Stockton approves lease for Kings’ G-League team

STOCKTON — Goodbye Reno Bighorns, hello Stockton Kings.

The city council unanimously approved a three-year Stockton Arena lease with the Sacramento Kings’ G League affiliate Tuesday night, and a Kings official subsequently presented a folder to Mayor Michael Tubbs.

Tubbs slowly opened the envelope, then announced that Stockton’s G League team will, just like its senior partner in Sacramento, be named the Kings. Creativity, evidentally, was not a factor in choosing the name.

Here are the details. The Sacramento Kings’ Reno Bighorns franchise is officially extinct. Instead, the Kings will pay $9,000 a game to Stockton for the use of Stockton Arena for 25 regular-season games — $225,000 in total. The Stockton Kings, whose 2018-19 season begins in November, will use a practice facility in Sacramento, will live in Sacramento and will bus to Stockton for games. The Sacramento Kings made a promise to be involved in the Stockton community by supporting local nonprofits and making public appearances.

Among those who attended the meeting were 27-year-old Derrick Wofford and 11-year-old Malikai McNabb. Wofford plays for Stockton’s Team Trouble of the semi-professional American Basketball Association, and he said he is hopeful his team can have a connection to the Stockton Kings.

“I grew up with Kobe (Bryant) but I love watching the Kings,” Wofford said. “Now that the Kings are here, I hope we can collide with (the Kings) and put Stockton on the map for good.”

Malikai, wearing his purple Sacramento Kings jersey, said, “It makes me excited. It’s right downtown where I live. My dad is going to get us season tickets.”