Gregg Lukenbill on the importance David Stern had keeping the Kings in Sacramento
Feb 23, 2024, 9:58 PM | Updated: 9:59 pm
SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 15: A detailed view of the Sacramento Kings logo at center court at Sleep Train Arena during an NBA basketeball game between the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings on December 15, 2015 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The original owner of the Sacramento Kings, Gregg Lukenbill, joined The Drive Guys Friday afternoon to reflect on moving the team to Sacramento, how they’ve continued to progress since then, the importance of David Stern in keeping the team from relocating, and more.
Lukenbill owned the team from the late 1980s through the early 1990s. The trio began their discussion by getting Lukenbills opinions on the current state of the team. He spoke highly of current general manager Monte McNair.
“The guy that they’ve got behind the scenes, that’s the guy that’s arraigning for the current upgrade of the talent to get us where we need to be is doing a great job,” he said. “I think the general direction of the franchise is good. I think, if they stay the course that they’re on, they will be up in the playoffs step by step to the point where they’ll get back to where they were at our peak of course, which was about 2001.”
Their discussion then led into when Gregg Lukenbill contributed to keeping the team in Sacramento during the relaoction saga, where they came extremely close to moving to Seattle in 2013.
Lukenbills shared attempting to move an MLB team in 1988-89, considering the rumors circulating around the Oakland A’s and some of the complications that came with that process.
Other topics discussed included:
- The potential of Sacramento getting a baseball team, something Gregg Lukenbill tried to do years in the past
- Gregg Lukenbill thinks the city of Sacramento is getting closer to getting an MLB team
- Logistics surrounding bringing an MLB team to Sacramento
- Previous offers when he came to close to selling the Kings
- What the team would have been like if the team was moved
- The impact the Kings’ fanbase had on David Stern’s willingness to keep the team in Sacramento
- And plenty more!
What’s next for the Sacramento Kings?
Sacramento will board a short flight to Los Angeles this weekend as they will play the first game of a road home-back-to-back against the Clippers at crypto.com Arena.
The Clippers have had the Kings’ number this season, as Los Angeles has secured the first two regular-season matchups by an average of 17 points per contest.
Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Clippers coverage, beginning at 5:00 PM PST on Game Night before a 6:30 PM PST tip-off from downtown Los Angeles.
Listen to The Drive Guys from 2 – 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, right here on Sactown Sports 1140. Subscribe to their podcast here. Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings Schedule
- Sunday, February 25th – Kings @ Los Angeles Clippers – 6:30 PM PST
- Monday, February 26th – Kings vs. Miami Heat – 7:00 PM PST
- Wednesday, February 28th – Kings @ Denver Nuggets – 6:00 PM PST
- Friday, March 1st – Kings @ Minnesota Timberwolves – 5:00 PM PST
- Monday, March 4th – Kings vs. Chicago Bulls – 7:00 PM PST
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