A live broadcast from Sacramento Kings Media Day turned awkward in a hurry when a hot mic picked up a group of reporters talking candidly about Ben Simmons and Zach LaVine at Golden 1 Center.
The conversation happened during a stream from Sacramento NBC affiliate KCRA, and it was not meant for public ears. Instead, viewers caught a trio of local media members openly discussing the two players’ looks and personalities while the broadcast was live.
The exchange began with one female reporter calling the newly signed Simmons “cringe.” Another quickly pushed back on that by saying he is “lucky he’s so fine.” From there, the group moved into joking about how young Simmons looks and wondering what kind of skincare routine or lotion he might use.
The discussion then shifted to LaVine, with one voice describing him as beautiful before turning sharply critical of his personality, saying, “his personality f-ing annoys me.” The same reporter later summed up her view even more bluntly, saying the guard just seems like a prick.
Fans watching the stream were stunned by what they heard. One reaction captured the moment with the line, “What in the Dianna Russini is going on with all our female media members?”
The audio was eventually removed after producers realized the private conversation was being sent out to thousands of viewers. The awkward moment came as the Kings had officially signed Simmons to a low-risk, one-year deal worth $3.5 million, bringing the former three-time All-Star back to the NBA after a long absence. Simmons, the former No. 1 draft pick, sat out the entire 2025-26 season to focus on rehabilitation, which made him a major talking point at media day.
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The catch is the same one that has shadowed Sacramentos pursuit from the start: the Kings do not have the cap room to sign Duren to a max deal right now. So the focus has turned to creating a path, and that has reportedly included exploring a Domantas Sabonis trade to clear the necessary space. If Sacramento can get that flexibility, Duren becomes a much more realistic target either before or during the 2026 season, or when he reaches free agency in 2027. [Read more 🡒]
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Lloyd also raised questions about whether newcomers Darius Acuff Jr. and DeAndre Hunter will live up to the expectations attached to them, which only adds to the uncertainty around Sacramentos next step. And if the Kings do decide Domantas Sabonis is part of the answer they want to move off of, Lloyd suggested they may have to be more realistic about the trade return than they would like. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Final Two-Way Spot May Be Down To One Young Guard
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For a roster still sorting out its final developmental spot, Newton is the kind of player worth a long look: young, experienced in the G League grind, and familiar enough to the organization through the Stockton connection. He also went on to earn All-NBA G League First Team honors in 2026, which only adds to the intrigue around whether the Kings see him as the right fit for that last two-way slot. [Read more 🡒]