Kenny Smith was drafted No. 6 overall by the Sacramento Kings, but the way they treated him left him on the verge of tears.
When talking about NBA history, the greatest franchises, like the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, often get the most attention. They have a history of success, built through amazing culture, and teams like the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, and Golden State Warriors have also managed to develop the same. But other franchises are the exact opposite.
The Sacramento Kings are doing really well this season, but for a long time, the organization has been the butt of jokes in the NBA. Their playoff drought looks set to be broken this season, but it has lasted for the better part of two decades. And despite some success in the early 2000s, the Kings have always been one of the worse teams in the league. And a beloved face in NBA circles recently provided some insight into that.
Kenny Smith Revealed The Sacramento Kings Kept Him On Hold Multiple Times On The Night They Drafted Him
When players are picked high in the NBA draft, it's usually because teams are hoping they can help turn the franchise around. Kenny Smith was drafted 6th overall by the Sacramento Kings, but instead of being treated like a valuable addition, he was made to feel worthless. He told Draymond Green the story on a recent podcast episode.
"See these tears coming down my eye? I was ready to cry. I get drafted, on draft night, Dray. I'm like (mimics phone call), 'Hey, this is Kenny Smith.' The secretary goes, 'One second.' I'm on the phone for like 3 minutes. This is on draft night. Right after I come off the stage. She gets back on the phone, she goes, 'Hi, Sacramento Kings, may I help you?'
"I'm like, 'Hey this is Kenny Smith, I need to talk to Bill Russell.' And so she goes, 'One second,' another 4 minutes go by. 'Hi, Sacramento Kings, may I help you? Who's calling?' So right then, I'm turned off. I'm like, I just got drafted 6th and I've gone to place, they don't value me. They don't value what's going on. Now obviously, Coach Russell hadn't been there long enough to change the culture, he was just like me. So the culture was so bad in Sacramento, we used to do our own laundry."
These stories are almost shocking to hear, considering the level at which NBA franchises generally operate. Ultimately, these factors play a role in winning, as evidenced by the fact that Smith only stayed with the Kings for 3 seasons and eventually became a 2-time champion with the Houston Rockets. At least the Kings seem to have finally figured it out this season.
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