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Defector

Giri Nathan

Patrick Redford

Chris Webber and Latrell Sprewell hug each other.

Two Fans Of Usually Bad Teams Deal With The Specter Of Expectations

David Roth

Malik Monk prepares to push the button that illuminates the beam after Sacramento's win against Golden State in Game 2 of their NBA Playoffs series.

Podcasts

The Beam Shines For All, With Patrick Redford

SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 30: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings embraces Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors after Round One Game Seven of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

It’s Over For The Sacramento Kings, Who Are Just Getting Started

Albert Burneko

Steph Curry with the Sacramento crowd behind him

Well, Shit: Steph Curry’s Fourth-Quarter Buckets, Graded For Rudeness

SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 26: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a free throw during Round 1 Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Draymond Green And The Warriors Taught Sacramento A Painful Lesson

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 23: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors watches a shot he took against the Sacramento Kings during Game Four of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Chase Center on April 23, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

This Is What Flipping The Switch Looks Like

Luis Paez-Pumar

Davion Mitchell #15 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors during Round One Game Four of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2023 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California

The Kings Needed To Be Just A Little Better

Ray Ratto

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 20: Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors and Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings go for a rebound during Game Three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Chase Center on April 20, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Draymond Who?

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 17: Davion Mitchell #15 of the Sacramento Kings is congratulated by teammates after they beat the Golden State Warriors in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Golden 1 Center on April 17, 2023 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

It Took Everyone To Put Steph Curry Somewhere He’s Never Been Before

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Draymond Green makes a face after stepping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis.

The NBA Playoffs Have Not Truly Begun Until Draymond Green Has Kicked Someone In Anger

Samer Kalaf

The rapper E-40 yells at arena security personnel before being escorted from courtside seating during Game One of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings

E-40 Says Kings Security Wrongfully Ejected Him From Game 1

De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings lights the beam after defeating the Golden State Warriors in Game One of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at the Golden 1 Center on April 15, 2023 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images)

Sacramento Worships Beneath The First Playoff Beam

<div class="author-header-content">
<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div class="author-header-shares"></div>


Charles P. Pierce

NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 4: Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 4, 2023 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE

When Domantas Sabonis Leads The Kings Into The Playoffs, I Hope Dale Brown Is Watching

Patrick Redford eats a chunk of onion on Defector's Twitch stream

Announcements

Patrick Ate The Onion

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 20: De'Aaron Fox #5 and Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings celebrate after a three-point basket in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Golden 1 Center on November 20, 2022 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Kings Fans Have Waited So Long For This

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 15: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings celebrates scoring a three point basket to win the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 15, 2023 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nobody Is As Clutch As De’Aaron Fox

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 15: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors falls to the ground after scoring a basket during the second half against Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on March 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The Warriors’ Road Woes Could Earn Them A Rare And Unpleasant Trip To Beamtown

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 13: Mike Brown, head coach of the Sacramento Kings, looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors at Golden 1 Center on November 13, 2022 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Can The Sacramento Kings Be Bigger Than The Beam?

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Malik Monk #0 of the Sacramento Kings celebrates after the game against the LA Clippers on February 24, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE

All Glory To The Beam

The NBA Is Good When It’s Goofy

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 18: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings handles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 18, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

No Matter Where The Kings Go, The Beam Goes With Them

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings reacts to a play during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 11, 2022 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Sacramento Kings Somehow Have The Best Vibes In The NBA

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on in the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on October 29, 2022 in Sacramento, California.

The Heat Are Only 73 Wins Away From Meeting Jimmy Butler’s Standard

MUMBAI, INDIA - OCTOBER 4: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the media prior to the game at the NCSI Dome on October 4, 2019 in Mumbai, India. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, By downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

The NBA Will Never Introduce Relegation

Anjali Ranadive attends the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game during the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend at Wolstein Center on February 18, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)