Kings legend Vlade Divac is headed back to Sacramento in an official capacity. He’ll have roles on both the business and basketball sides of the organization, which has been going through a transition under new owner Vivek Ranadive. Divac starred for the Kings for many of his 16 NBA seasons. He averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds per game, and helped the Kings to the Western Conference Finals once. Now, he’ll have a new role with the team, according to the Sacramento Bee:
His duties will consist of advising majority owner Vivek Ranadive, members of the front office directed by general manager Pete D’Alessandro, and the coaching staff overseen by head coach George Karl. Officially, Divac’s title places him atop the basketball hierarchy, though the practical implications remain to be seen. Divac holds strong opinions but seeks input from others, and has long been regarded as someone who manages egos, seeks consensus and is famously loyal to teammates and coaches.
And as officially announced by the team:
The Sacramento Kings announced today Vlade Divac has been named Vice President of Basketball and Franchise Operations.
In this capacity, Divac’s responsibilities will include advising the Kings front office and coaching staff, assisting the organization’s global branding efforts, augmenting fan outreach initiatives and oversight of player development programs. Additionally, he will facilitate talent evaluation and help foster relationships between the team and a growing pipeline of European athletes.
The Kings are 20-27 this season and have gone through three head coaches already this year. Do you think bringing back Vlade will help SacTown in the long run?
