minutes. He scored his first field goal Sunday night.
Privately, because of Divac's age, 36, members of the Kings' organization believe they are better off with the defense-oriented Greg Ostertag as Brad Miller's backup. And even Divac fears his back problems might force him to retire at season's end.
"Mentally, I'm afraid of moving too quick because I don't want to (aggravate the injury)," he said. "It's very frustrating because I'm not a guy who gets injured. I feel bad because I can't help the team. There are really good people in this organization, too. And after six years of booing me, they (fans) accept me very nicely. They cheer for me now."
But not like Kings fans. Never like Kings fans. While Divac's NBA history began with Magic Johnson, Pat Riley and Jerry West in L.A., then continued for two seasons in Charlotte, his skills were best illuminated and most appreciated in Sacramento. Rick Adelman's system was ideally scripted for the 7-foot-1 veteran, one of the greatest passing big men in the history of the game. At their best, and especially during that 2001-02 season, the Kings played off the clever assists and creative, on-the-job spin moves of their amiable, incredibly unselfish center.
And in spite of the playoff disappointments - and they were numerous - Divac's last great run was a memorable one: Minus Chris Webber for 58 games last season, the Kings not only led the NBA in victories, they turned an old school style into a hip, highly efficient, at times breathtakingly spectacular production.
"I miss Vlade a lot," said Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, adding with a laugh, "especially his passing."
But in what has become an old story, an ailing Webber's return reduced Divac's minutes (and stamina), disrupted team chemistry, altered Peja Stojakovic's role as primary scorer and, in the end, helped nudge Divac out the door. Divac felt unwanted and underutilized. He decided to go home, back to where he began, back to L.A.
But home?
No, this is home. This is where it happened.
Ailene Voisin: Home again
He never should have left, but Vlade Divac, the man who was King, returns to Arco Arena - as a Laker
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Sports Columnist:
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Vlade Divac came home today, came back to the city where he belongs, to the arena he never should have left, to the community still coming to terms with his departure.
He was a king among Kings.
He was the face of a franchise.
He was ... beloved.
"I don't want to cry when I step on the floor at Arco," said Divac, who is anxiously awaiting Thursday night's appearance with the Los Angeles Lakers, "but I know it's going to be hard. The best six years of my career were there. People were so good to me. The crowd in Sac is unbelievable. That's what I miss most - the atmosphere and the people."
For six consecutive years, youngsters sang songs about him, old ladies adored him, grown men embraced him. Most importantly, by becoming the first major free agent to sign with Sacramento in 1998, Divac, a familiar sight around town with his thick dark beard and the warmest of eyes, anchored the renaissance of an organization.
Even the critics who complained about the veteran center's chronically poor conditioning - and these past few seasons, his ability to convert around the basket was also diminished - were romanced by the totality of his contributions: his complete immersion into the community, his accommodating nature with fans and media members alike, his generosity of spirit in the locker room, on the court, in the world.
He should have known better. He never should have left. This was a mistake, a mid-life gamble that should have been averted. Instead of trotting off to the Lakers, to the team that drafted him out of Serbia, Divac should have re-signed for less money, shrugged off the immense disappointment of his reduced late-season role (as unfair and ill-advised as it was) and assumed his status as revered elder statesman.
Instead, by returning to the Lakers, Divac becomes just another bit player in the L.A. soap opera that never ends, or another aging NBA star wasting away his final moments in distant surroundings. Patrick Ewing. Hakeem Olajuwon. Michael Jordan. Charles Barkley. Maybe Karl Malone.
Shouldn't the final will and testament be read among best friends? Isn't there comfort in that? And perish the thought that Divac's jersey will hang from the rafters of Staples Center; that happens here. No. 21 will be permanently affixed to Arco - or any new arena here - shortly after he calls it quits.
"There is no question about that," said Kings co-owner Joe Maloof. "Vlade represents the best of this franchise. Sac was perfect for him, and he was perfect for Sac. The thing I feel bad about is that we had to make a business decision. We wanted to keep him, but we just couldn't offer him what the Lakers did."
There is another reason for Divac's conflicted feelings; he signed a two-year, $10 million contract during the offseason, yet thus far has been a minimal contributor. Hobbled by a herniated disk since early October, he has played in seven games and averaged fewer than five minutes. He scored his first field goal Sunday night.
Privately, because of Divac's age, 36, members of the Kings' organization believe they are better off with the defense-oriented Greg Ostertag as Brad Miller's backup. And even Divac fears his back problems might force him to retire at season's end.
"Mentally, I'm afraid of moving too quick because I don't want to (aggravate the injury)," he said. "It's very frustrating because I'm not a guy who gets injured. I feel bad because I can't help the team. There are really good people in this organization, too. And after six years of booing me, they (fans) accept me very nicely. They cheer for me now."
But not like Kings fans. Never like Kings fans. While Divac's NBA history began with Magic Johnson, Pat Riley and Jerry West in L.A., then continued for two seasons in Charlotte, his skills were best illuminated and most appreciated in Sacramento. Rick Adelman's system was ideally scripted for the 7-foot-1 veteran, one of the greatest passing big men in the history of the game. At their best, and especially during that 2001-02 season, the Kings played off the clever assists and creative, on-the-job spin moves of their amiable, incredibly unselfish center.
And in spite of the playoff disappointments - and they were numerous - Divac's last great run was a memorable one: Minus Chris Webber for 58 games last season, the Kings not only led the NBA in victories, they turned an old school style into a hip, highly efficient, at times breathtakingly spectacular production.
"I miss Vlade a lot," said Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, adding with a laugh, "especially his passing."
But in what has become an old story, an ailing Webber's return reduced Divac's minutes (and stamina), disrupted team chemistry, altered Peja Stojakovic's role as primary scorer and, in the end, helped nudge Divac out the door. Divac felt unwanted and underutilized. He decided to go home, back to where he began, back to L.A.
But home?
No, this is home. This is where it happened.
