The current Kings, including former Webber teammates Brad Miller and Bobby Jackson, sneaked onto the court to watch the ceremony during the 23-minute halftime, with Kevin Martin lounging across the scorers' table. Webber got a two-minute standing ovation and raucous chants of "C-Webb! C-Webb!" when he stepped to center court under a spotlight at halftime. "Those memories of mine, the best moments that I've had in my life, they were here," said Webber, who made four All-Star teams and led the Kings to within an overtime Game 7 loss of the NBA finals in 2002. Gary Payton, Webber's partner in the former stars' promising new careers as television analysts, and Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson also were in attendance. Vlade Divac, Doug Christie, Scot Pollard and Mateen Cleaves were among the former teammates who returned to Sacramento for Webber's ceremony. "This was a really unexpected honor, one that I never expected to receive." "I'm just happy, humbled, excited - having every emotion you can think of, including a stomach that's tied up in knots," said Webber, who didn't betray any of those nerves in his gray three-button suit and bright-red tie with matching pocket square. Yet that's exactly where Webber ended up Friday night when the Kings retired their former power forward's number in recognition of his pivotal role in this long-struggling franchise's greatest years. 4 jersey in Arco's rafters some day would have been the most improbable thought of all. The ex-NBA rookie of the year certainly never imagined the best times of his life would occur in drafty old Arco Arena with a patchwork collection of teammates who somehow played sublime basketball together. 1 draft pick initially had no intention of ever playing for that scruffy franchise out in some remote part of California. When Chris Webber was traded to the Sacramento Kings nearly 11 years ago, the former No. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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