Ever since Vivek Ranadive became the Sacramento Kings majority owner in 2013, he’s been, if anything, a great quote at times. Especially when he comes up with amusing analogies and comparisons that leave people scratching their heads. Today, Vivek did not disappoint.
On Sunday night, the Kings sent All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins to the Pelicans in a blockbuster trade in which the Kings received guard Buddy Hield and a 2017 first and second round pick, amongst others, in return.
The trade has been highly criticized by the NBA media and fans alike as most do not believe that Kings received enough value in return for Cousins. According to one report, part of Vivek’s justification for making the trade was this doozy of a comparison…
Source familiar w/ Kings’ thinking: "Vivek thinks Buddy [Hield] has Steph Curry potential.” Am told that fixation was a key driver in deal.
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) February 20, 2017
Let’s take a look back at some more great Vivek quotes…
Right after Vivek became majority owner of the franchise, he didn’t even know who DeMarcus Cousins was, but he certainly was anxious to find out…
"I'd like nothing more than for a billion Indians to know who DeMarcus Cousins is." – Vivek Ranadive
— Riley McAtee (@RileyMcAtee) June 3, 2013
Vivek was also excited about the new general manager he hired, Pete D’Alessandro…
https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/346713903616622592
D’Alessandro left the Kings in June 2015 after Vivek stripped him of decision-making power after hiring former Kings Center Vlade Divac as Vice President of Basketball Operations.
In September 2013, Vivek said this SportsCenter about ESPN recently declaring the Kings the worst franchise in the U.S…
#Kings owner Vivek Ranadive's answer on @SportsCenter "I would like to invite ESPN to join the 21st century, that study was from a year ago"
— Keith Britton (@KeithBritton86) September 24, 2013
Here’s Vivek in March 2014 talking Kings aspirations…
Sacramento Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadive: "We want to be like the Spurs, but exciting."
— Clevis Murray (@ClevisMurray) March 29, 2014
Turns out Buddy Hield is not the first Kings player that Vivek compared to Steph Curry. Here’s is Vivek the night the Kings drafted Michigan guard Nik Stauskas…
https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/482962728428924928
The Kings traded Stauskas to the Sixers just over a year later.
Here’s Vivek in December 2014 on the direction of the Kings franchise…
Vivek on direction of franchise: "It's kinda like we were in San Quentin, now we're in Motel 6. But I want to go to the Four Seasons."
— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) December 17, 2014
Just over two years later, the Four Seasons couldn’t seem farther away.
About Fred Segal
Fred Segal, 35, grew up in the Miami, Florida area and currently lives in Coral Springs, Florida, with his wife and two children. He is currently an attorney practicing in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the law firm Broad and Cassel. Fred is a graduate of the University of Florida and is a rabid, borderline unhealthy, supporter of the Florida Gators.