A name change was required-maybe?
The Sacramento Kings can thank the baseball Royals for their name or maybe not. In 1948 the Rochester (NY) Royals came into existence, they played in the city until 1957 when they located to Cincinnati (OH). From 1957 through the 1972 season Cincinnati remained home to the team, dwindling attendance caused the owners to look in another direction.  The Royals moved to Kansas City in 1972, at the time it was believed it might be confusing with two pro teams in the same city with the same nickname.

The baseball Royals had come into existence two years previously in 1969. Two pro teams in the same city did occur once upon a time in St. Louis. In 1960 the NFL Chicago Cardinals moved to St. Louis where the baseball Cardinals first had begun play in 1900. As you can see we had the baseball team and the football team with the same nickname, in addition it was the same city.  In 1972 the move by the Royals to Kansas City a decision was made to re-name the basketball team. The Royals would henceforth be known as the Kansas City Kings.

Bits n Pieces
We should have seen this coming, LeBron’s new team to play the Heat on Christmas Day? The Lakers will face the Bulls in Chicago on the same day. That will also be Pau Gasol’s first game against his former mates.  The Bulls power forward will be matched against last years Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer.

Arizona will join a number of college and NBA teams with a uniform change next season. The team will wear a combination of 5 different uniform changes. Check ’em out on the net for color combos.

Is it the name change or simply time or maybe something else? The Hornets are applying to serve as host either the 2017 or 2018 All-Star game. I seriously doubt Charlotte ownership might have even thought about hosting the game 5 or 6 years ago.  I haven't checked attendance numbers but perhaps Charlotte is upward bound on the court and with fans. 

Recently I informed you of a statement rapper Nelly made claiming “nobody wants to play with Kobe.” I’ve got news for him, nobody is busting down the door to play with Kevin Durant or Carmelo Anthony either. Offensive players don’t draw other players to their teams for obvious reasons. LeBron can score the ball however he’s a facilitator, same as Magic Johnson when he played. They can score but prefer to involve teammates.

　
They share a common theme
Two Kansas City area guys occupy positions on the Cavs bench, former NBA players Tyronn Lue and Larry Drew serve on the coaching staff of David Blatt. Lue played at Raytown High Raytown (MO) a Kansas City suburb. Later he attended Nebraska before he began an 11-year NBA career at a player. After retirement Lue moving into the coaching ranks serving as an assistant for the Celtics and Clippers. Drew played at Wyandotte High School Kansas City Kansas. Drew would play for Mizzou before he too began an 11-year playing career. Since his retirement in addition to serving as an assistant at several NBA stops Drew has served as head coach for the Hawks and the Bucks.

Missouri Valley Conference calling
I believe UMKC belongs in the Missouri Valley Conference if for no other reason than geography. The idea of conferences based on geography has gone by the wayside, realignment for football purposes have been the driving force behind most of the conference re-alignment. Consider this fact the two nearest universities to Kansas City is Texas-Pan American at Edinburg and Chicago State. One way road mileage to Edinburg is 1,035 from Kansas City while Chicago is 526 miles from Kansas City. The 10 member Missouri Valley Conference schools are all located in states that border Missouri, the only exception is Indiana.

Is he the first?
We have no idea the length of Sim Bhullar’s NBA career; in fact we are unsure if the NBA is even in his future. This we do know the Kings signed the 7-5 360 pound giant to a
free-agent contract; he's in training camp currently.  The “first” in the headline is a reference to his heritage, as mentioned previously Sim’s parents immigrated to Canada from India. Thus he becomes the first player of Indian descent to sign an NBA contract, Bhullar needs work and it’s likely he winds up in the NBA D-League. Bhullar has an outside chance to back up DeMarcus Cousins at the center position for the upcoming season. It didn’t hurt the cause of Bhullar since the majority owner of the Kings was born in India; the owner stated “He believes India is the next frontier for the NBA.”