Listing local options to replace Grant Napear as Sacramento Kings play-by-play announcer
Grant Napear resigned from his role as TV announcer for the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, following a series of racially insensitive tweets.
Napear, who had been covering sports in Sacramento since 1988, leaves large shoes to fill. Outside of his controversial public statements and problematic interactions with fans and players, Napear was widely considered one of the best play-by-play callers in the game.
While the NBA season is currently on hold, a return date of July 31 looms. The Kings will need to act fast to find Napear’s replacement.
Doug Christie, former Kings star and Napear’s announcing partner is expected to continue in his role as color commentator.
As for his new partner on the TV broadcast, there are a number of local candidates worth considering.
GARY GEROULD
“The G-Man” has been the Kings radio play-by-play voice since the team moved from Kansas City to Sacramento in 1985. Gerould knows the game, the team and the city as well as anyone. The transition would be easy as his role would not change all that much.
The downside is that Gerould is so perfect for radio that listeners would be sad to see that role change as well. He might work as a quick fix for the remainder of the season, but most Kings fans want the G-Man to keep being the G-Man on the radio for as long as he will do it.
JERRY REYNOLDS
Jerry Reynolds would bring a comforting presence back to the broadcast booth. Reynolds was beloved during his 20-year run on the Kings broadcasts. However, he chose to walk away in 2018 and convincing him to come back might not be easy.
Additionally, Reynolds has always been a color commentator. He’s fantastic at what he does, but pairing him with Christie is like putting a hat on a hat. He could try his hand at play-by-play for the rest of the season, but that doesn’t feel like a long-term solution.
JASON ROSS
Jason Ross has a deep résumé in local play-by-play broadcasting dating to 1994. He has called games for the Kings, Monarchs, Sacramento State’s football and basketball teams, and many others.
He is currently the program director for Sports 1140 KHTK and his experience is the most diverse of any local candidate. Television, radio, podcasts – Ross has done it all. He is a valuable cornerstone of Sacramento sports media and has a relationship with the Kings that spans multiple decades.
DEUCE MASON
Deuce Mason hasn’t been around as long as Ross, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t start early. Mason began his career at 16 years old as an intern with KHTK. Over the years he has been a part of wildly popular local programming, including radio shows with Ross and Morgan Ragan.
Mason and Ragan, known as “Deuce & Mo,” host a podcast and share the call for the Stockton Kings. If Sacramento is looking for a young face with play-by-play experience, Mason is their man.
MORGAN RAGAN
Ragan is the other half of the Deuce & Mo pairing. She is a fantastic young color commentator on the call for the Stockton Kings. She would be an excellent addition to Sacramento’s broadcast team. However, the role that must be filled is for play-by-play announcing.
If Mason moves to the Kings job, fans would hate to see the duo split up. Perhaps Ragan could work alongside Christie in a complimentary role. Or she could move to Mason’s current spot and get experience with play-by-play commentating if that is a skill she would like to add to her arsenal.
WHAT’S MOST LIKELY?
While Gerould or Reynolds could see an elevated role over the remainder of the 2019-20 NBA season, both would ultimately be a temporary fix. Ross, Mason and Ragan are the local candidates most likely to see an increased long-term role.
One scenario is Ross and Christie in the booth going forward while Mason and Ragan continue in Stockton, with additional time on Sacramento’s radio call. Mason and Ragan could also be the next great radio voices for Sacramento when Gerould retires.
Another configuration would be Mason and Christie on Sacramento’s TV broadcast. Ross could eventually take over the radio call full-time, with Ragan either as the color commentator alongside Ross or joining the TV broadcast as an additional reporter.
Finally, there is always a chance the Kings look to an outsider for play-by-play duties. But with the depth of local talent, that hardly seems necessary.
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 8:07 AM.