Q&amp;A

Sydney Zuelke

In honor of Women's History Month, the Kings organization is celebrating members of the organization who've helped inspire and pave the way for others to follow.

This week, we spoke with Stockton Kings Athletic Trainer Katherine Babcock, who shares with us her journey, role models, and the importance of inclusion in today's workplace.

How would you describe your role and responsibilities with the Kings? 

In a normal season I am the Head Athletic Trainer for our G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings. During the 20-21 season, I have been acting as an Assistant Athletic Trainer here in Sacramento, with my daily duties being team practice/game medical coverage as well as COVID testing liaison.

What do you feel is the most challenging aspect of your job? Most rewarding? 

I think the most challenging and rewarding aspects of my job are two halves of the same coin. On one side, the G League is very transient and it is hard to develop a relationship with athletes on a roster that is constantly fluctuating. On the other side, it is so awesome to watch the guys that I work with get called up or earn that huge overseas contract. 

Who have been your biggest role models? 

Stacy [SVP, Human Resources] made me laugh a little at her coffee chat with her "not big on role models statement" since I feel very much the same. If anything I would shout out my mom, who as a lawyer faced a few of the same challenges I have experienced as a woman breaking into what has traditionally been a male dominated profession.

How do you think companies can strive to be more inclusive to women in the workplace? 

I feel like it really revolves around building a working environment where everyone feels they can be a beneficial member of the workplace, not necessarily focusing on women. When everyone feels valued, you don’t have to worry about the differences person to person.

What advice would you give to other women trying to break into the sports and entertainment industry? 

Apply to every position that interests you no matter how much of a longshot you think it is. If you don’t even put yourself out there you are never going to get the job you want, and if nothing else the process of applying and interviewing is great experience.

How important is it to you to work for an organization that constantly strives to bring greater awareness and equity to women in the workplace? 

It is really empowering to know that I am working somewhere that really believes in the women that already work here, and is obviously making the effort to keep building on that. I can comfortably go about my daily work knowing that I have a ton of support behind me.

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Women's History Month Spotlight: Katherine Babcock

Jordan Ramirez

In honor of Black History Month, the Kings organization is highlighting members of the team who have made an impact in their field while also representing their African American heritage.

This week, we spoke with Vice President of Kings Academy &amp; Professional Development, Galen Duncan.

How would you describe your role with the Sacramento Kings?

My role is one that is ever changing. No two days are ever alike but primarily I look to bring a level of peace and continuity to players’ lives. I hope to put them in situations that help them grow and mature. I hope to help them with the process of becoming men.

I have been so blessed with many role models. My father was an All-American basketball player, high school coach for 35 years and just an overall great man. My mother is a retired public school teacher who stills plays competitive basketball at the ripe age of 83. My uncle mentored me in the art of mental health. I still keep in touch with my coaches from college and high school. I also have ongoing mentorship relationships with Dr. Herb Martin and the infamous Dr. Harry Edwards.

In what ways do you celebrate your African American heritage?

I celebrate being black daily. I try to help players and mentees alike understand the opportunity and responsibility we have to be viewed as more than just athletes and entertainers. I try to introduce others to great inventors and creators of our past. I try to read books by black authors. I believe that African American History is American History so we should pay it as much attention as we do all other historical events.

What advice would you give to fellow African Americans who are striving to succeed in the sports and entertainment industry?

It’s probably the same thing I would share with any minority in this business. Remember you will be judged on a different scale. Unfortunately, you will have to work harder than most. You may be denied opportunities. You may find it very unfair when you see others with less experience and less work ethic elevated by favor. However, you can never allow yourself to be shaken or not be ready for an opportunity when it presents itself.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The wins. I am not just talking about on the court (although I love those too). I love to see growth in young people. I love to see them work hard and progress into better people with better opportunities. I love to see the evolution of a player from just an athlete to a productive, conscious citizen in our community. It is a unique standpoint that not many get to witness.

Why is it important to continue to encourage diversity in the workplace?

Diversity in the workplace gives hope to children of all colors, races, genders and creeds. It allows people to dream. Seeing someone who looks like you in an environment gives an individual hope. I also think that it cultivates a better environment. It allows a broad range of idea expression and viewpoints. It also creates growth and learning amongst all. Hopefully, we can continue to break down these barriers and continue growing into a special environment of love and inclusion. Go Kings!

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Black History Month Spotlight: Vice President of Kings Academy & Professional Development, Galen Duncan

Kyle Ramos

The Sacramento Kings Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance discusses her career path, mentors and provides advice to aspiring professionals in the sports and entertainment industry in an interview conducted by Kings Director of Human Resources and Diversity &amp; Inclusion Kyle Ellington.

KE: How would you describe your role with the Sacramento Kings? 

TM: My role is to build and grow the Health &amp; Performance Team, and supporting ecosystem and to optimize delivery of elite services and resources to all Kings players, as well as develop and implement strategies that align with the vision and values of the organization. 

KE: What do you enjoy most about your job overseeing Health &amp; Performance of the team? 

TM: I enjoy charting the course while supporting the team as it steers the ship.

KE: What aspect of your field are you most excited to see continue to advance, and how do you think it can positively impact the team? 

TM: I’d like to see continued advancement of an interdisciplinary (holistic) approach to athlete health and performance, which is essential to the 360-degree development of 1) human, 2) athlete, and 3) player.  

KE: How would you characterize your career path?

TM: I’d describe my career as a passionate journey of service and growth – teaching, coaching, mentoring, researching. Over 24 years, I’ve coached thousands of athletes and worked with hundreds of coaches across 20+ different sports. Every day has been a blessing.

KE: Where do you want to be in your career in 5 years?

TM: I believe in being where my feet are, and making the greatest impact each day. So, my focus is 100% in the here and now.

KE: What advice would you give to people who are pursuing their career dreams?

TM: My advice is to be where your feet are – chop wood, carry water. In other words, stay focused on consistently doing the work at a high level, with humility.

KE: Who would you say have been your biggest role models?

TM: I stand on the shoulders of a few giants, including 1) Bryan Murray – my uncle, and longtime NHL coach and general manager, 2) Terry Murray – also my uncle, and longtime NHL player and coach, 3) Bill Murray, my father, who started his own sporting goods business at age 22 and guided it over 44 years as a cornerstone of our community.

KE: What advice would you give to women striving to succeed in the sports and entertainment industry? 

TM: My advice is to know your unique strengths, and how you can use them to create a competitive advantage. Learn faster than everyone else. Be authentic, be you. KE: Why did you join the organization’s Women’s Sports Network (WSN) group? TM: I joined WSN to connect with other women in the organization and help support initiatives for women. KE: What’s one book, movie, show, play or podcast you’d recommend, and why? TM: I’d recommend “Give &amp; Take,” by Adam Grant because it’s clear (research-based) support for the power of giving for professional advancement. KE: When you look back at the end of your career, how will you measure success? TM: When I look back, I’ll measure success by how many lives I impacted and how many doors I opened.

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Q&A with Teena Murray

Shahbaz Khan

The Sacramento Kings Social Producer discusses her career path, mentors and advocacy for black women in the sports &amp; entertainment industry in an interview conducted by Kings Director of Human Resources and Diversity &amp; Inclusion Kyle Ellington.

KE: What do you enjoy most about your job covering content for the Team?

TM: What I enjoy most about my job is the people I work with. Everyone is super creative and fun to work with. It’s such a positive work environment where we can all share content ideas. A close second is covering games – I love the atmosphere of Golden 1 Center!

TM: My career path is a little different than the average person working in sports. I went to the University of Maryland and in college, I received my degree in Government and Politics. I didn’t get serious about getting internships until my Junior year, and that’s because a friend of mine made me feel bad for not having any!

From that moment, until I graduated, I had an internship every semester. At the time, I wanted to pursue a career in television, so I interned at CBS, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, iHeartMedia and a Production company. That led me to my job at Showtime in New York, where I worked for 2 years before coming to the Kings.

When I accepted the job with the Kings I was initially a Production Manager. My plan was to stay here for 1 year to get more experience in production, and then move to L.A. or back to New York to pursue television development. Things didn’t quite go that way. I was fortunate to be able to move to the Digital department where I have grown tremendously. It has now been two years, and I couldn’t be happier here!

TM: To be completely honest, I’m not sure exactly where I want my career to be. Maybe a manager or a director by that time.

TM: I would say work hard and network. It’s not the fanciest advice, but it rings true for me. LinkedIn is very important. The reason why I got my job at Showtime and at the Kings is because someone reached out to me first on LinkedIn.

Even while pursuing jobs, I would send messages to people on LinkedIn asking for informational interviews, asking people out for coffee to talk about their career paths – that way if a job opportunity came up, they would think of me. It has got my foot in the door for numerous interviews and if you keep that connection, they can then help you in the future as well.

I’ve learned that most people do want to help others get a foot in the door. You may hear a lot of “no’s” but all you need is one “yes!”

KE: How would you describe your role with the Sacramento Kings?

TM: Kyle Ramos, who works in the Digital department, said I am the “Swiss Army Knife” of the department, and that’s probably true. I have a hand in a lot of different places within our department.

While I do a lot of different things, the majority of my time is spent with the Sacramento and Stockton Kings. I help with home and away Kings games, whether that’s social or locker room interviews, road trips, blogs for Kings.com and more.

I also handle a majority of the Stockton content that gets produced and output on the channel. That also includes games, fun videos, engagement images and also writing for StocktonKings.com.

TM: My biggest role models have been Gabrielle Simpson, Marica Chacona and my mother.

Gabrielle Simpson is an amazing woman, who I met while doing my internship at CBS in New York. I was so amazed by her. She was a black woman who was the manager at a major broadcasting studio. After my time at CBS, I kept in touch with her as she advanced in her career and she continued to help me advance in mine.

Marica was my previous boss at Showtime. She could do it all, and she provided constant encouragement, listened, and helped me reach goals that I never thought I could achieve. I was thankful to have her as a boss.

My mom constantly supports me in anything I want to do. She always believes in me and I definitely would not be where I am without her.

KE: What advice would you give to any fellow African American Women who are striving to succeed in the sports and entertainment industry?

TM: The advice I would give is: work hard and know your worth. There definitely will be people that think you can’t do something because of your color or gender, but know not to believe them.

Reach out to other women of color where you can get support from. I have that with my sorority sisters (Alpha Kappa Alpha), my friend group and my mentors. You are not alone in this industry and if you work hard and network you can truly do anything.

KE: What’s your favorite memory from your tenure with the Kings?

TM: My favorite memory with the Kings is going to India with the team. It was such an eye-opening experience seeing another country and culture. The people and the kids were all so amazing and I did things that I never could have imagined being able to do at a job. I am fortunate to be able to say that I made history with the NBA and the Sacramento Kings.

KE: What’s one book, movie, show, play or podcast you’d recommend, and why?

TM: I would recommend “The Read” with Kid Fury and Crissle. It’s a general podcast about gossip stories of the week, Listener Letters, and then they “Read” someone or something at the end. I like it because it’s funny, inclusive, they’ve started a mental health segment and they are very relatable to me. Be warned, it’s NSFW!

KE: What’s something you practice outside of work that enriches your life, and why?

TM: It’s not practice really, but I try my best to keep up with television. At my previous job that’s what I lived and breathed, and while I can’t keep up like I used to, I love TV and still try and watch the most I can. Even with shows I don’t watch, I still read TV reviews on AVClub or Vanity Fair, see what’s happening on Deadline just to still feel a part of it.

KE: When you look back at the end of your career, how will you measure success?

TM: I more measure success if I’m happy and healthy. I don’t know where my career will lead, but I don’t like looking too far ahead. Just living my best life day-by-day.

KE: Why did you join the Diversity &amp; Inclusion Council?

TM: I joined this council because diversity and inclusion is an important issue to me. Being an African American woman, there’s truly not a lot of people in this industry or my previous one that looked like me.

I would love to make it a priority to have someone advocating for people of color in this industry and getting more of those people in the door and giving them a chance.

I also feel this is a great chance for people to learn about my culture and for me to learn from theirs. It helps the team get a different point of view – one they may have never considered.

Diversity and Inclusion are very important to a successful workplace and I can only hope to have a hand in that to create a fun, inclusive work environment!

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Q&A with Tracee Jay

Alex Kramers

The Sacramento Kings forward discusses his business outlook, internship experience and advice for pursuing one’s dreams in an interview with Kings Director of Human Resources and Diversity &amp; Inclusion Kyle Ellington.

KE: Can you explain how Harrison Barnes &amp; Co. started?

HB: We were flooded with various proposals, and opportunities, and needed a vehicle with which to evaluate them. Most importantly, we wanted to ensure each inquiry received a professional hearing and timely response.

KE: What piqued your interest in getting involved with investing in family-owned businesses?

HB: I’ve always wanted to partner with a family business because their stories inspire me. One of my biggest hopes is that the family will invest in me, educating me about their business, and imparting many other valuable lessons. This process of helping an owner transition her business to trusted hands really excites me.

KE: What are the most important qualities you look for when evaluating a business?

HB: Besides the financial aspects, the most important criteria is an able and engaged management team that is excited to stay on as a partner and educator. I’m also focused on businesses that have a good reputation in their community and among their employees.

KE: What are some of your favorite ways to get involved in the community? 

HB: I love to get involved with the community by doing programs that promote literacy and education. When I was growing up I spent a lot of time at the Boys and Girls Club so I try to partner a lot with them to promote reading in the summers.

KE: How would you characterize your experience as an intern at Facebook?

HB: When I first arrived in the Bay Area, one of the goals I had for myself was to try to visit as many tech companies as I could. The opportunity to intern at Facebook was an unbelievable experience. Just to see how they operate and the attention to detail to every single product they have was a learning experience.

KE: How would you describe your involvement in bringing attention to social injustice topics, and how you hope your voice can help make the world a better place?

HB: I’m fortunate enough to play in a league where I can use my platform to speak about social injustices and things that are going on in society and I don’t have to look over my shoulder. As I’ve gotten older and I have experienced more of life, talked with people who are involved on the ground in the communities, and simply just matured, I’ve tried to use my voice and speak for those who can’t.

KE: What has basketball taught you that carries over into the other areas of your life?

HB: The game of basketball has taught me so many different things that carryover outside of the court. The list could go on forever but the biggest areas I’ve learned from the game of basketball are sacrifice, discipline, work ethic, and perseverance.

HB: To anyone who is pursuing their dream, the biggest advice I would give is don’t trust that dream to just anybody. When it is all said and done, you are going to be the one who’s put in the time, the effort, the energy to achieve your dream. No one else can get you there but yourself, but there are a lot of people who can prevent you from it.

KE: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received that could be helpful to someone in any career?

HB: Don’t doubt your process. Ups and downs are inevitable in any career but having a routine that you can go back to will keep you steady when everything around you is chaotic.

KE: Who are some of your favorite authors?

HB: Some of my favorite authors are Baldwin, Coates, and Dr. Carol Anderson.

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Q&A with Harrison Barnes

Why is it important to you that the NBA and its teams celebrate Women's History Month?
One of the best things about working for the NBA is the authentic importance of our values of equality, diversity and inclusion. You see it every day not just in our words, but in our actions. Celebrating Women’s History Month is a great reminder of the importance of these values and a recognition of the fact that it hasn’t always been easy for women to feel equal and included in society. 

What does it mean to you to be the first person in NBA history to hold the titles of President, Team Marketing &amp; Business Operations and Chief Innovation Officer?
I have loved my 13 years at the NBA in New York. It’s truly been a dream job. The sport of basketball has always been something I’ve cherished greatly in life, and for me it started with the Kings moving to Sacramento in 1985 and my dad becoming a season ticket holder. My role today allows me to help drive innovation for the league and our teams – which means developing new ways to make our game more appealing to fans, and new ways to grow our business. Pretty fun things to think about every day! 

I’m also extremely appreciative of the opportunities I’ve been given by our commissioner, Adam Silver, and deputy commissioner, Mark Tatum. The fact that someone is in my position at all demonstrates the importance of innovation to the league and the importance of our teams in all four of our leagues (NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League) in driving that innovation. The Kings and the incredible Golden 1 Center are of course a shining example of innovation in so many ways and we love to see their leadership in this area.

How would you characterize what it means to work for a league that empowers its teams and players to foster progress on and off the court?
I always cite the Nelson Mandela quote, “Sports has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.” So true!
What I love about the NBA is that we fully recognize our responsibility here. It’s not just about entertainment. It’s about building bridges through basketball and using our platform to unite and drive societal change. A great example here is our NBA Voices initiative that features the league, teams and players all working together to address social injustice and unite our communities.  

What has been one of the biggest challenges you’ve overcome in your career?
No doubt that simply getting a job in sports was a huge challenge that came down to hard work and certainly luck. It’s not easy to make a change mid-career. I joined the NBA when I was 30, after several years in technology and consulting, with no real sports business experience. I spent years trying to build my network throughout the sports industry and stumbled across someone who later introduced me to a senior executive at the NBA. Once I was actually hired, I certainly was given an opportunity to prove myself – but have to admit, getting in isn’t easy! There are just a lot of people who want to work in sports and not many roles. 

What has been your favorite experience during your time at the NBA?
I always tell people that at the NBA there are “Wow, I can’t believe this is my job?!” moments all the time. So, it is really hard to pick just one. I’ve met so many interesting people around our game and participated in so many cool experiences. Being at the game and behind the scenes when a team wins the championship is pretty incredible. Being at opening night of a new arena is amazing in the ways it brings a community together (I’m sure those of you who were also at the opening of the Golden 1 Center agree!). When things are new is often when they are most impactful though. I’ll never forget my first week on the job in 2005, when all of a sudden, I found myself at NBA All-Star in Denver, helping with our Sony PlayStation partnership, sitting with LeBron James chatting and watching him play NBA Live on Sony PlayStation Portable. The week before, I was sitting at my desk as a consultant working on slides for a computer software tech support project. How life changes!

What advice would you offer to fellow women seeking to make an impact in sports?
I truly believe there is no reason that women can’t succeed in sports and I encourage women to be confident and aim high. Again, getting in the door in sports is often the hardest part regardless of gender. If you’re excited about working in sports, don’t give up the search and look for ways to differentiate yourself. Diversity in business is proven to drive more creativity and greater results and it’s very encouraging to see more and more great examples of talented women succeeding in the sports world. 

Who have been your biggest female role models?
There have been several, but I can’t talk about female role models without talking first about my incredible mom, who was a kindergarten teacher for years and patiently taught me how to love to learn, which is a skill I absolutely use every single day. I would also say my high school coach, Jorie Baer (she’s now at Casa Roble, but go Bella Vista Broncos!) and my coach at Stanford, Tara VanDerveer. It’s amazing how coaches can be so formative in youth development beyond just teachers of the game. I learned more about life skills from playing basketball in high school and college than in any academic class. Jorie and Tara taught me the importance of leading by example through hard work, being a dedicated teammate with a team-first attitude and always striving to be the best.  

What was your favorite part about growing up in Sacramento?
I don’t think this page has enough room for my answer! Anyone who knows me will tell you that I talk all the time about Sacramento and how great it is. Of course, I have to say all the fun things I did with my family and friends growing up in Fair Oaks, from going to Sacramento Kings games, waterskiing/wakeboarding on Folsom Lake and the Delta, riding bikes on the American River Parkway trail, and heading to Lake Tahoe. Also, I will always have such pride for my San Juan Unified School District schools and the amazing classmates I had at Deterding, Carnegie and Bella Vista! 

kings-qa-with-amy-brooks

Kings Q&A with Amy Brooks

Assistant General Manager Brandon D. Williams brings a wealth of professional basketball experience to Sacramento’s front office team.

Williams’ experience spans decades – including as an NBA player, NBA league executive, and NBA front office executive. He also brings legal skills with him – he received a law degree from Rutgers University in 2012.

His wealth of experience and expertise will be a strong addition to the Kings’ front office team.

Kings.com recently had the chance to catch up with the new Kings Assistant GM regarding his thoughts on the future in Sactown.

How do you feel your diverse background in basketball has prepared you for this current role as Assistant General Manager?

Front office jobs require a lot of multitasking, so I’m going to have to keep my eyes on a lot of things. The nature of professional basketball is a little bit of juggling. Whether it’s basketball operations or player development or community programs – it’s important to be able to understand the big picture and manage priorities. I think I have a good deal of practice there and will work to ensure we continue to be a very efficient and swift moving group.

What excites you the most about joining the Kings?

A chance to build. Anyone that does this job is competitive by nature. Every day that you play the game, you’re playing to win. We want to be king of the hill. And we’re working hard every day to get there. You’ve got to enjoy the steps. It does not feel as sweet if you haven’t been through something. As we start to take a turn and this team starts to see some success, that’s going to feel so sweet. This role is going to give me a chance to be an integral part of the bright future ahead for the Kings. That’s what gets me fired up and excited to be part of this team.

What was your experience like playing for Dave Joerger back on the Skyforce?

I’m really looking forward to working with Coach Joerger again. When I talked to Dave about an opportunity to play with Sioux Falls, I just heard the passion in his voice. He’s a winner but also someone who’s had to prove it by winning at every level. He just climbed and believed in himself. He believes in taking the right steps and I was motivated, even at that stage in my career, to go play for somebody that wants to compete and wants to win. It was a nice role for me to play as a veteran alongside a young coach and I have a great deal of respect for his ability to manage multiple personalities. He coached his hardest and motivated his players to play for him and we wound up winning a championship. I see myself, in a lot of ways, following in his footsteps here with a team that is on the path to becoming something special. I’m looking forward to working with him and rolling up my sleeves.

What would be one thing you’d want Kings fans to know heading into this upcoming season?

Be really excited. I love getting fired up because that’s what this is all about. I can’t wait to experience the energy in the building. And I’d encourage everyone to be patient because the great strength of our team is going to be in our belief that these players will improve, that chemistry will develop and that they will develop into professionals. Our veterans are going to help mentor them and pave the way. It will happen over time – and you can believe that everyone in the front office and the coaching staff is working together, giving it everything we’ve got to do our part.

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Q&A: Kings Assistant General Manager Brandon D. Williams

sacjwise

Have a question for the newest Kings big man Georgios Papagiannis? You're in luck!

In coordination with JiffyBots, Sacramento fans are now able to ask the 7-foot-1 center questions and receive exclusive video responses via Facebook Messenger.

Whether it's insight on being drafted, goals for the season or favorite social media platforms, Papagiannis is ready to answer your questions.

Q&A