cover image Vagrant Kings: David Stern, Kevin Johnson and the NBA's Orphan Team

Vagrant Kings: David Stern, Kevin Johnson and the NBA's Orphan Team

R.E. Graswich. R.E. Graswich, $24.95 paper (256p) ISBN 978-0-9898209-3-6

Jounalist Graswich provides a fascinating exploration of the deal making and legal wrangling that ultimately ensured a professional basketball franchise would remain in Sacramento, Calif. The NBA%E2%80%99s Sacramento Kings holds the dubious distinction of being the most transient team in American professional sports. When the team moved from Kansas City to Sacramentoin 1985, many people were skeptical that the Kings would stay, or that the area could support a professional basketball team. But when things looked bleak for the Kings in Sacramento, NBA Commissioner David Stern made it his mission to keep the team where it was. And, after much legal maneuvering, Stern succeeded, a deal was reached, and the Kings stayed put. Graswich was employed in the office of Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson%E2%80%94a former NBA all-star%E2%80%94when the city worked with the league on an arena project for the Kings. His familiarity with the team%E2%80%99s saga in Sacramento and key players involved makes this a detailed and engaging insider%E2%80%99s account. And while the author%E2%80%99s treatment of local politics can be a bit dry, and he doesn%E2%80%99t always vividly capture the personalities involved, fans of the NBA%E2%80%94especially those with an appetite for behind-the-scenes deal making%E2%80%94will find a lot to like here.