USA Today’s Sam Amick reported that Shaquille O’Neal has purchased a minority stake in the Sacramento Kings franchise, creating an unlikely partnership, as Shaq led the Lakers in several defeats over the Kings. O’Neal will meet with the coaches and players of the team, and the partnership will be official on Tuesday.
O’Neal spoke to Amick about some rocky moments that he has had with the Kings in the past. “(The Lakers and Kings) did have some great battles, and fans need to understand that those (“Sacramento Queens”) comments that I made and all that stuff, it was for them… I’ve always been an expert at marketing, so a Laker vs. Sacramento Kings, I wanted it to be the most watched game ever,” he said.
The Kings have made a great number of changes in the passed year, and Vivek Ranadive became the majority owner in May after purchasing a large share for $534 million.
O’Neal said that he likes the way the team is progressing, and the changes that are being made. “Right now, (the Kings are) down, and they have new ownership, and we’re going to bring it back up. It’s going to be beautiful. It’s going to be a destination place that people want to see,” he said.
