Call it the start of the unknown.
Last night marked the beginning of a reputation-building project for the Sonics. With seven eager new personalities on board, the Sonics may be the biggest mystery in the Western Conference.
The unknown became a little clearer against the Kings, who didn't put the Sonics away until late in the fourth quarter. The Sonics were within four points with just outside of three minutes left before the Kings pulled ahead. From coach Rick Adelman down to his players, the Kings said this year's revamped Sonics are a much-improved team.
"I like their team. I think their key is that if Vin Baker can shoot like he did tonight, they're in good shape," Adelman said. "They've got good, young talent. They just need to get production from their big people."
Banging down low against Scot Pollard and Vlade Divac, Baker came outside often and hit 10 of 18 shots. Big men Jerome James and Calvin Booth showed glimpses of what they could bring, as the Sonics try to return to the playoffs. James, who spent the 1998-99 season with the Kings and played a total of 42 minutes in the whole year, brandished his improved skills and slimmed-down frame. He was an active presence all night, something the veteran Divac took notice of. The new additions showed some promise, despite the loss.
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Jerome James received the most applause from the Arco Arena fans when the Sonics' players were announced. The 7-foot-1 center started his NBA career in Sacramento in 1998 before being waived two years later. So when James returned last night, the jitters had more to do than with just the season opener.
"I have mixed emotions about it, conflicting emotions," James said before the game. "On one side, I actually love when I go back to Sacramento because I get to see all my old friends. Vlade (Divac) and Chris (Webber) and my other old teammates.
"But on the other hand, it's a little bit difficult for me because I thought I was going to be in Sacramento my entire career."
Instead, James played only 16 games in 1998. He was injured the following season and released during training camp in 2000.
"I thought Jerome was a talent to be so big and move pretty well and block shots," recalled guard Doug Christie, who joined Sacramento in 2000. "He has a jump hook and a short jump shot. It's going to be up to Jerome how good he ends up."
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Oct 30, 2001 11:41 AM EST
Ailene Voisin: Maloofs' impatience coming to a head
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Kings Oct 2001 Archive
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| Oct 30, 2001
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| Oct 30, 2001
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| Oct 29, 2001
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| Oct 28, 2001
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| Oct 28, 2001
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| Oct 28, 2001
Martin McNeal writes in the Sacramento Bee that the Kings are borrowing an offense from the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
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| Oct 27, 2001
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| Oct 27, 2001
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| Oct 26, 2001
The Sacramento Bee is reporting that the Kings are offering free agent forward Chris Gatling the veteran's minimum of $1 million.
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| Oct 25, 2001
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| Oct 25, 2001
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| Oct 24, 2001
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| Oct 24, 2001
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| Oct 19, 2001
(AP) At the midpoint of the preseason, the list of injured NBA players — which already includes Antonio McDyess and Chris Webber — keeps growing.
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| Oct 17, 2001
In this weeks NBA Notebook brought to you by the Chicago Daily Southtown, the Sacramento Kings are fearful that their superstar Chris Webber will miss at least a month of action.
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| Oct 16, 2001
Harvey Fialkov of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports: While the Bucks continue to drag their heels for the services of Heat free agent forward Anthony Mason, the Sacramento Kings may be in the market for a low-post presence after losing All-Star forward Chris Webber for 4-6 weeks with a sprained left ankle.
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| Oct 15, 2001
Will Webber be replaced in line-up by Mason?
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| Oct 15, 2001
The always-spirited matchup between former teammates Juwan Howard and Chris Webber started with a bang but ended quickly with a thud.
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| Oct 15, 2001
(AP) Sacramento All-Star forward Chris Webber took a fall under the Kings' basket five minutes into an exhibition game Sunday, spraining his left ankle.
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| Oct 14, 2001
The Kings weren't exactly Webber's first choice
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| Oct 12, 2001
The first thing you notice is that he never stops moving.
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| Oct 12, 2001
Kings assistant coach Pete Carril calls himself an eternal pessimist.
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| Oct 12, 2001
There may not be a better opportunity for Kings free-agent power forwards Mario Bennett, Jabari Smith and Torraye Braggs to display their stuff than tonight's game against Portland at the Expo Center.
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| Oct 10, 2001
It's said you can experience anything and everything in New York City, but Chris Webber didn't expect all he got on a mid-September trip to the Big Apple.
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| Oct 10, 2001
There was plenty for Kings coach Rick Adelman to criticize, but there was also much to smile about after Sacramento's 101-95 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night at the Boise State Pavilion before a crowd of 10,870.
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| Oct 9, 2001
Usually preseason games are met with the enthusiasm and interest of a summer-league contest at the local YMCA.
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| Oct 9, 2001
There rarely have been questions regarding the talent of forward Lawrence Funderburke.
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| Oct 8, 2001
The increased presence of security was readily apparent at Arco Arena for Sunday night's Fandemonium 2001.
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| Oct 8, 2001
Fandemonium, Fundemonium, whatever.
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| Oct 7, 2001
It won't be difficult to determine if Kings shooting guard Doug Christie is playing at the top of his game.
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| Oct 7, 2001
Swingman Hedo Turkoglu wasn't where he was supposed to be Friday and may not be there for quite a few more days.
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| Oct 5, 2001
If Kings rookie shooting guard Maurice Jeffers is fortunate enough to make the team's overcrowded roster, he will be able to say he did it the hard way.
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| Oct 5, 2001
Vlade Divac pulled a fast one this time.
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| Oct 4, 2001
Not only does rookie swingman Gerald Wallace possess the same ability to play small forward or shooting guard as second-year swingman Hedo Turkoglu, he also may have a similar first-year experience.
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| Oct 4, 2001
Rick Adelman is not a coach who looks to schedule two-a-day practices every day during training camp.
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| Oct 3, 2001
During Media Day, Kings coach Rick Adelman was nowhere to be found for 90 minutes of the 120-minute session.
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| Oct 3, 2001
The Kings still have a national audience, even without Jason Williams.
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| Oct 3, 2001
Scot Pollard misses Jon Barry, now in Detroit after a September trade for guard Mateen Cleaves.
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| Oct 3, 2001
Mateen Cleaves is not the same player.
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| Oct 2, 2001
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| Oct 2, 2001
We nestle an approach shot from 95 yards out within a club length of the pin and dream of being Tiger Woods.
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| Oct 1, 2001
The Sacramento Bee's Martin McNeal conducts an in-depth interview with Chris Webber.
