SACRAMENTO KINGS QUOTES
I’ve been out of basketball for a year and a half. The older I get, the more humble I get. There’s only 30 of these NBA jobs. I missed the gym. I love the game. I want one more shot to win a championship.
— George Karl
It’ll take the next few games to wash away the basketball hell they’ve been living the last two months. We need to reconnect and re-energize it.— George Karl
I always thought Sacramento was a great small-market city. Most of my career, I played in small markets. I enjoy small markets. I enjoy the communities. Sacramento seems to be my type of energy. There’s an energy in the city that is contagious. It’s time to get back, to get back to the crazy spirits that go on in a coach’s life.
— George Karl
Welcome, everybody. It’s great to see everybody here. We have any number of press conferences during the course of every year but I think my favorite ones, and the most exciting ones, are the ones we have every year when we introduce our newest members to our Kings family and Kings team. They’re the face of the future for your franchise to be added in with the roster you have and it’s always, I think personally and for everybody here and with the Kings, one of the most exciting types of press conferences that you have. Glad to see everybody. I’m going to start off by introducing who we have up here. First, to my left, is Jimmer Fredette. I don’t think he’s any stranger to anybody who follows basketball. He’s one of the most exciting players in college basketball the last couple of years, and we felt very fortunate to be able to draft him on Thursday and look forward to seeing him come in and become part of our team and engage with our players, our fans and the community. I think you’ll really enjoy him as both a player and a person. Next to Jimmer is Tyler Honeycutt, a sophomore at UCLA, who’s an extremely gifted athlete and has the potential to have an impact at both ends of the floor, and has great length and athleticism. I look forward to working with him. Finally, down there is Isaiah Thomas, from Washington, one of the most exciting players in the PAC- 10 as well. He’s going to come out and compete, and it will be a real joy to watch him play, also. Before we get started with any questions, I’d also like to introduce some other people who are here. Al Fredette is here, Jimmer’s dad. From Octagon, there’s Jeff Austin, Chris Simmons and Kate Foley. Tyler’s parents are here, Lisa and Darren. Isaiah’s mom and dad are here also, Tina and James. Welcome to you all.
Geoff Petrie, President of Basketball Operations
First of all, I just want to say, I’m really, unbelievably excited to be here as a Kings player, and I know these guys are as well, Tyler and Isaiah. It’s a dream come true for all of us. We appreciate the coaching staff and the front office for choosing us and now it’s our job to go out there and perform. They definitely have a lot of confidence in our abilities, and that’s why we’re here and why we were drafted to the Sacramento Kings. I couldn’t be more excited to get this thing started – talented, young group that will really score a lot of baskets and will be a very exciting team. I hope the fans are ready for a great season. We’re looking forward to going out there and being able to fill the arena and have some really exciting basketball for you guys. I can’t wait. Again, I thank you all for letting me be here, and hopefully things will go great.
— Jimmer Fredette
I just want to follow up. He pretty much said it all. It’s a blessing to be here. A lot of kids don’t get to get to this stage and fulfill their dreams. We’re here. We’re definitely going to make the best of it. Like these guys, we’re going to be probably the closest of friends coming into it as rookies, just learning from each other and going through these first experiences with each other. I couldn’t be more excited to be here. I just want to bring those cowbells out again, if we can, and get the gym rocking.
— Tyler Honeycutt
First and foremost, I’d like to thank God. Without him, we all wouldn’t be here today. I’d like to thank the Kings organization for choosing me, as an individual, and choosing Jimmer and Tyler because I feel like we can bring a lot of excitement back to the Kings organization. The fans, man, yesterday was unbelievable – getting welcomed at the airport like we did. I definitely didn’t expect that. I’m expecting big things from this Kings organization and the team. Be ready.
— Isaiah Thomas