© Kelley L Cox | 2018 Apr 11
TV voice of the Sacramento Kings and radio host for KHTK, Grant Napear, has been placed on administrative leave according to the Sacramento Bee, following an interaction on Twitter with former Kings center DeMarcus Cousins.
Cousins asked Napear “what’s your take on (Black Lives Matter)?”
Napear responded with the following: “Hey!!!! How are you? Thought you forgot about me. Haven’t heard from you in years. ALL LIVES MATTER…EVERY SINGLE ONE!!!”
Hey!!!! How are you? Thought you forgot about me. Haven't heard from you in years. ALL LIVES MATTER…EVERY SINGLE ONE!!! https://t.co/DfzKl3w0jm
— Grant Napear (@GrantNapearshow) June 1, 2020
Cousins said Napear’s response was “as expected.”
“All Lives Matter” is a loaded term that is often used as a rebuttal to delegitimize the Black Lives Matter movement. Because of that, Napear was placed on leave shortly after sending the tweet on Sunday as the KHTK radio station investigates his response.
Napear was interviewed by the Sacramento Bee on Monday, and expressed contrition:
“I’m in pain,” he said. “I’m 60 years old and I still have a lot learn.”
Napear also apologized for his word choice on Twitter, claiming he wasn’t aware of the implication.
If it came across as dumb I apologize. That was not my intent. That's how I was raised. It has been engrained in me since I can remember. I've been doing more listening than talking the past few days. I believe the past few days will change this country for the better! https://t.co/Gsh84BPBEk
— Grant Napear (@GrantNapearshow) June 1, 2020
Napear and Cousins have a history. The announcer said the following last year about Cousins after the then-Warriors center criticized Raptors fans for cheering at an injured Kevin Durant.
“If there is any player in the NBA that should not be talking about fan behavior, and about how they treat athletes as opposed to people, it’s DeMarcus Cousins,” Napear said. “This guy is the rudest, crudest, most vile player that I have ever been around in my 31 years in the NBA. He should not be speaking on this in any way shape or form… I have witnessed… over and over and over again, DeMarcus Cousins cursing at fans for no reason at all. I’ve seen him curse at women. I’ve seen him curse at people at the airports. I’ve seen him curse in front of ladies that have nothing to do with the sport he’s playing. For him to be talking about the fans, shame on him. Shut the hell up, and for once, act like a freaking professional. You got run out of Sacramento, you got run out of New Orleans, and I’m telling you right now, you’re getting run out of Golden State.”
