In the end, it became a choice between style and substance.

Select teen sensation Ricky Rubio of Spain with the fourth overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft and the Kings would have instant potential to regain national and global impact with a player known as a fancy passer and teen heartthrob.

Pick Tyreke Evans, the powerfully built point guard from Memphis, and the Kings get the player considered fundamentally the better choice but also someone investigated in a drive-by shooting.

The popular consensus at Arco Arena on Thursday night was Rubio, who was cheered by fans every time his image appeared on the large-screen TVs at midcourt as the draft was televised from New York.

But Evans was the Kings' unanimous choice, which was met with both cheers and concern.

The Kings went with Evans because of his strength and scoring ability over Rubio's fancy passing abilities and potential for international impact similar to the glory days of Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic earlier this decade.

And the Kings picked Evans at a time when the franchise could use all the feel-good publicity it can muster after losing an NBA-high 65 games and ranking last among 30 teams in attendance last season.

The gamble isn't just if Evans, 19, can immediately improve the roster, it's also how he will be received in Sacramento.

Evans was at the wheel of a car involved in a 2007 drive-by shooting in Philadelphia that resulted in a death. His cousin Jamar Evans was sentenced to nine to 20 years in prison for being the triggerman. Evans testified on behalf of the prosecution that he didn't know his cousin had a gun until it was fired.

Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof said they knew of the incident, in which Evans was not charged.

"This guy will be great," Gavin Maloof gushed to the crowd, working the stage with the energy of Mick Jagger. "He's a great kid. He wants to be here.

"I'm tired of all the negativity about this franchise. It's changing – and it changes today."

To be sure, this was no ordinary draft for the Kings. It was the most anticipated pick since 1989, when the Kings had the No. 1 overall pick. The franchise swung and missed with Pervis Ellison, who played in just 34 games for the Kings.

But in those days, Kings fans were thrilled just to have a professional product to call their own. Sellouts came win or lose. The franchise made a profit.

It's different now. The Maloofs slashed ticket prices for the 2009-10 season in an attempt to bring back fans. There's also a new coach with Paul Westphal – the fourth since 2007.

And Kings fans are starving for entertainment, a reason to return to Arco, after yawning through a 2008-09 campaign that was the worst in franchise history.

"That's why I really wanted Rubio," said Shaun Carvahlo, 25, seated with wife, Maricela, 23. "It would have been fun to see some fun again at Arco again. Rubio would have put the Kings back in the spotlight after we became a laughingstock."

Rubio was selected with the No. 5 pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Oak Ridge High School buddies Scott Liebert, Zack McMillen and Kevin Backers made the drive from El Dorado Hills hoping for an Evans pick. Each said they would eagerly snatch up an Evans jersey.

"Oh, absolutely," Backers said. "People are disappointed about Rubio, but after a few games, they'll see how good Evans is."

Said Linda Michael, 65: "He's a safer pick than Rubio. And we shouldn't hold that incident against Evans. He can start new here."

Evans jerseys are already being made. He and the other first-round pick – yes, a foreigner after all – Omri Casspi of Israel – will be introduced to fans Saturday afternoon at Marshall Park on J Street.

"We want to get Evans and (Casspi) connected with the fans as soon as we can," said Mitch German, the Kings vice president of business communications. "We have a young core the community can be excited about and we can build a bond like we had before."

The Evans pick drew political favor before and after the selection. President Barack Obama recently visited the Palms Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas owned by the Maloof family. A basketball fan who correctly predicted North Carolina would win any NCAA Tournament office pool, Obama told the Maloofs that he "loved the kid from Memphis – Tyreke Evans," Palms co-owner George Maloof told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson attended Thursday's draft party. He said he could understand the buzz about Rubio, but as a former NBA star guard, he also recognizes how talented Evans is, too. And the mayor preached patience in the rebuilding efforts and acceptance for Evans regarding the drive-by incident.

"He wasn't charged, so give him a chance to start fresh and embrace him," Johnson said. "I think about Chris Webber when he was traded here. He didn't want to come here, had (some history) and then he became one of the most popular players here. These are the best fans in the NBA. They can demand improvement. It'll get better here."

Call The Bee's Joe Davidson at (916) 321-1280.