‘Pregame chapel’: Mark Jones on the call as De’Aaron Fox makes a play in Kings-Warriors
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As the Kings and Golden State Warriors play a tight one at Golden 1 Center, with the Kings up 91-90 after three quarters in Sacramento’s first NBA playoff game since 2006, play-by-play commentator Mark Jones has already treated fans to a few of his classic similes and unique turns of phrase.
After a nimble move by Kings guard De’Aaron Fox sent Warriors defender Andrew Wiggins to the floor late in the first quarter, Jones exclaimed that Fox “put him on his knees like pregame chapel.”
Fans on Twitter ate that one up. Jones seemed to enjoy himself, as well.
“You’re cracking yourself up,” Jones’ ABC broadcast partner Doris Burke commented as Jones let out a chuckle.
Speaking of the Kings’ turnaround this season under new head coach Mike Brown during the second quarter, Jones opined that Brown “alchemized a once-moribund franchise,” prompting at least one fan on social media to liken his vocabulary to a “pocket thesaurus.”
And, of course, when Fox came up with a steal on guard Klay Thompson in the waning seconds of the third quarter, Jones exclaimed that Fox “took his cornbread!”
While fans seemed to appreciate Jones’ clever jabs and vocabulary, some on Twitter argued about whether he was showing too much enthusiasm for the Kings.
Jones is the Kings’ main play-by-play announcer during the regular season, calling most of the team’s games for NBC Sports California.
This story was originally published April 15, 2023 at 7:10 PM.
