The 2013 EuroBasket schedule continues Thursday with two more quarterfinal games taking place in Slovenia. Spain and France advanced on Wednesday and are waiting on Thursday's winners to complete the FIBA tournament's final four.

Thursday's first quarterfinals game will take place between Croatia and Ukraine, a matchup that could pose real problems for the Ukrainian squad when considering Croatia is on a seven-game winning streak. Ukraine overachieved just to get to this point with a roster featuring Sergii Gladyr and Pooh Jeter, but the talented Croatian squad needs to make sure it doesn't overlook its well-coached opponents.

The final quarterfinal game features Lithuania vs. Italy, a team that wasn't expected to advance this far without NBA players Danilo Gallinari and Andrea Bargnani on its roster. Marco Belinelli and Alessandro Gentile carried a hot-shooting Italy team further than it was supposed to go, but Lithuania's defense -- anchored by NBAers Jonas Valanciunas and Donatas Motiejunas -- could put that to an end.

There will be one other game taking place on Thursday, too, as Wednesday's losers try to stay alive in the "qualification bracket." The top seven teams are guaranteed a berth in next year's FIBA World Cup, meaning taking at least seventh place is imperative. That also means, considering the stakes, the loser's bracket could end up being a bit more interesting than the rest of this tournament.

More from SB Nation NBA:

• Ziller: Shot creation and why offenses work until they don't

• Meet Orlando's point guard ... Victor Oladipo?

• What Isaiah Thomas does better than Kyrie Irving

• Kings will broadcast commercial-free season opener

• The Hook: How to encourage more competitive teams

As we continue our September series of questions, we turn our attention to Marcus Thornton.  There's some debate over whether or not Thornton is overpaid.  Last year, Marcus Thornton was reduced to a bench role with Tyreke Evans assuming the starting shooting guard role.  This season, Tyreke is gone, and Thornton is battling Ben McLemore and Jimmer Fredette for minutes.  It's easy to assume Thornton will see a larger role.  With that in mind, can he live up to his contract?

To begin looking at this question, it's important to note what Thornton is and isn't.  Thornton is a volume shooter, a guy who thrives on the big shot.  That's a valuable guy to have, but he's been frustrating for Kings fans with his lack of passing and his struggles on defense.  Thornton puts forth effort on D, but just isn't skilled.  Better than unskilled and lacking effort, but still frustrating.  If Coach Malone can improve Thornton's defense, Thornton will almost assuredly live up to his contract.

But let's assume that, in general, Thornton remains the player he has been.  Last season Thornton marked a PER of 16.31.  Of course, PER is a metric build for Thornton.  It rewards volume scorers and doesn't knock for defensive issues.  Understanding that, though, Thornton still ranked 11th among shooting guards.

Thornton ranked ahead of guys like JJ Redick, Eric Gordon, Ray Allen, DeMarr DeRozan, Jordan Crawford, and Joe Johnson.  There are players ahead of Thornton that earn less than Thornton.  There are players worse than Thornton that make far more.

Marcus Thornton will earn just over $8 million this season.  Next season he'll earn around $8.5 million.  I'd say Thornton's scoring punch, if used appropriately, is well worth $8 million a year.  And if Thornton fails to live up to his contract this year, or if McLemore earns the starting role, Thornton becomes an $8.5 million expiring contract, an extremely valuable commodity on the trade market.

Thornton's contract may have been an overpayment when he was signed.  Now, though?  As the presumed starting shooting guard, a role in which Thornton has previously been the team's leading scorer, I have little concern about his value this season or next.

The Sactown Royalty Show is back, and back to our normal, non-bar material. Ziller was my guest this week, which is always a treat for me. And hopefully you, I suppose, but mostly I just do this podcast as an excuse to talk to people I like.

We discussed this week's Isaiah Thomas versus Kyrie Irving...scandal? Debate? I don't even know what to call it. But we discussed it.  We also covered Chris Hansen and STOP's latest ineptitudes.  And we ended with a discussion of what we're looking for from training camp.  Which player is going to come into camp in the best shape of his life?  Listen and find out.

Like the show? Subscribe to us on iTunes or on Stitcher! Leave us ratings, leave comments below, let us know how we're doing.

Thanks for listening.

More from Sactown Royalty:

• 30Q: Can Marcus Thornton live up to his contract?
• 30Q: Can Carl Landry replicate the success he had with the Warriors?
• Let's get a time machine and bring back Vlade Divac
• 30Q: Which path with DeMarcus Cousins take?
• Kayte Christensen returns to Kings broadcasts

"Happy birthday, Carl Landry! We're all going to dance for you. ... Yes, even assistant coach Brendan Malone."

More from Sactown Royalty:

• The Sactown Royalty Show, Ep. 15: Tom Ziller, and Isaiah versus Kyrie
• 30Q: Can Marcus Thornton live up to his contract?
• 30Q: Can Carl Landry replicate the success he had with the Warriors?
• Let's get a time machine and bring back Vlade Divac
• 30Q: Which path with DeMarcus Cousins take?

With a new ownership group in place and a revived sense of energy about the Kings in the Sacramento community, attendance at the home games can only go up from here.

The Kings ranked last in attendance (13,749 per game) in the 2012-13 season. This wasn't because of a lack of interest on the fans' part, of course. It was because of the uncertainty surrounding the Maloofs and the potential relocation bid to Seattle. We should all be reminded that Kings fans made it happen when it counted (Here We Buy Nights). It's also worth mentioning that with so much on the line, the Kings still had 19 home games last season with more than 14,000 in attendance - the most since the 2007-08 season - and 11 games with more than 15,000.

Now a new season is upon us and I don't see how there won't be a jump in attendance. How much of a jump? Not sure. But I expect the average to increase by a minimum of 1,500 to 2,000.

The Kings still currently lead the league in new season tickets sold. So that is going to provide a huge bump in the overall numbers.

But outside of the actual numbers themselves, one has to assume that the level of crowd intensity, given the nature of what has transpired over the last eight months, will see a big boost. If the Kings can put together a few winning streaks and their defensive tenacity increases as promised, then the crowds won't just be larger, they will be a lot more fun as well. And that will have a snowball effect, bringing even more fans into the building as word of mouth spreads.

The equation I am going off is this: new season ticket sales + new ownership + new direction + team basketball + community pride = an increase in attendance.

It sure would be nice if Sacramento could get back to the days of consecutive sellout streaks because that in and of itself helps lead to wins. It'll get there. It may or may not happen next season, but Sacramento will get back to those type of numbers on a night-to-night basis.

Attendance, like many of the other things going into this Kings season, is an unknown - a good unknown accompanied with a sense of optimism and energy.

More from Sactown Royalty:

• The Sactown Royalty Show, Ep. 15: Tom Ziller, and Isaiah versus Kyrie
• 30Q: Can Marcus Thornton live up to his contract?
• 30Q: Can Carl Landry replicate the success he had with the Warriors?
• Let's get a time machine and bring back Vlade Divac
• 30Q: Which path with DeMarcus Cousins take?

The Bee's Tony Bizjak reports that on Tuesday the Sacramento City Council will vote on an agreement with the Kings on a 5 percent ticket surcharge intended to pay down the team's 1997 loan. This was one of the clauses in the March term sheet the city approved 7-2. The Kings are also repaying pre-development fees for the new arena, pending obvious Council approval.

You'll remember that the previous owners of the Kings sought to have the 1997 loan (about $60 million) forgiven and the pre-development fees paid by the city. The Maloofs in fact argued that no team paid those fees; pretty much every team actually pays those fees.

The surcharge will go into effect soon, and will cover more than just Kings tickets. It comes out to $2 on a $40 ticket. Whatever remains on the loan in 2016 when the new building opens will be paid off or refinanced by the Kings.

More from Sactown Royalty:

• 30Q: What will attendance look like this season?
• Kings celebrate Carl Landry's birthday, hilarity ensues
• The Sactown Royalty Show, Ep. 15: Tom Ziller, and Isaiah versus Kyrie
• 30Q: Can Marcus Thornton live up to his contract?
• 30Q: Can Carl Landry replicate the success he had with the Warriors?

This summer's biggest on-court move for Sacramento was easily the decision to not re-sign Tyreke Evans. The Kings were able to nab a nice asset from New Orleans in Greivis Vasquez in return, and as such, many fans view Vasquez as Sacramento's starting PG already. It's easy to see why. When you trade a player of Evans quality, you're hoping to get a starter in return. Vasquez also led the league in total assists last year, a skill that is much needed on a Kings team that is oft-labeled as selfish and rightly so.

But there's a 5'9, 185 lb. problem with simply penciling in Vasquez as the starter. Isaiah Thomas is the incumbent and will be working hard to stay that way.

Thomas has already blown by any and all expectations that were set for him in the NBA. Last picks in the draft aren't usually expected to even make a team, let alone start. But Isaiah Thomas was able to do that and more. In his career-to-date he's proven that he's an exceedingly talented scorer, a good passer, and a capable defender. More so than probably any other player in the last two years, Thomas has single-handedly kept Sacramento in games that they shouldn't have been in. He's also been very consistent despite changing circumstances. Last year, Thomas had a bit of a rough start due to a new offense that Keith Smart tried to install that was soon scrapped. He ended up losing his starting role to Aaron Brooks for a while because of his troubles in that offense. That proved to be a mistake. Brooks was a better shooter than Thomas, but a much worse passer and defender. Thomas eventually re-joined the starting lineup while Brooks was waived midway through the season.

That brings us to this year, where Thomas again seemingly faces an uphill battle to retain his spot in the starting lineup. The Kings have brought in two new Point Guards in Vasquez and rookie Ray McCallum. Both Vasquez and Thomas will be playing for new contracts this season. McCallum had a nice summer league, but until he proves himself in the NBA, he'll be on the sideline, or more likely, in Reno.

Thomas and Vasquez bring different sets of skills to the table. Vasquez is a much better passer. Thomas is a much better scorer. Vasquez is much taller. Thomas is much quicker.

What will likely determine which of Thomas or Vasquez starts is defense. Michael Malone is a defensive minded coach and has been adamant about making the Kings better on that front (they were last in the league in opponent points per game and 29th in Defensive Rating last season). Thomas, as of now, is the better defender. Despite his short stature, Thomas is able to stay in front of his man thanks to his low center of gravity and quickness. He's also very strong for his size. According to MySynergySports, Thomas does very well in two specific areas of defense: Isolation and Post-up. In Isolation, he allowed just 0.7 points per possession and 33.3% shooting. His post-up numbers are even more impressive, given that he's a player that seemingly should be taken advantage of in the post. Yet he allows just 0.69 points per possession and 34.8% shooting on Post-Ups.

(Insert obligatory Javale McGee Post-Up Fail GIF here)

Vasquez on the other hand doesn't do particularly well in any defensive category. He's got good size, but he's very slow, particularly laterally. The advantage seems to tilt towards Thomas here.

Now, even if Vasquez does start, Isaiah can still be incredibly useful off the bench as a sparkplug scorer, much like his friend Nate Robinson and former mentor Bobby Jackson. Thomas will simply need a clearly defined role, something that was not the case for him (or much of the team) last year.

If Thomas does start, he'll need to improve his passing game. He doesn't need to be as good as Vasquez, but he should be better than where he is at now. With Evans gone from the team, Thomas will get more opportunities to run the team by himself, as well as play with more shooters.

I'm also of the belief that we will see significant stints this year where the Kings will run both Isaiah Thomas and Greivis Vasquez at the same time. Malone's former team in Golden State employed this dual Point Guard tactic to great effect with Steph Curry and Jarrett Jack. New GM Pete D'Alessandro also comes from a Denver team that featured two starting Point Guards in Andre Miller and Ty Lawson. I don't think Sacramento will go so far as to start both of them though, not with Ben McLemore and Marcus Thornton aboard.

I'm an unabashed Isaiah Thomas fan and in my two years of watching him, one thing I've learned is to not doubt his capabilities. I wouldn't count him out as a starter just yet.

(H/T to HeuristicLineup for linking to this video on Twitter this morning)

Vagrant Kings: David Stern, Kevin Johnson and the NBA's Orphan Teamis R.E. Graswich's account of the efforts, unsuccessful and otherwise, to anchor the Kings in Sacramento. Graswich is clearly well-positioned to write it: he spent years as the Kings beat writer for The Bee, years more as a sports columnist for the paper, years more as a metro columnist for the paper and then a few years of time as Kevin Johnson's chief of staff. I have absolutely no information on why Graswich left the mayor's office when he did. I just know that no one will talk about it, even off the record. And I know that in Vagrant Kings, Graswich is far less than flattering about KJ.

The early quote circulating heavily is Graswich claiming that Johnson still hates the Kings because the team picked Kenny Smith instead of him back in the '80s. Chew on that for a minute. KJ has had a few major pillars of his tenure as mayor and his two campaigns. The Kings have been the biggest. By far. But he secretly still harbors a resentment for ... what, the logo? The mascot? The mere hint of the moniker, despite going on to All-NBA status in Phoenix and a near Hall of Fame career. And despite coming back to Sacramento and winning two mayoral terms. And despite spending loads of time working on keeping the Kings in Sacramento.

That's just the first big eyebrow-raiser. Graswich also dredges up the nastiest bits of politics from KJ's first campaign for apparently no reason -- it's all tossed into a chapter about how Johnson wooed Sacramento voters the first time. I talked to Graswich about its inclusion, and he said he felt it was needed to explain the process for how KJ gained power in Sacramento, and that he debated including it at all. He did, and as a reader, I felt totally thrown off. There's more: an embarrassing vignette in which KJ acts like a schoolgirl in the presence of Obama, some info on the poor state of Johnson's Oak Park properties. But the quote that's making the rounds today as the book is first released -- that KJ hates the Kings -- sets the table for all that follows. (And it's clearly one Graswich wants out there: it's referenced in the fourth sentence of the book's description on Amazon.)

The lasting feeling for me at least is that this is mostly a book about Stern's (weird) quest to keep the Kings in Sacramento (which is a head-scratching premise in itself) but it's also in many ways an indictment of Kevin Johnson. There's plenty of interesting information, but I feel ... unclean after reading it.

Not because of the stuff about KJ. I mean, KJ's been a pro athlete and a politician. You think I'm surprised about some unsavory episodes? No. I feel unclean by because a career journalist took a job as a public servant, got great inside access to a major story and then used that knowledge to attempt to expose the story in unflattering terms at $9 a copy.

I don't fault Graswich for not writing a KJ hagiography we'd all enjoy. I fault him for letting an apparent rift with KJ prevent Sacramentans getting the full, clean account of how the Kings stayed. It's time to start lobbying James Ham and Aaron Bruski to do a book. (I also fault Graswich for giving STOP a whole lot of material that will presented as fact -- not opinion or conjecture -- solely because of Graswich's LinkedIn credentials. Specifically, there's a riff in the book about Jeremiah Jackson that is total Graswich posturing but will be taken literally as gospel by folks opposed to the arena.)

I don't endorse the book, and most Kings fans may come away from it feeling much like I did. But it's a topic worth raising, and this is first and foremost a community for Kings fans. The book might become a topic of discussion, and we're not going to hide from that.

The Kings are staying in Sacramento. We no longer have that burden hanging over each game like a dark cloud. But another question does remain. Will the new downtown arena be ready by 2016?

While it seems unlikely, there are still issues that could possibly derail the deal. STOP is still pushing to take the parking monetization to a vote. Whether the matter can be forced to a vote is still unclear, but STOP is still trying. There are a lot of moving pieces that need to fall in place.

We'll know in the coming months whether STOP can obtain the signatures they need. If they do, we'll watch for City Hall's next move. We could conceivably see this go to a vote after all, in which case we get to delve once again into the world of politics.

If there's one thing I've learned over the course of the last several years it's to never let my guard down. Never assume a deal is "binding". Things change, sometimes rapidly. While STOP may not end up being a legitimate threat, I'm not ignoring any threat to the Kings.

Personally, I don't think STOP gets their signatures. I don't think the arena goes to a vote in any way. I think the arena will open by 2016. But while I'm confident that the arena will open on schedule, I'm keeping a close eye on what happens over the next several months.

***

Alternate draft of this post:

Yes.

Friday, November 15, vs. the Detroit Pistons. DeMarcus Cousins vs. Greg Monroe. Brandon Jennings vs. Tyreke Evans Greivis Vasquez. Andre Drummond vs. Thomas Robinson Patrick Patterson and cash!

This game represents the only ESPN-televised game of the season for the Kings, so the fans need to be at their raucous best. That's where we come in.

We have reserved 100 seats in the lower bowl, beginning in section 118, row M. These are in the corner on the Kings' bench side, providing a great view.

The regular price for these tickets for this game would be $52. Our price? $29. That's right, almost buy one, get one free!!!

As an added bonus, if we can once we purchase 100 tickets, we qualify for a meet and greet with a Kings player or coach. The faster we get to the 100 ticket plateau, the faster we can reserve our meet and greet. So don't delay - buy today! UPDATE (9/23/13, 11:45 AM): DUE TO OVERWHELMING RESPONSE, WE HAVE ADDED 45 MORE SEATS IN SECTION 118.

And if I may, a little editorializing. This is a national TV game, folks, and we want our best fans in the house. And that's us! The seat location provides us with a great opportunity to be seen and heard. SAC-RA-MEN-TO (clap-clap-clap-clap-clap)!!! And the $29 price point gives many of us the opportunity to sit in seats that we might not otherwise be able to afford. Aside from Tyreke Evans' homecoming (which will be StR night #2), this is the game to attend for 2013-14. And a Friday night, with a 7:30 start? There won't be a better game to coordinate with family and friends for pre and postgame festivities, so be sure and get them in on this deal, too. (Feel free to use the thread to discuss tailgating ideas, postgame gatherings, etc.)

Here is the link to purchase tickets. The special offer code is "str." There are 98 tickets remaining...I've already got mine, suckers.

A big hat tip to Kings ticket representative Michael Peyton (mpeyton@kings.com) for his efforts in landing us this humungous deal.

Gang, we have a Kings game on Friday, November 15, right here in Sacramento. Not in Anaheim. Not in Virginia Beach. Not in Seattle. But right here in Sacramento. Let's sell this thing out and rock the living heck out of Sleep Train Arena that night. I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Be there.

Go Kings!

Shaquille O'Neal is a new minority owner of the Sacramento Kings, reports USA Today's Sam Amick. Let's go now live to Christian Bale with a reaction.

Sam reports that Shaq will meet with players and coaches on Monday, and will have dinner with DeMarcus Cousins. Who he is calling his protegé.

O'Neal apparently met with Vivek Ranadivé and Mark Mastrov in late June to discuss a consultant role, in which Shaq would help mold Cousins. But things got deeper, and Team Vivek invited him into the ownership group. Shaq has a history with Mastrov, who developed 24-Hour Fitness; they partnered to build gyms in south Florida.

Apparently, Shaq also remains one of the most recognizable athletes in the world among the target NBA demographic. And he's on TNT every week. And -- this is a great one -- Vivek calls him "Dr. O'Neal." As in:

"The most iconic person on the planet was Dr. O'Neal. So Mark Mastrov is good friends with Dr. O'Neal, and Dr. O'Neal and I spent a day at my house shooting hoops, hanging out with my kids, and just talking about how to create the franchise of the 21st century.

"We talked about what the forces were that were shaping the 21st century, we talked about technology, we talked about new companies that we were looking at, and based on that we came to a conclusion that we could - what my (late) friend Steve Jobs likes to say - put a dent in the universe if Dr. O'Neal became my partner."

Is this life?

More from Sactown Royalty:

• Sactown Royalty Night at Sleep Train Arena - The Vivekoning!
• 30Q: Will the new arena be ready by 2016?
• On R.E. Graswich's book about the Kings
• 30Q: Will Isaiah Thomas start or come off the bench?
• Sleep Train Arena surcharge will help pay down Kings debt

Twenty teams have punched their tickets for the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain through regional qualification or special circumstance. Iran, the Philippines and South Korea will represent Asia. Angola, Egypt and Senegal will rep Africa. Australia and New Zealand are (surprise!) both in via the two-team Oceania region. The Americas dutifully submit Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina and the Dominican Republic, plus the United States, who qualified as the reigning Olympic champion. Europe's set includes host Spain, plus Croatia, France, Lithuania, Slovenia, Ukraine and Serbia.

A regular column on the NBA.
9/20: How we use fancy data
9/18: Shot creation among top offenses
9/16: Encouraging competitive teams
9/13: Rebuilding is a victimless crime
9/11: Horry's not a Hall of Famer

Four spots are left, and they'll be chosen by FIBA officials based on ... well, let's be honest, they'll be chosen first by who is willing to pay the organization's bribe entrance fee. Then FIBA will, in theory, suss out who will improve the tournament the most. In reality, who will deliver fans to Spain will likely matter more, but there are some other practical inputs to manage.

The only rule FIBA puts out there is that no more than three teams can be chosen from any one region. So, basically, that means Europe can't have four teams. (FIBA is a little pro-Europe, you see.) With all that said, here are The Hook's top contenders for those final four spots.

BRAZIL

Brazil has really good talent, none of which showed up to the FIBA Americas tournament in August. The Brazilians were really, really bad in Caracas, but they've been good recently. They finished fifth in the 2012 Olympics, ninth in the 2010 World Championship, first in the 2009 FIBA Americas tourney and second in that same derby in 2011. They are ranked No. 9 in the world. This is a good team.

That said, the bigger reason FIBA will have is that Brazil is hosting the 2016 Olympics, and the basketball squad could use some positive momentum approaching that. FIBA didn't stick 2012 Olympic host Great Britain in the 2010 World Cup, but Brazil has a case on the merits, so this could be a big factor. There's also no question that Brazil has the dough to make it happen.

RUSSIA

Russia is the best European team currently on the outside looking in. Ranked No. 6 in the world, Russia won bronze in London and finished seventh at the 2010 World Championship. Russia was disastrous at EuroBasket, but won that tournament in 2007 and got bronze in 2011. It also has a nice little youth movement brewing, having won bronze at the 2011 under-19 World Championship.

Russia was really, really bad in Ljubljana this month, but that's not the Russia we've come to expect. Plus, Russian basketball fans do travel a bit and they have the dough to get in the door.

CHINA

China is ranked No. 11 in the world, and missed out on an automatic berth by tripping up in the early rounds of FIBA Asia last month. The exit landed rare World Cup berths for the Philippines and South Korea, but something tells me China will end up landing in Spain, even though Europe typically gets its max three spots. As we're always reminded: China is a massive flippin' market. Also, it happens to like basketball quite a bit. So despite China no longer being the top power in Asia -- Iran has a major claim to that spot -- the nation seems like a good bet for a wild card spot.

A MYSTERY NO. 4

There are some really solid options for that fourth spot. If FIBA takes Brazil and China, it seems like No. 4 must be a European squad. But there's a compelling case to be made for another team from the Americas: Canada, which barely missed out on a bid this summer. In 2010, the three Euro wild cards were ranked Nos. 6, 7 and 17 heading into the tournament. (Germany, Lithuania and Russia, respectively.) The fourth was No. 24 Lebanon, which was suspiciously close to tournament site Turkey, geographically speaking. In 2006, the three Euro wild cards were Italy, Turkey and Serbia and Montenegro. The fourth was Puerto Rico.

Canada has an incredible young core starring Anthony Bennett, Tristan Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Andrew Nicholson. Only two of those -- Thompson and Nicholson -- played this summer, and only the latter was a standout. But Steve Nash runs Canada basketball now, and Wiggins is a big fish. FIBA would love to get some of the coming Durant vs. Wiggins action, and getting that started in 2014 would be just lovely. In addition, with a full complement of players in Spain, Canada might actually do damage.

In Europe, the top competitors for a bid (other than Russia) are Turkey (No. 2 in the 2010 World Championship, but abysmal in all action since), Greece (No. 4 in the world) and Italy (just missed out on a World Cup bid, has four NBA players). The only other potential choices would be Germany (a longshot if Dirk Nowitzki doesn't commit early), Nigeria (No. 17 in the world) or Tunisia (African's rising star who fell flat in August). But I think it'll be Canada or Greece. And because I'm very excited about the team's potential, I'm rooting for Canada.

THE BASKETBALL YIPS

Josh Childress will attend the Wizards' training camp, which provides a good reminder that Josh Childress is still around. He played all of 100 minutes in the NBA last season with Brooklyn. He's gone from solid contributor and fringe Sixth Man of the Year candidate as a young player to a fringe role player by age 30. His career trajectory is just ... bizarre.

That two-year break wasn't an injury absence -- that was his two-year sojourn in Greece. He initially signed in Greece because he and the Hawks couldn't get a deal done during his restricted free agency. He spent a second year there after trying again to work out sign-and-trade deals with the Hawks. He finally returned to the NBA in 2011 as a 27-year-old, signed with the Suns, and began a fall to the fringe.

What caused it? Childress was always going to be a fit player, in my estimation. Where he fit in Atlanta, he did not in Phoenix. It's surprising, because we always think of Steve Nash making life easier for role players. But that wasn't the case for Childress and now he can barely get a job in the NBA.

Did something else happen to his game in Greece? Did the different training style over there hold back or even reverse his growth as a player? Or was the Atlanta Childress just a mirage of a prospect? It's quite a mystery.

SASS-RAMENTO

The Grizzlies landed atop ESPN The Magazine's annual Ultimate Team Rankings this year, which is a little stunning because the Grizzlies are the only pro franchise in relatively-small Memphis and you wouldn't think they could compete with the megaliths like the Lakers, Knicks, Yankees or any of the 32 NFL teams except for the Jaguars. But there they are, No. 1.

Another small-market NBA team didn't fare so well. ESPN's algorithms landed the Sacramento Kings at No. 122, also known as last place. (Behind even the Jaguars.) But the Kings have new ownership, plans for a new arena, a totally rebuilt front office and, I guess, a whole lot of sass.

Because the Kings are using that horrid ranking to promote the team's only game on ESPN this season. The full-pager at right appeared in Sunday's Sacramento Bee (shot via Ryan Yamamoto). The Kings play the Pistons on ESPN on Nov. 15 and are now selling tickets off of this injustice.

In truth, the ranking is totally fair. Before Vivek Ranadivé bought the Kings, this franchise was in horrendous shape. The front office was stale, the lottery streak was long, the fan value was nonexistent. This ranking isn't an insult to Kings fans: it's an accurate assessment of how the Maloofs treated Sacramento: with contempt.

But fans are all about pride, and this is a great opportunity to tap into that while making sure the building is full for a night in the spotlight. And ESPN doesn't mind: the talking points for the broadcast team has just been written. It can spend all night promoting ESPN The Magazine while talking about how the Kings' fortunes have changed. Talk about a virtuous cycle.

More from SB Nation NBA:

• The Hook: The right way to use fancy new data

• Comparing Derrick Rose's return to RG3's

• The Bucks have an arena problem

• Ukraine makes history at Eurobasket

• The worst NBA players to have their jersey retired

Earlier Monday, new reports indicated that Shaquille O'Neal has become a new minority owner of the Sacramento Kings.

Such an addition is undoubtedly a major splash in new owner Vivek Ranadivé's latest efforts to revamp the franchise and right the ship in the proper direction. A future Hall of Famer, as well as an undeniable national phenomenon, O'Neal's presence is sure to aid the Kings both on and off the court.

O'Neal is the second former player of such stature that Ranadivé has brought in since coming to town. Current Hall of Famer Chris Mullin was the first.

In his new role as "Adviser to the Chairman," Ranadivé indicated at Mullin's press conference that he envisions the well-known sharpshooter as a jack of all trades for the organization. Mullin's past experience both as a player and executive is surely to provide the Kings with a boost in many different ways.

In addition to spending time with Ranadivé and co. this past summer in Las Vegas for NBA Summer League, Mullin has also weighed in on some important decisions already. At his press conference, it was said that in looking into a potential new athletic trainer's background, Mullin's form of action was to call the likes of Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan as references. Clearly, in addition to his vast amount of experience, Mullin has plenty of connections and relationships to lean on as well.

Last week, Mullin ventured out to Reno, Nevada to meet and greet the Bighorns' season-ticket holders. Of course, Sacramento entered into a single NBA D-League affiliation with the Bighorns just this past summer.

Given how versatile Ranadivé considers Mullin to be, will the Hall of Famer also have a hand in the way Sacramento chooses to handle things in Reno?

Recently, the organization did name Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Chris Gilbert General Manager and Assistant G.M. of the Bighorns, respectively. Though each one is sure to prove themselves more than capable of taking care of business, a presence like Mullin's wouldn't hurt. He has an eye for young talent and as previously mentioned, has the connections to better network throughout the minor league as well.

As proven during his run as an executive with the Golden State Warriors, Mullin understands how to put a team together and turn them into a well-oiled machine. He and his entire family has been known for scouting and coaching young talent over the years, too. He's able to see the good in those when others may not. Thus, he's open to giving second-chances to those players who may be in need of an extra opportunity to strut their stuff and display some otherwise untapped potential.

Filling up one's D-League team with players like that should be a priority, and that's certainly where Mullin's eye for talent and past experience could be an asset in Reno.

If there's one thing that most fans would want coming off of yet another sub-30 win season (the fifth in a row), it would be some changes to the roster and the starting lineup. Kings fans have already seen a shakeup in the roster, as six of the fourteen players on the roster at the beginning of last season are no longer Kings (the number would be four of thirteen if you look at the roster at the end of last season). But how will that translate to the starting lineup?

There are a number of directions that the Kings may take, and they may very well pick and choose from different variations and themes. Here are some of the ways that they could go, in no particular order.

The "Brand New World" option: Under this scenario, new Kings ownership and management determine that their new acquisitions are better than what existed on the old roster. DeMarcus Cousins is grandfathered into this group, as the franchise has determined (at least for now) to build around the big fella. Carl Landry gets the start at power forward, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is at small forward, 1^st round draft pick Ben McLemore is the shooting guard, and Greivis Vasquez is the point guard. This lineup is certainly new and exciting (at least compared to what we have seen recently), but it would be challenged defensively everywhere except the small forward position. Chances of happening: Not likely but not 100% out of the question. McLemore will have to make a huge leap forward from summer league to crack the lineup, Isaiah Thomas will not give up the starting job easily, and Landry will be battling at least Jason Thompson and perhaps Patrick Patterson for starting honors.

The "Defensive" option: Coach Michael Malone wants this team to hang its hat on defense, but for the time being he may have to settle for incremental improvement. Given that Cousins has his job nailed down, Chuck Hayes gets the start alongside him. Mbah a Moute is the small forward. Johnny Salmons gets the start at shooting guard, and Isaiah Thomas is at the point. Ironic that the best defensive lineup that the Kings can put together is also the shortest. Chances of happening: Less likely than the "Brand New World" option. This lineup would not be good enough defensively to make up for its offensive deficiencies. And I fundamentally oppose any option that has Salmons in the starting lineup.

The "Best Defense is a Good Offense" option: Malone determines that other than Mbah a Moute, there are no particularly gifted defenders on the roster, and that the team defense that he employs will achieve about the same level of effectiveness no matter who starts. Cousins, Landry, Mbah a Moute, and Marcus Thornton make up 80% of this starting lineup. Thomas and Vasquez are a coin flip. In Vasquez you have a pass-first point guard that will enhance the offensive play of Cousins, Landry and Thornton. In Thomas you have a guy that has not been the passer of Vasquez' level but is himself a potent scorer. I'll give Vasquez the slightest of edges here. Chances of happening: Possible. This lineup features 60% new personnel and 80% new starters over last year. It will be defensively overmatched on most nights, but one has to ask exactly how much of a defensive difference Hayes or Thompson would make over Landry, or Thomas over Vasquez or Thornton.

The "Ball Movement is King" option: Vasquez and Thomas start side-by-side in the backcourt. Vasquez runs most of the half court sets, but both of them transition the basketball. Vasquez covers the opposing two guards. Mbah a Moute is still the small forward (Salmons or Travis Outlaw would actually impede ball movement as require more touches than Luc), and Patrick Patterson starts alongside Cousins - Patterson does the best job of playing within an offensive flow of any of the options here. This version would provide the most selfless quintet of players, though it is potentially lighter on offensive potency than the "BD/GO" option (Landry>Patterson and Thornton>Thomas when it comes to volume scoring). This group would have to pass crisply and repeatedly to keep opposing defenses off balance. Chances of happening: Possible (though probably less possible than the "BD/GO" option), especially if Malone wants to enforce the ball movement aspect.

The "Build Around DeMarcus" option: Given that the, long defensive presence that Cousins yearns to play next to is not currently on the roster, this lineup revolves more around supporting Cousins on the offensive end. Now, this can be a bit tricky. Vasquez is a given here, but would this scenario be better with a floor spacing deep threat like Thornton or a guy like Thomas, who can score from deep but can also distribute? It's hard not to give Thomas the edge here. Mbah a Moute is small forward (again, I don't see any other options that would improve Cousins' game). And I'll opt for Patterson over Landry here, primarily because Patterson can space the floor but does not need a lot of touches to be effective. Note that I'm not saying that Patterson is better than Landry, but in this world of "It's all about DeMarcus (for better or worse)," Patterson is the better fit. So this lineup winds up being the same as the "Ball Movement is King" lineup. Chances of happening: As possible as the "Ball Movement" option.

The "Pump Up the Value" option: Management implores the coaching staff to utilize the players that the Kings might like to move, in the hope of dealing out of contracts. Cousins is in this lineup but is certainly not (currently) on the market. Jason Thompson starts alongside him. JT is a solid rotation big, but the addition of Landry makes him expendable. Mbah a Moute starts at small forward (giving Salmons playing time at small forward will decrease his "value"), and Thornton starts at shooting guard. Vasquez gets the start at point guard. I'm not 100% convinced that the Kings obtained Vasquez as part of their long-term plan. I'm not bashing Vasquez here, and he may continue to develop. But there is a part of me that thinks that his acquisition was more about just getting something for Evans than walking away with nothing. Don't get me wrong - I think that Vasquez will be a solid addition for the Kings this year. But he's not a particularly special player, and if the Kings can get something valuable for him, I could see them pulling the trigger. Chances of happening: No way. NBA3.0 does not start with management dictating to their coach who starts and who sits.

The "Jimmer" option: Jimmer Fredette is slotted into the starting lineup, and Vasquez, Thomas, Salmons and Ray McCallum are instructed to feed him at all costs. Chances of happening: Zero, because Michael Malone is a racist.

The "Best Guys Start" option: This would seem to be the obvious scenario, and it would feature Cousins, Landry and Mbah a Moute up front. The back court is a little trickier, as you need to determine who are the best options among Vasquez, Thomas and Thornton (or McLemore or Fredette if they have an epiphany). I'll give Thornton the two-guard as of September 24, and Vasquez barely, barely, barely edges Thomas. Chances of happening: Very possible.

-

A lot is made of starting lineups, and I think that most of us would agree that the five guys on the floor at the end of the game are much more important than the five guys that start the game, much in the same way that the roster at the end of the season will be much more important to the future of the Kings than the roster that begins the season. It will be interesting to see which five players earn the opening night starting nod, and how consistent that starting lineup will remain as the season progresses.

The Sacramento Kings see a future with talented center DeMarcus Cousins, and ESPN's Marc Stein reports that they are "on course" to hand the big man a contract extension despite all of his flaws. Sources tell Stein that the Kings could have Cousins extended from his rookie contract by the Oct. 31 deadline and as soon as training camp, which begins in a week.

Cousins' signature would make him the fourth member of the 2010 rookie class to have signed an extension. John Wall and Larry Sanders have signed extensions, and Indiana Pacers forward Paul George is expected to join the club soon.

Shaqtown Royalty

Kings blog Sactown Royalty reacts to the team's new owner

Like Wall and George, Cousins is looking to become a designated player on a five-year, max deal worth around $80 million. It's not a certainty that he'll earn the max, however.

For the talent Cousins has that other NBA centers don't, he also has baggage. He was suspended indefinitely a few months into the 2012-13 season after an altercation with then-head coach Keith Smart. He also made a low hit to O.J. Mayo, then sparred with the guard through the media. Additionally, Cousins was in a verbal altercation with San Antonio Spurs TV analyst Sean Elliott last season.

The move seems like a risky one for new general manager Pete D'Alessandro and the new Kings ownership group that includes Shaquille O'Neal. Yet, O'Neal went to bat for Cousins in an interview with USA Today, and so did new Kings owner Vivek Ranadive.

It's hard to argue with Cousins' abilities. He averaged 17.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last year despite often finding himself in foul trouble.

If Cousins isn't extended by Oct. 31, he will become a restricted free agent next summer, but Stein reports Sacramento will do everything to come to an agreement for an extension.

More from SB Nation NBA:

• Paul George gets his max contract

• Tony Parker apologizes for gay slur

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• Derrick Rose throws party at United Center

• The Hook: The right way to use fancy new data

Things have been relatively quiet on the DeMarcus Cousins front since earlier this summer when it was first reported that Cousins wanted a max extension.  The new Kings front office and ownership has said nothing but good things about Cousins since taking over and have basically anointed him as the franchise cornerstone.

Now it appears that they are prepared to back up their words with cash.  A lot of cash.

From ESPN's Marc Stein:

Two sources told ESPN.com that Cousins could actually have a deal wrapped up before the Kings open training camp next week in Santa Barbara, Calif.

But even if it takes longer, sources say Cousins will indeed join John Wall, Larry Sanders and Paul George on the list of 2010 draftees to receive contract extensions before the Halloween buzzer.

Stein does go on to say that a max extension is not a foregone conclusion, but it's very likely that any extension for Cousins will be at or near-max.  The biggest contract he can get is around 5 years and $78.8 million.  If my research is correct, that would be the second-biggest contract ever handed out to a Sacramento King, with only Chris Webber's deal being higher*

* Mike Bibby's deal was technically higher than Cousins but was over 7 years not 5

That is a huge investment to make in a player that hasn't really proved anything yet.  Nonetheless, it appears to be happening, for better or worse.

The Bee's Jason Jones wrote on Twitter:

Kings know/believe Cousins is a "max" player and know that's what they'll have to pay him eventually.

— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) September 23, 2013

The internal debate has been whether to extend Cousins now or wait until the offseason. Pros/cons both ways, but Vivek loves Cousins.

— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) September 23, 2013

In Stein's article, he mentions that there is a "strong sentiment" to get the deal done before the season so it doesn't become an issue during the season.

It's been a while since I wrote a song parody.  They're what got me to the front page, and then I abandoned them and pretended to be a real writer.  Sorry Tom!  But it was mostly because I lost my inspirations.  You can't force a song post, it just has to happen naturally.  With that, I humbly ask that you listen to the following:

And enjoy, "Shaq in Sac"

Shaq in Sac

According to the very good Marc Stein of ESPN.com, DeMarcus Cousins will be signing a very large contract extension soon. That Stein cites two sources (both anonymous) is pretty important, because this is an issue between two parties: the Kings' front office and Cousins' management. I'm not sure exactly who else would have info, so Stein's reporting would indicate that both sides confirm something is close. And Stein doesn't strike out on stories like this. So it's time to start getting used to Boogie under a long-term contract.

Five related thoughts:

1. This may not totally be Pete D'Alessandro's decision. Vivek Ranadivé has been publicly building up Cousins since before he hired a GM. Michael Malone also heralded Cousins before D'Alessandro was hired. Something tells me that a candidate who told Vivek and company that Cousins needs to go might not be the GM right now. (That's not to say Vivek wouldn't hire someone who doesn't agree with him, or that he's not open to competing philosophies -- it's that this is a major issue and I don't think many candidates, especially potential first-time GMs, would express that opinion with hopes of getting the job.)

It's pretty clear that Vivek has a keen interest in basketball operations. This is a big basketball decision that Vivek has publicly weighed in on ... repeatedly. So if the deal doesn't work out, I'm not sure it's specifically on D'Alessandro. It seems like an institutional decision to ride with Boogie. (For what it's worth, I think the Tyreke Evans decision was mostly D'Alessandro, and a bigger deal than this extension overall.)

2. There's little chance of a Cousins discount next year anyway. The debate on whether it's worth it to extend players early to keep good feelings flowing is an interesting one, but the other issue -- will you get him cheaper now or later? -- is essentially irrelevant in this case, because someone will offer him the max next season if he's on the market. I won't say that is totally regardless of what happens this season, because ... you know. Stuff happens. But it's a pretty high probability that he'll be in position to get a four-year max from someone next summer. That's not an issue that forces you to extend him now, because you could just match next year. But taken into consideration with the other issues (like his attitude and the image of the franchise) it's worth noting.

3. This is not in any way about Tyreke Evans. The team did not commit to Evans, and he left. Many of us think Evans might still be a very good player. Evans was a better teammate and nicer guy than Cousins, and quite possibly the better player to this point. (Certainly more reliable.) But this isn't about Evans. The positional gulf is not to be dismissed: finding an above-average center is loads more difficult than an above-average two-guard. (Especially considering this team's roster.) Plus, Cousins' ceiling at this point would seem to be higher. It may be more likely that Evans reaches his ceiling than Cousins reaches his, but that's pretty much irrelevant. Again, this deal is not about Evans. It's about the franchise's belief in Cousins, and by proxy its ability to reach Cousins.

4. Cousins has no excuses. If he didn't get an extension, you could make an argument that the uncertainty over his future weighed on him this season and caused him to do x, y and z. Nope. With an extension, the mystery on that is gone. This will also be his third head coach and he has a solidly run franchise behind him. He's been loaded with gobs of royal jelly. His teammates aren't the best in the world, but no one is expecting him to win 50 games. The expectation is to keep his nose clean(er) and produce. If he doesn't, at the end of this season, we'll know.

5. We're in for years of entertainment. I get as frustrated as anyone with Boogie. The suspensions, the ejections, the bad defense: it's annoying. But man, he is great fun when he's playing well. He has a remarkably confident attitude, he's emotive, he's bombastic, he really doesn't give a crap about anything. The attitude comp on him is usually Sheed, but in some ways I do liken him to his new mentor, Shaq. O'Neal was a goofball foremost, a bully second. Boogie has those flipped when things aren't going well. But when they are going well, he's goofy. And that's great! Plus, he has those semi-frequent huge nights where it's just glorious to watch. The 20-15 nights. The less frequent 30-20 nights. No, it's not fun when he's going for eight points on 3-20 shooting. But after the stretch this team has had, I value "entertainment" pretty highly, and Cousins always keeps things interesting.

More from Sactown Royalty:

• ♫ Shaq in Sac ♫
• Report: Kings and Cousins Nearing Extension
• 30Q: Who will be in the starting lineup for the Kings on opening night 2013?
• Shaq becomes a Kings minority owner, according to report
• Sactown Royalty Night at Sleep Train Arena - The Vivekoning!

I know what you're thinking.

"Akis, are you crazy? Why is this a 30Q? This is pointless to argue about. We all know Travis Outlaw is guaranteed to be the 2013-14 MVP, do we really need a whole post on it?"

Maybe that's true. But maybe, just maybe, the NBA awards voters will find a way to screw up their ballots for the 10th year in a row and not award Outlaw with the league's highest honors.

Let's break down the facts.

FACT: Travis Outlaw is so good he is being paid by two NBA teams.

FACT: Travis Outlaw has recorded more blocked shots than 11 time NBA Champion Bill Russell.

FACT: Travis Outlaw has recorded more three pointers made than Jerry West.

FACT: Travis Outlaw has recorded more steals than Oscar Robertson.

FACT: Travis Outlaw has recorded less turnovers than Michael Jordan.

FACT: Travis Outlaw has recorded more offensive and defensive rebounds than Wilt Chamberlain (but less total rebounds).

FACT: Travis Outlaw doesn't miss shots, he creates rebounding opportunities.

FACT: Travis Outlaw is so nice, he took a picture of Kevin Fippin rather than the other way around.

FACT: Travis Outlaw doesn't just make his teammates look better, he makes everyone in the entire league look better.

FACT: Travis Outlaw paid me $1,000 to write this article.

FACT: Since Travis Outlaw has joined the Kings, the Maloofs are gone, the Kings have sold for the highest sale price in NBA history, and a new arena is in sight.

FACT: Travis Outlaw CAN play Small Forward.

***

As you can see, the evidence is indisputable. Travis Outlaw is the Most Valuable Player, and it's time for the rest of the NBA to acknowledge it.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg's legislation that would help prevent legal obstructions to building a new arena in downtown Sacramento is currently on Gov. Jerry Brown's desk, awaiting signature.

The bill,SB 743, among other things, prevents lawsuits from halting construction of the $448 million arena slated to replace land that the Downtown Plaza (sort of) currently occupies. It also shortens the judicial timeline for any environmental lawsuits filed against the project.

Steinberg, who represents California's 6^th Senate District, which includes Sacramento, has been a staunch supporter of Mayor Kevin Johnson's and the city's effort to keep the Kings in town. He was kind enough to join me as part of Sactown Royalty's ongoing Q&A series about the new downtown arena and the changing landscape of the Kings franchise.

I wanted to briefly touch on the last eight months or so in this battle to keep the Kings in Sacramento. Back in January, you wrote a letter that called out Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer asking why he is engaged in activities that are "clearly and measurably detrimental to our State's job and revenue base." Talk about that and why you decided to get involved shortly after the Seattle deal was announced.

That was a little bit of a shot across the bow. We just wanted to make it clear that we were going to fight for our asset here - our team, our economic opportunity ... we didn't really pursue it hard, but it was out there, and then I really focused my time specifically on assisting the mayor and the city in winning the competition. And then the trip back to New York and then, of course, in the last month, we were focused on getting this legislation passed.

Tell me a little about that trip to New York and what those meetings were like.

It was high stakes. I took the red eye, you know, and arrived and even without much sleep, the adrenaline was flowing. I made the case with Mayor Johnson that I'm the first Pro Tem of the Senate from Sacramento in 125 years, and I wanted to assure the owners that this not only a significant priority for our city and our region, but for the state as well. This is the capital city. I told them I was committed to responsible CEQA reform in a way that would not allow this project to be unduly delayed, and I think it helped and played a role.

I knew when we walked out of that room that day that we had a great chance.

Your bill, SB 743, protects the arena project from being stopped by litigation for pretty much everything other than things related to public health, is that the main gist of it?

That is the gist of it. There are some provisions to expedite timelines for judicial review, but that is consistent with what we are doing for a number of other big projects as well. The thing that is really significant about the bill that applies to the Kings is the limitation on the ability to stop the project cold because that is the fear, and we know we're on an aggressive schedule and we do not want to lose what we have worked so hard to win.

Is this something that all major development projects have to deal with?

The CEQA issue is a very difficult one because CEQA, in my view, is a great law and the challenge is that the same law that has been used to protect some of California's most important natural treasures, has also been used, at times, to hold up good projects. So it's not all or nothing. In this particular instance, there is clear evidence that there are people who want to throw a wrench into this incredibly important opportunity for the community I represent, and the state I represent.

Can you expand on the bill's language that helps the city of Sacramento utilize eminent domain for this arena project? [See Macy's]

That's really a technical change because it doesn't change the eminent domain law at all, it just allows the eminent domain proceeding to be done at the same time that CEQA review is done, otherwise it would have to be after.

I know this was negotiated into the bill later in the process, but can you explain the aspect of SB 743 that says patrons should drive 15 percent fewer miles to the new arena than the people who currently go to Sleep Train Arena?

One of the reasons why it was appropriate to provide this expedited treatment and to limit the ability to stop the project is because this is a very significant environmental project. The Sacramento project is the definition of what we call 'infill' ... we want to encourage development along transit lines, we want to encourage development in city centers, we want to encourage development where people can walk from work to entertainment, and from home to work. This project meets the definition - it is in the heart of the region, in the heart of our downtown, it's on rail and this should be a showcase project for the state.

Are you pretty confident that the governor is going to sign SB 743?

Yeah, never over-confident because I respect the office of the governor and that is his decision, but I feel good about it.

There continues to be individuals and groups out there who want to stop what Sacramento is trying to do with this downtown arena, and yet time and time again Sacramento continues to fight back. What does that say to you about this community?

We are a never say die community. We're fighters. We love this community. I'm not a native of Sacramento. I've lived here now almost 30 years and this community has provided me so many opportunities and it is such a wonderful place to live, and we're proud of our history and tradition with the Kings and with so many other things. And we're going to fight for this opportunity ... this whole story, it speaks to the great spirit and focus of Sacramento.

You have had a chance to interact with the new ownership group of the Kings quite a bit. In your opinion, how different are things going to be with this franchise now?

I'm very impressed with this group. They are smart, they are committed, they understand business, entertainment and community. We're very fortunate, they are all going to be a big part of Sacramento now.

I can't let you go without asking you what you think about the news of Shaquille O'Neal joining the Kings' ownership group.

[Laughs] On one hand, it's hard to ever forgive him for Game 7, but on the other hand, I think he's great and I think it's just another great boost for this community, for the team and for the whole story. I can't wait to meet him.

Alright, one more thing. Why is Buster Posey the only person you follow on Twitter?

MVP, that is all I've got to say.

More from Sactown Royalty:

• ♫ Shaq in Sac ♫
• Report: Kings and Cousins Nearing Extension
• 30Q: Who will be in the starting lineup for the Kings on opening night 2013?
• Shaq becomes a Kings minority owner, according to report
• Sactown Royalty Night at Sleep Train Arena - The Vivekoning!