When did the Kings fan bug first bite you? (split from game thread)
- Thread starter VF21
- Start date
I fell in love with basketball in 1965. First with high school, then college ... then the Boston Celtics because even back then I couldn't stand the Lakers. 
When word got out that Sacramento was looking to get the Kings, I was conflicted. I had Celtics green in my blood by then and vowed no matter what that I wasn't going to become another homer fan who just rooted for the Kings because they were local. That lasted until the first Kings game I ever attended. Once I stepped into Arco I the first time I was hooked. The camaraderie of the fans and the feeling we were all on a special trip together was something I've felt ever since, even when times were the worst. My daughter attended her first Kings game with my brother when she was only 11 years old. He knew one of the team doctors and they sat at the end of the bench. KG4 caught the fever that night and never looked back. She married a Kings fan (in fact they got married in Kings jerseys) and my two granddaughters had no choice. It's in their blood - plus they both have middle names that start with K because "K is for Kings."
The friendships I've made with other Kings fans are some of the best friendships I've ever had. We share something so wonderful and weird that only other Kings fans can possibly understand.
Once, now ... and forever: GO KINGS!
When word got out that Sacramento was looking to get the Kings, I was conflicted. I had Celtics green in my blood by then and vowed no matter what that I wasn't going to become another homer fan who just rooted for the Kings because they were local. That lasted until the first Kings game I ever attended. Once I stepped into Arco I the first time I was hooked. The camaraderie of the fans and the feeling we were all on a special trip together was something I've felt ever since, even when times were the worst. My daughter attended her first Kings game with my brother when she was only 11 years old. He knew one of the team doctors and they sat at the end of the bench. KG4 caught the fever that night and never looked back. She married a Kings fan (in fact they got married in Kings jerseys) and my two granddaughters had no choice. It's in their blood - plus they both have middle names that start with K because "K is for Kings."
The friendships I've made with other Kings fans are some of the best friendships I've ever had. We share something so wonderful and weird that only other Kings fans can possibly understand.
Once, now ... and forever: GO KINGS!
Kings fan since 2000
My grandma was and still is to this day a die hard kings fan. She had season tickets from the day they moved here till about 2005. Well, she eventually started taking me to some games once I became intrigued about bball. Those Kings playoff games were some of the most exciting moments of my life! Instantly I was hooked and became a basketball junkie from then to today.
My grandma is quite old now (87) and yet she was their with me opening night this season. I spent all I had to get her and my brothers lower level tickets...so worth it!
My favourite Kings game memory would have to be Game 5 2002 WCF with that Bibby game winning jumper!
Even better watching Kobe brick the potential game winner of his own!
My grandma was and still is to this day a die hard kings fan. She had season tickets from the day they moved here till about 2005. Well, she eventually started taking me to some games once I became intrigued about bball. Those Kings playoff games were some of the most exciting moments of my life! Instantly I was hooked and became a basketball junkie from then to today.
My grandma is quite old now (87) and yet she was their with me opening night this season. I spent all I had to get her and my brothers lower level tickets...so worth it!
My favourite Kings game memory would have to be Game 5 2002 WCF with that Bibby game winning jumper!
Even better watching Kobe brick the potential game winner of his own!
Loved basketball.
Loved the Kings when they came to town.
At age 15, me and my 15 year old buddy took the street car to a hand full of Sacramento Junior College Panthers' games. They were fantastic, coach Ned Kay's fast break ran over every one, even the AAU Sacramento Senators semi pro team, hung in there with the Oilers. Nobody over 6-5, half f them were returned WW II veterans on the GI bill. Great times.
That same season I started shooting baskets on the asphalt court at a near by grammer school. Every afternoon until dark.
Three years later actually went out for basketball at Sac JC and was a third team guard on the JVs. Scored 12 points during the season. Loved the game.
In my early 40's became a radio fan of the Warriors. In 1975-76 my Warriors came out of no where and won it all. What a thrill.
Ten years later the Kings came to town and the rest is history. STH from the beginning.
Loved the Kings when they came to town.
At age 15, me and my 15 year old buddy took the street car to a hand full of Sacramento Junior College Panthers' games. They were fantastic, coach Ned Kay's fast break ran over every one, even the AAU Sacramento Senators semi pro team, hung in there with the Oilers. Nobody over 6-5, half f them were returned WW II veterans on the GI bill. Great times.
That same season I started shooting baskets on the asphalt court at a near by grammer school. Every afternoon until dark.
Three years later actually went out for basketball at Sac JC and was a third team guard on the JVs. Scored 12 points during the season. Loved the game.
In my early 40's became a radio fan of the Warriors. In 1975-76 my Warriors came out of no where and won it all. What a thrill.
Ten years later the Kings came to town and the rest is history. STH from the beginning.
Since my first game as a wee lad. It was in the late 80's or early 90's from what I recall. Actually just looked it up, Jan 2 1993. What I do know is the Kings opened up a can of whoop as on the 76ers that game. Final score was 154 to 98! Also remember just how tall and skinny Minute Bol was, especially with Spud on the floor.
Second memorable memory, for want of better words... Massive brawl with the Blazers right in front of me. Think it was OP and Rod Strickland throwing down?
Second memorable memory, for want of better words... Massive brawl with the Blazers right in front of me. Think it was OP and Rod Strickland throwing down?
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Was lucky enough to coincide my move back to Sacramento (my hometown) with the opening of the old Barn and attend a game WAY up in the nose bleeds. It was crazy. Having played basketball and it being my favorite sport it was only natural that they were my favorite team. Being barely an adult at that time, I didn't get the opportunity to attend many more games in person until, oddly, the lock out season. By that time, the years of loosing had made tickets easy to get (at the beginning of the season) and a co worker's parents had season tickets that they gave to us quite often. That year was off the hook, as people started to figure out that they were seeing something special. It was fun to watch people as they started to hope, started to believe. We went to the airport to meet the team, after they lost in the first round and it was nuts Maybe that was the next year? Watching that pick Webb set on Stockton, dayum...... that team made a minor fandom into an absolute obsession
Around 1990, my older brother plastered a Wayman Tisdale poster on the wall. Naturally, as an uninformed six year old, I asked him, "does he play against Michael Jordan?" and "do the Kings play the Bulls?" Yes, up until this moment, I literally had no clue that my hometown had an NBA team.
I didn't really get into the Kings until my brain had formed enough around the basic concepts of basketball, the NBA/college landscape/players and luckily, when the Kings started becoming competitive again - and that'd be the '94/95 season.
I've been a fan ever since. While I now live in NYC, I'm looking forward to flying across the country to attend the last game in Arco...with the same brother who introduced me to my favorite team.
I didn't really get into the Kings until my brain had formed enough around the basic concepts of basketball, the NBA/college landscape/players and luckily, when the Kings started becoming competitive again - and that'd be the '94/95 season.
I've been a fan ever since. While I now live in NYC, I'm looking forward to flying across the country to attend the last game in Arco...with the same brother who introduced me to my favorite team.
November 10, 1992
My mom worked for US Bank and we got tickets for the corporate luxury box (what a way to see your first game). Original PA announcer Fred Anderson introduced the team to Europe's "Final Countdown" (The new Geico commercial makes me think of that game). Mitch Richmond hit a baseline 2 with a couple seconds left to beat the Clippers and the Kings started 3-0. I was hooked.
My mom worked for US Bank and we got tickets for the corporate luxury box (what a way to see your first game). Original PA announcer Fred Anderson introduced the team to Europe's "Final Countdown" (The new Geico commercial makes me think of that game). Mitch Richmond hit a baseline 2 with a couple seconds left to beat the Clippers and the Kings started 3-0. I was hooked.
Since the first home game on Halloween, Fally of 85, age 9. Sad because I couldn't go, not so quickly assuaged by candy as one would have thought. Soon went to first home game. Grandfather kept season tickets that season and until 2008, after he passed, and grandma let them go.
Greatest memories were getting out of school in 4th and 5th grade to go to Hot Seat Luncheons, which were lunches in hotel conference rooms with Jerry Reynolds and the players and whoever else was in the organization at the time. Met Reggie Theus, Harrold Pressly, LaSalle Thompson, Waymon Tisdale... MARK OLBERDING... the early stars! There was no espn.com, no Ric Bucher, no Bill Simmons, just your weekly Sports Illustrated, and you were THRILLED if the Kings got a mention. It truly felt like a small town team getting a seat at the table. Think about this: the first Kings practices, were held at American River College! And they were open to the public. Just imagine that.
That's why this town loves it's Kings. Because that's how it all started. **** twitter.
Greatest memories were getting out of school in 4th and 5th grade to go to Hot Seat Luncheons, which were lunches in hotel conference rooms with Jerry Reynolds and the players and whoever else was in the organization at the time. Met Reggie Theus, Harrold Pressly, LaSalle Thompson, Waymon Tisdale... MARK OLBERDING... the early stars! There was no espn.com, no Ric Bucher, no Bill Simmons, just your weekly Sports Illustrated, and you were THRILLED if the Kings got a mention. It truly felt like a small town team getting a seat at the table. Think about this: the first Kings practices, were held at American River College! And they were open to the public. Just imagine that.
That's why this town loves it's Kings. Because that's how it all started. **** twitter.
To be honest, I don't remember. My family was not into sports at all, and I discovered it on my own. We didn't have cable, so I must have just watched it on local TV (growing up in Modesto) and then kept watching. All I remember was I was a huge pre-Richmond Tisdale fan. So that kinda narrows down when a bit I guess. But when everyone else was wearing Jordan jerseys, I was this little bashful kid getting made fun of in my Richmond jersey.
Never saw any of my old favorites live unfortunately. I didn't realize that you could buy tickets to sporting events...I just figured it was something that people just had. First attended game was Kings vs. Mavs in '99.
Never saw any of my old favorites live unfortunately. I didn't realize that you could buy tickets to sporting events...I just figured it was something that people just had. First attended game was Kings vs. Mavs in '99.