Getty Image Composite
File this one under Life Comes At You Fast, folks.
Grant Napear had been the Sacramento Kings play-by-play announcer since 1988, enduring more loss and hardship than any one man should. For perspective, during his rookie year in the booth, Vinny Del Negro and Kenny Smith were on the roster. Since then, the team has only won five playoff series and haven’t made the postseason in 13 seasons.
Three decades as the voice of the Kings just went POOF after former franchise player DeMarcus Cousins baited him into the larger conversations surrounding George Floyd.
@GrantNapearshow what’s your take on BLM?
— DeMarcus Cousins (@boogiecousins) June 1, 2020
Hey!!!! How are you? Thought you forgot about me. Haven't heard from you in years. ALL LIVES MATTER…EVERY SINGLE ONE!!! https://t.co/DfzKl3w0jm
— Grant Napear (@GrantNapearshow) June 1, 2020
Lol as expected.
— DeMarcus Cousins (@boogiecousins) June 1, 2020
Former Kings players Chris Webber and Matt Barnes weighed in on Napear’s refusal to endorse the BLM movement, and their responses lead one to believe that Napear hasn’t endeared himself to black players over the years.
Demarcus we know and have known who grant is. The team knows as well. I’ve told them many times. They’ve seen it. They know who he is. 🤡🤡 https://t.co/4DI4f1DGUp
— Chris Webber (@realchriswebber) June 1, 2020
Would expect nothing less from a closet racists
— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) June 1, 2020
Barnes didn’t stop there.
— pickuphoop (@pickuphoop) June 1, 2020
Sports 1140 KHTK’s Jason Ross then announced Napear’s suspension from his own show, The Grant Napear Show, on Monday.
“Grant Napear has been placed on administrative leave while we are investigating the statement that was made on Twitter,” the statement read.
The dominoes continued to fall for Napear, as the Kings announced the news of Napear’s resignation in a statement Tuesday.
Grant Napear has resigned from the Sacramento Kings, the statement reads. “We thank him for his contributions to the team and wish him all the best.”
If it came across as dumb I apologize. That was not my intent. That's how I was raised. It has been engrained in me since I can remember. I've been doing more listening than talking the past few days. I believe the past few days will change this country for the better! https://t.co/Gsh84BPBEk
— Grant Napear (@GrantNapearshow) June 1, 2020
In defense of Grant:
Thanks Stephen! Appreciate you! https://t.co/uPi8uPmBUB
— Grant Napear (@GrantNapearshow) June 1, 2020
Shit is wild in the Twitter streets, too.