Tyreke Evans

Alex Kramers

McCants averaged 10.3 points in 24 games with the Kings following a 2008-09 midseason trade, and has since played in the D-League and suited up for numerous overseas squads. The international journeyman has nonetheless carved time out of his schedule to dabble in acting – starring in a web series, "The Booster Club” – as well as record music under the alias King Suni Blac.

In his 2011 debut single – the surprisingly catchy “Ballin’ Is My Hobby” – McCants boasts about his financial status and on-court skills, boldly proclaiming he “could beat the Dream Team.” The former NCAA champion currently plays for the Trotamundos de Carabobo of the Liga Profesional de Baloncesto in Venezuela.

Although the Kings forward is the son of an R&amp;B singer – Rudy Gay, Sr. of Ace Spectrum – No. 8 is yet to record any original music of his own.

In 2013, however, the then-Raptors star made a split-second cameo in Grammy-award-winning rapper Drake’s video for “5AM in Toronto,” hanging out with Drizzy in a volleyball court-turned-nightclub in the wee hours of the morning. Hopefully his team didn’t have a game the next night.

Doug Christie – Doug and his wife Jackie are co-founders of Jean Rah Fya Records, a label that claims to be “home to some of the hottest young talent,” including their daughter, Chantel “Chani” Christie.

Tyreke Evans(featuring Jason Thompson and Donté Greene) – The former Rookie of the Year – whose brother, International I, is a hip-hop artist and CEO of Blu Print Entertainment – freestyled live on UStream, with a little assistance from a pair of his then-Kings teammates.

Hedo Turkoglu – The clip has been inexplicably pulled off the internet, but Turkoglu spit a few bars in Turkish in a 2009 commercial for his home country’s leading mobile phone operator, TurkCell.

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Hip-Hop Royalty - Page 4

Since the early 1990s, dozens of NBA players have crossed over into the hip-hop industry, from releasing their own full-length albums to making cameos in chart-topping rap artists’ music videos.

Most notably, Kings Minority Owner Shaquille O’Neal dropped multiple certified gold and platinum albums – as well as notoriously freestyled on numerous occasions – while Jason Kidd, Cedric Ceballos, Brian Shaw and Dana Barros are among the emcees on 1994's legendary compilation album, "B-Ball’s Best Kept Secret." Last year, a teaser video promoted the forthcoming “Full Court Press Vol. 1” – an apparently real album featuring rap collaborations from the likes of Juwan Howard, Carlos Boozer and Glen "Big Baby" Davis with Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg and T-Pain – but while it promised a fall 2014 release date, the official website only states the highly-anticipated record is 'coming soon.'

Numerous Kings legends – including Chris Webber and Walt Williams – have showcased their rapping prowess in recording studios over the years, while several other Sacramento hip-hop junkies have delved into the genre by making brief music-video appearances.

In the midst of his first season in The River City in 1999, the five-time All-Star released his debut rap album, 2 Much Drama, under the moniker of C. Webb. The 21-track, independent-label record features Kurupt on the top-10 single "Gangsta, Gangsta (How U Do It)” – which is accompanied by an outstanding video loaded with clichéd choreographed dances and shiny suits – as well as a guest appearance from Redman on “Nuttin' ta Do.”

The current TNT and NBA TV analyst also has production and writing credits on several hip-hop songs, including Nas’ 2007 hit single “Surviving the Times.” The Detroit native’s rap aspirations trace back as far as 1994, when during an appearance on BET’s “Rap City,” Webber revealed he was forming his own record label with Naughty by Nature’s DJ Kay Gee.

hip-hop-royalty

Hip-Hop Royalty

Hawes confesses the only downside of being in the NBA is being subjected to rookie pranks – which include finding golf balls in his sneakers and discovering the eyepieces of his binoculars have been covered in black paint – not realizing his boss at the dealership is a shrewd trickster of his own.

Tyreke Evans: VBlast – The 2010 Rookie of the Year showed off his slick ball-handling to the tune of “Fresh” by dubstep artist 23 in a national commercial for the vitamin-enhanced water brand.

Bobby Hurley: ITZ – No. 7 endorsed the now-defunct sneaker brand, boldly proclaiming he’s not filling anyone’s shoes because he brought his own.

Reggie Theus: Forest Fires PSA – In 1983, the former Kings player and coach teamed up with Isiah Thomas to highlight the dangers of smoking, and later in the decade, donning an aqua sweater with oversized front pockets, joined Smokey Bear in an ad raising awareness about wildfires.

Jimmer Fredette: Daily Bread Food Storage – Fredette hones his craft in an empty gym, revealing he’s prepared for the future thanks to an emergency supply of the staple food.

Mike Bibby: “I Love This Game” – Bibby spins around Mavericks guard Michael Finley on the baseline and scores at the hoop over Dirk Nowitzki, as the narrator reads an inspirational Ralph Waldo Emerson quote.

Mikki Moore: “Where Amazing Happens” – The NBA spot chronicles the big man’s impressive rise from an unrecruited high schooler and undrafted free agent to Kings starter.

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Kings Commercial Classics 5

Katie Cracchiolo

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Kings All-Stars Through The Years

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Photos: Kings Triple-Doubles

Kings Rocket Department

--Sacramento sends Tyreke Evans to New Orleans--

SACRAMENTO ---- The Sacramento Kings announced today the acquisition of guard Greivis Vásquez from New Orleans in a three-team trade that sent Tyreke Evans to the Pelicans. To round out the deal, the Kings will also receive a 2016 second-round draft pick and future second-round draft considerations while Portland acquired center Robin Lopez and guard Terrel Harris from New Orleans in exchange for the draft rights to Jeff Withey.

"We're excited to welcome Greivis to the Kings," said Kings General Manager Pete D'Alessandro. "He established himself as one of the league's most talented young point guards last season and we're confident he'll continue this trajectory in Sacramento.

"We also want to thank Tyreke for the contribution he made to the Kings organization. We wish him the best in New Orleans."

Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round (28th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft, Vásquez is averaging 9.0 points (.429 FG%, .325 3pt%, .806 FT%), 2.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 24.5 minutes per game in 214 career games in three seasons with Memphis (2010-11 – 2012-13) and New Orleans (2011-12 – 2012-13). The 6-6, 211-pound guard is coming off a breakout season in which he averaged career-highs of 13.9 points (.433 FG%, .342 3pt%, .805 FT%), 4.3 rebounds, and 9.0 assists (ranked third in NBA).

Chosen by the Kings with the fourth-overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Evans averaged 17.5 points (.449 FG%, .276 3pt%, .765 FT%), 4.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 34.9 minutes per game in 257 career contests in four seasons with Sacramento (2009-10 – 2012-13). The 6-6, 220-pound point guard became the fifth player in franchise history and the first during the Sac-era to be named NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 20.1 points (.458 FG%, .255 3pt%, .748 FT%), 5.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 37.2 minutes per game in 72 contests.