Sacramento Kings banish new mascot Roy Al following De’Aaron Fox’s viral video reaction
The Kings delighted their fans when they shipped unpopular new mascot Roy Al back to Cincinnati in an amusing skit during Saturday’s win over the Utah Jazz at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
The Kings introduced Roy Al on Thursday when they unveiled their new City Edition uniform, saying the uniform and the new mascot were an homage to the franchise’s past as the Cincinnati Royals. Roy Al was described as a reinterpretation of the 1950s Royals logo with a basketball-shaped face, a hairline shaped like the state of California and a crown featuring the Sacramento skyline.
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Roy Al didn’t get the warmest reception from Kings fans on social media. Then Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox offered a hilarious response in a viral video moment when he got his first look at Roy Al, whose face is emblazoned on the team’s City Edition shorts.
“What the f--- is that?” Fox asked when a reporter showed him a picture of Roy Al, saying he “looks like he’d work at a fast food restaurant.”
The Kings gave seemingly gave Roy Al an unceremonious sendoff during their 121-117 victory over the Jazz on Saturday. They played a video showing Kings gameday emcee Scott Freshour introducing Roy Al to Slamson, who has been the team’s mascot since the 1997-98 season.
Slamson wasn’t having it. He refused Roy Al’s handshake and put him in a shipping crate with an express mail label indicating he would be sent from Golden 1 Center to Cincinnati. The Kings previously said Roy Al will appear alongside Slamson during games when they wear their City Edition uniforms, but now he faces an uncertain future and his fate is unknown.
This story was originally published November 17, 2024 at 1:07 PM.
