Grant Napear out as TV announcer for Sacramento Kings, also done with talk radio show
Grant Napear, the longtime Kings play-by-play announcer and popular Sacramento radio host, lost both jobs Tuesday after a weekend social media storm led to accusations of racial insensitivity.
Sports 1140 KHTK and the Kings issued simultaneous announcements stating they had parted ways with Napear, 60, who has worked in television and radio in Sacramento since 1988. Napear was embroiled in controversy after former Kings star DeMarcus Cousins prodded him for his thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement during a Twitter exchange.
KHTK program director Jason Ross read a statement from Bonneville International Corporation, the station’s parent company, shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday at the start of what was formerly known as “The Grant Napear Show.”
“We were saddened by the comments Grant Napear recently made on Twitter,” the statement said. “While we appreciate Grant’s positive contributions to KHTK over the years, his recent comments about the Black Lives Matter movement do not reflect the views or values of Bonneville International Corporation. The timing of Grant’s tweet was particularly insensitive. After reviewing the matter carefully, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with Grant.”
The Kings issued a statement of their own, saying Napear stepped down as the team’s play-by-play announcer.
“Grant Napear has resigned from the Sacramento Kings,” the team said. “We thank him for his contributions to the team and wish him all the best.”
The Kings also issued a statement from Napear.
“I want to thank the fans for their overwhelming love and support,” Napear said. “I will always remain a part of Kings nation in my heart.”
Ross returned to the topic of Napear’s dismissal later in Tuesday’s radio show, saying: “Certainly, it’s a sad day for us here.”
Former Kings guard Doug Christie, Napear’s former radio co-host and television broadcast partner during Kings broadcasts on NBC Sports California, discussed his relationship with Napear, noting they sometimes differed in their views. Christie specifically mentioned an occasion when Napear suggested disgraced former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling wasn’t racist because he had black employees such as general manager Elgin Baylor and coach Doc Rivers.
“A lot of people grew up on Grant,” Christie said. “As I said, I’ve got mad love and respect for Grant. On this particular instance, and what we’re talking about, and it’s not the first time Grant and I disagreed, and that’s OK. ... We could agree to disagree. When we were talking (about) Donald Sterling, I let him say what he said, then I said what I said, and there’s learning in that, too.”
The controversy erupted Sunday evening when a Twitter exchange between Napear and Cousins led to responses from hundreds of other social media users, including former Kings players Chris Webber and Matt Barnes. Amid a weekend of unrest across the United States following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Cousins asked Napear for his opinion of Black Lives Matter.
Napear responded: “Hey!!!! How are you? Thought you forgot about me. Haven’t heard from you in years. ALL LIVES MATTER. … EVERY SINGLE ONE!!!”
Cousins was seemingly not surprised Napear would assert that “all lives matter,” a phrase commonly perceived as dismissive to the Black Lives Matter movement against injustice and police brutality.
“Lol as expected,” Cousins replied.
Webber joined the discussion Monday morning.
“Demarcus we know and have known who grant is,” Webber tweeted. “The team knows as well. I’ve told them many times. They’ve seen it. They know who he is.”
Webber punctuated the tweet with two clown emojis.
Barnes weighed in on Napear’s response to Cousins, too.
“Would expect nothing less from a closet racist,” Barnes tweeted.
Napear apologized in an interview with The Sacramento Bee on Monday morning, saying he planned to apologize during his afternoon show as well.
“I’m not as educated on BLM as I thought I was,” Napear said. “I had no idea that when I said ‘All Lives Matter’ that it was counter to what BLM was trying to get across.”
KHTK later announced Napear had been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. The Kings issued a statement saying they were looking into the matter as well.
Napear, a native of New York, brought a brash style to Sacramento’s airwaves for decades. He was known for his fiery radio persona and has been criticized for demeaning fans. He frequently clashed with callers over the years, often calling them idiots and morons.
Napear attended Bowling Green University and started his career in Decatur, Ill., before coming to Sacramento as the sports director at Channel 31 in 1987. In addition to his work with the Kings, he has also served a play-by-play announcer for the Oakland Raiders, Sacramento Mountain Lions and the San Jose Sabercats.
Napear was known for his catchphrases, including: “If you don’t like that, you don’t like NBA basketball.”
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 3:21 PM.
