During the Sacramento Kings' most recent loss to the Suns, a long-time season ticket holder got into it with Zach LaVine and was ejected from the game. The Kings need to take this seriously as it's yet another sign that the fan base is turning on the franchise and the situation is getting worse.
There was some kind of altercation behind the Sacramento Kings’ bench during the last timeout. pic.twitter.com/RjkW6yloku
— Jason Anderson (@JandersonSacBee) November 27, 2025
Being a Kings fan is a tough way to live life. The franchise moved to Sacramento in 1985 and has been there for 40 years at this point. Since getting to town, the team has won three division titles and not much else. The Kings are not exactly what one would call a winning franchise.
One of the things the Kings are known for is the passion of their fans. No matter how bad the team gets, Kings' fans are loyal, keep showing up, and always cheer the team on. There's no rationale for this level of dedication, but it is incredibly inspiring to watch.
Unfortunately, the current iteration of the Kings is really testing that legendary patience. This season has absolutely pushed their fans to the point that they're actually lashing out at their own team. It got so bad recently that the team had to turf one of their own super fans.
The Kings new problem is their hometown crowd
During the course of the Kings' recent loss to the Suns, LaVine got into a heated altercation with a season ticket holder. The fan had been lambasting LaVine for his nonexistent defensive play, which in turn led to Zach getting incredibly angry. The end result was the fan being ejected.
It's not the first time fans have voiced their displeasure this season. One blowout home loss led to fans booing the franchise. In another game, the hometown fans were so frustrated that Keon Ellis wasn't getting minutes that they chanted for him until the coaches finally put Ellis in.
There have been pushes in the past to move the Kings from Sacramento to a larger market. Former NBA commissioner David Stern opposed that, due in part to the passionate fan base. If the Kings don't right this ship and win their fans back, the remote possibility of losing the franchise increases.
Frankly, the season ticket holder wasn't wrong. LaVine is not great on defense, and his shooting has declined rapidly. In some games, it looks like he's going through the motions until he can get traded. Keeping in mind he's the highest-paid player on the team, watching that would be frustrating for fans.