Sports
Kings Bring Draft Party to Elk Grove
Sacramento Kings player Jason Thompson and Kings dancers hosted an NBA Draft party in Elk Grove on Thursday.
It was just a little over two months ago when it appeared the Kings were playing their last games in Sacramento, off to greener economic pastures in Anaheim.
But with a turn of fate, and at least one more season promised in Sacramento while the city, ownership and the NBA work towards a new arena, Kings fans can now look forward.
Perhaps nothing is more emblematic of that future than Thursday’s NBA draft. Kings fans in Elk Grove gathered at on East Stockton Blvd. for the draft on Thursday afternoon to celebrate what’s next in Kings basketball.
The event, emceed by local TV personality Gary Gelfand, included prize giveaways of Kings merchandise, drink and food specials and appearances from current Kings forward Jason Thompson and two members of the Kings dance team.
Thompson spent more than an hour at the event, mingling with fans, taking photos and signing autographs.
“It’s good to come here because as much as we try to do stuff on the court, we try to do stuff off the court as well,” Thompson said. “The fans here went through a tough time last year not knowing if we were coming back.”
Thompson, who was a first round pick by the Kings in 2008, said he is no stranger to Elk Grove, traveling to bowl at Strikes and having been to Bull Wings a couple times prior.
One fan, 28-year old Justin Shergill of Elk Grove, said he came to the event specifically to meet Thompson. Wearing Thompson’s No. 34 jersey, Shergill got an opportunity to meet and get an autograph with his favorite player.
“I am a massive Kings fan,” Shergill said. “JT is my favorite player. He has the right attitude and is the perfect embodiment of a hard-working player. It was the first time I have met him. He was a great guy.”
The sports bar, drenched in purple decorations, was lively as fans watched from the more than 20 big screen TVs all tuned to the draft. Fans reacted boisterously with cheers when the Kings, via Milwaukee through a trade earlier in the day, drafted popular Brigham Young University star Jimmer Fredette.
In a brief interview after the pick, Thompson appeared pleased with his newest teammate: “By the reaction from the crowd, people are excited and it should be a good fit to the team. He can play the one and really shoot the ball as well.”
Ernesto Basa, who proclaimed himself the biggest Kings fan there is, positioned himself at a pub table with a beer and some hot wings, careful not to spill on his purple Chris Webber jersey. Waiting in hopes that his team made the right pick, he wasn’t disappointed.
“I think it was cool,” the 22-year-old said. “Jimmer is going to sell a lot of tickets because he is hyped.”
Basa has another plan to sell tickets: “Hopefully they can build an arena somewhere that doesn’t bring a lot of traffic, maybe somewhere like here, in Elk Grove. I think they should move to Elk Grove. There is nothing out here but local businesses and mom and pop shops. There is a big fan base out here.”
Another fan adorned in a purple Kings jersey, Amy Hyden, 22, said she was simply happy just to celebrate her team staying in Sacramento.
“I thought they were gone,” the South Sacramento resident said. “I thought it was done. I went to one of the last home games and that was sad, hearing everyone chant, ‘Here we stay!’ That was cool to be a part of that.”
