They're Back: Fans Get First Glimpse of 2011-12 Kings
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The Sacramento Kings are calling their new season "Back in Black." Thursday night they were back in action, putting on a show for fans who have survived a near-move to Anaheim and the NBA lockout.
Some 5,000 fans turned out at Power Balance Pavilion for a team scrimmage many must have thought they'd never see.
The rookie, Jimmer Fredette, entered Power Balance Pavilion to screaming fans for the first time, joining more familiar faces DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans, Donte Greene and Jason Thompson.
"Jimmer Fredette's an outstanding shooter," fan Peter Lao said. "Tyreke Evans, I saw him working on his 3s, so I'm expecting that a lot."
"Oh, I am so excited," season ticket holder Cathy Woodman said. "We're so glad that the Kings are back. We didn't know what to do with ourselves."
This open practice gave fans an overdue dose of hard-knock NBA basketball mixed with some lighthearted moments, like Coach Westphal donning Cousins' giant pink shoes.
On the sideline the Maloofs were back in their courtside seats for another year of NBA basketball in the capital city.
CBS13 asked Gavin Maloof if there was a new dollar sign the Kings would put in toward a new arena.
"No, there's no number," he said. "We've always said we'll put in our fair share."
Mayor Kevin Johnson is meeting with NBA Commissioner David Stern on Friday to go over the latest arena financing plan after the city agreed earlier this week to accept bids for leasing city-owned parking spots to generate revenue for a new downtown facility. The league has given the city a March 1 deadline to have a financing plan in place.
But Thursday night was about fun.
Sacramento opens the shortened regular season the day after Christmas at home against the Lakers, where the Kings hope to "black out" a crowd of more than 17,000.
