Mar 6, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive and former NBA player Vlade Divac attend the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Athletic’s Sam Amick chatted with 1140’s Carmichael Dave this morning, and threw some fuel on the already-raging dumpster fire that is the Sacramento Kings (tip of the cap to [SI’s Will Z for the excellent summary](https://www.si.com/nba/kings/sacramento-kings-news/new-report-on-kings-legend-spending-more-time-with-team-01jqca7vz9sw)). Amick, on 1140:
> “Everything old might be new again. Vlade Divac has been around a lot more lately, and that’s a talking point in league circles.”
And when asked if it was actually a possibility for Vlade to return to the Front Office?
> “Yes there was chatter, but there’s a big leap from chatter to reality.”
When Amick reported there could be tension around De’Aaron Fox and the Kings, I dismissed it as being silly. Of course Fox had turned down the previous offers to wait for the opportunity to earn more! Why were we acting like that was an issue?! Silly me. Amick knew the Kings, forever dumb as a bag of hammers, saw it as an issue. So when Amick makes mention of a possible reunion between the Kings and Vlade, I’m paying attention.
It’s beyond absurd, and I’d like to think that even Vivek isn’t _that_ dumb, but Vivek has shown us time and time again that we should not overestimate him.
The fact that there has even been a serious conversation about this is operational malpractice. And look, I love Vlade Divac. I truly do. I think he’s funny and loveable and I loved his time as a player here. But Vlade-The-GM was one of the worst experiences Kings fans have ever been put through, which is truly saying something. I know some fans can’t get past the GM tenure, and actively dislike Vlade even just as a former player who sits courtside. I’m not there, personally. I like seeing Vlade around. But I don’t want him anywhere near decision-making responsibilities for this team.
Being a Kings fan is an ongoing test of resiliency. You’d think a professional sports franchise would avoid giving fans reasons to finally walk away from this laughingstock of a team forever, yet Vivek seems hellbent on finding new (and old) ways to push Kings fans to the very limits of their loyalty.