It takes a unique level of commitment to be a Sacramento Kings fan.
The team has not reached the NBA playoffs since 2006, continuing a streak of 15 consecutive losing seasons. The 2020-21 season has been the same old story in Sacramento, where the team has put together a pair of nine-game losing streaks. Sacramento does have a handful of promising young players in De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley and Tyrese Haliburton who offer some potential light at the end of the tunnel.
The Kings’ fan community does feature a few notable stars, but which one is the biggest supporter? Here are a few candidates:
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Hasan Minhaj
Minhaj’s love for the Kings is no laughing matter.
The “Patriot Act” host is a serious fan and is vindictive in his beliefs surrounding the team. He even went as far as to say Mitch Richmond is the second greatest basketball player ever. I repeat, EVER.
He has even turned it into a family affair. He and his family threw his son a Kings-themed party for his 1st birthday. Perhaps his son will be on the Kings when the team breaks its playoff drought...
Brie Larson
Sure, winning an Oscar is special, but how does it compare to getting a shoutout from your hometown NBA team?
Larson, a Sacramento native, got just that from the Kings after winning an Academy Award for her work in “Room” back in 2016. The “Captain Marvel” star was incredibly grateful for the message.
While Larson roots for the Kings, it was another Bay Area star, Steph Curry, who got a Captain Marvel comparison during ESPN’s Marvel-themed “Arena of Heroes” broadcast between the Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans on May 3.
Greta Gerwig
Gerwig is a Sacramentan native through and through.
The acclaimed actress, writer and director created “Lady Bird,” a “love letter” to the city, in 2017, and it was met with rave reviews and five Oscar nominations. Was it factually accurate, though?
NBA
The story, which takes place in Sacramento in 2002, notably omits the Kings’ Western Conference finals series against the Los Angeles Lakers that year. L.A. notoriously advanced to the NBA Finals thanks to some suspicious officiating, and the Kings haven’t climbed past the second round of the playoffs since.
Gerwig spared her audience a reminder of one of the most heartbreaking moments in franchise history. That’s real fandom right there.
Max Molski contributed to this story.