NBA Rumors: The star Sacramento Kings want to get rid of as soon as possible
Zach LaVine may be considered the best player on the roster, but the franchise is looking to trade him to another team to start rebuilding
The situation of the Sacramento Kings continues to worsen, and on Thursday night, it led to a tense confrontation between a court-side fan and Zach LaVine. The incident could become another decisive blow for the future of the shooting guard in California, as reports indicate that the franchise is "desperate" to part ways with the player, whose defensive weaknesses remain a constant hurdle.
Although LaVine averages 20 points per game, his defensive issues have not disappeared. It was precisely this lack of defensive intensity that sparked the anger of fan Devlin Carter during the 112-100 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.
Carter explained that his frustration mounted after witnessing six instances where LaVine left his man wide open to score from the perimeter. "After not once, not twice, not three, not four, not five... but six times that Zach LaVine leaves his man wide open for a three-pointer, coach Doug Christie calls a timeout. When they go to the bench, I tell them: 'Hey, we didn't pay to watch you not play defense'."
That's when the player responded with shouts directed at the fan, saying: "GO HOME, N*****... Get out of here, n***!" Carter claims he retorted: "No, I pay to be here. You're the one who should leave. You're making over 40 million and have only scored eight points going into the fourth quarter. YOU haven't shown up. Again, YOU haven't shown up. The entire Sacramento fanbase deserves better. It's one of the best and most passionate supporters."
The fan, ejected despite having a high-cost season ticket
Despite the verbal exchange, the Kings ultimately removed Carter from the game. The fan, who holds seats valued around $200,000 annually, later apologized to the arena staff —whom he claims to have a good relationship with—, who had to escort him out of the premises.
The Kings now hold a record of 5-17 and rank 14th in the Western Conference. The poor performance on the court is now compounded by tensions between players and fans, further exacerbating the franchise's delicate situation, which has even led to the expulsion of some of its most loyal supporters from the arena.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rumores NBA: La estrella de la que quieren deshacerse los Sacramento Kings lo antes posible
