Boobirds sending Webber to brink Those close to the Kings forward say he might ask for a trade if fans don't stop jeering him at games. Chris Webber, while publicly downplaying the impact of being booed by Kings fans, is privately so hurt by the response, it could push the power forward to ask for a trade after the season if the negative reactions continue. Webber will not comment on the potential implications of the harsh treatment he received twice in the six home games since he returned from a serious knee injury and an NBA package suspension, saying he wants to avoid distractions and stay focused on the final push of the regular season, then the playoffs. It's known, however, that the team co-captain and five-time All-Star is bothered more than he's letting on, to the point of uncertainty about his future in Sacramento. Webber has already hinted that the early feedback is also creating a chasm on his side, telling a group of reporters after the latest incident that "it definitely changes my focus, my outlook." It was left at that. Pressed later, Webber wouldn't expand on his comment. He did acknowledge, when asked about the responses to his occasional early struggles, that "I'm very disappointed. And I'm shocked." Because he feels betrayed by the same fans that once strongly backed him? "I feel more disappointed," Webber said. "It actually hurts. It's more than betrayed." It's also deeper. People close to Webber said he has already vented to some friends and family members, complete with the bottom line that he has no desire to play the rest of his career against the backdrop of an ever-shifting love-hate Arco Arena association. That would become too draining and a great distraction. So far, there have been no conversations with management about Webber's future, sources have confirmed, and it wouldn't matter anyway. The trade deadline passed Feb. 19. But people close to Webber caution he could be pushed away, or at least moved to ask for a trade, if the relationship with fans remains in the same state of tension that has developed this month. The option is prominent enough, insiders note, that Webber has already considered addressing the issue with Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof or president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie in the summer. What happens from there is impossible to gauge, it being months away from happening and maybe not at all, and even then depending on how the playoffs finish and the health of Webber's left knee. Also, the biggest unknown is what will happen the rest of the season between Webber and the same fans who once serenaded him at a home game to rejoin the Kings as a free agent and then packed a downtown plaza to celebrate with him when he did sign. Straining the union are the expectations of a contract worth $122.7 million over seven seasons, a series of Webber injuries and playoff letdowns, and the league's eight-game suspension in February for violating the anti-drug policy and pleading guilty to one count of criminal contempt of court. When Webber finally returned to action March 2, after missing the first 58 games, it was to overwhelming cheers at Arco, and he responded with three impressive outings. The next home game, March 9, Webber missed 19 of 21 shots and was booed. He entered the March 21 Houston game averaging 18.7 points, nine rebounds and 4.5 assists, solid numbers for anyone and very encouraging for a player coming off a serious knee injury. But that night, he was booed again while making just 4 of 18 attempts. Webber could have handled a negative response in the first game, if fans had voiced their displeasure at his off-court decisions that led to the suspension. It never came. He could have dealt with the pressure and expectations - he has done that since high school and even stared down one legendary mistake, when Webber called a timeout Michigan didn't have in the NCAA championship game, by naming his charitable group the Timeout foundation. What hit Webber was fans turning on him so quickly while coming back from a major injury, not to mention while playing well on the whole. In the three appearances before the March 9 debacle against Golden State, he had averaged 24 points and nine rebounds and shot 50.9 percent. Two days before facing the Rockets, he contributed 24 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists as the Kings beat the Eastern Conference-leading Indiana Pacers on the road. In all, Webber is at 18.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game while down to 41.3 percent shooting from the field. That accuracy rating is the only statistic taking a major hit during Webber's search to regain his timing, but he's also taking the same shots that had resulted in his being named All-NBA (first-, second-or third-team) five straight times. His defense is a much bigger problem, with Webber clearly not fluid moving on the left leg, but opponents were running layup lines on the Kings long before he returned. The specter of his uncertain future comes, curiously, at the very time Webber has never felt more part of Sacramento. He's planning an addition to his Granite Bay home, feels a special bond with a close locker room, and is considering switching his official residence from Michigan, his home state, to California. He even talks about living here, at least part time, after retiring, from whatever team with which he finishes his career. Sacramento Bee - March 28, 2004 Well, here's our match-up (assuming Sac can win at GS tomorrow or LAL losing one of their final two). When clicking on all cylinders, I believe the Kings are the worst possible match up for the Rockets in all of the NBA. But with all these distractions, injuries (Bobby Jackson is out AGAIN and questionable for the play-offs), etc., we might be catching them at the right time. My friend from Sacramento says there is a lot of internal disarray right now in Maloof country.
as some commentator said during one of the games. the fans are fickle in this case... Chris Webber put Sacramento on the NBA map. The team is built like this because of Chris Webber. But how things have turned. An interesting take is how this compares to the Steve Francis situation. Neither deserves it, but Webber deserves it less.
Perhaps he took the offers to mow his lawn seriously and the fans are sick of him now. Dude probably has a big lawn.
yeah, the fans seem to be being pricks here. besides the fact they were nothing before he came here and the fact they were a dick bavetta classic from winning a title with him leading the way, it's not like he's intentionally trying to mess up a team that was rolling before he came back. plus, like they mentioned, it's not like all his games have sucked. 3 good games to start, a huge win (well at least it was then when the league's best record was on the line) over indiana where he was huge but he throws in some 4 for 18's and they start booing. plus, it's not like he's taking different shots in the games i've seen. his usual money jump shot just isn't going in those games. i know they've bot a bad record since he came back but booing him doesn't seem like it's going to make things better and considering they owe him a lot when it comes to going from crap to quality you think they'd lay off.
The rockets also had good stretches without Hakeem. Causing Dream to doubt his contribution himself. But in the end, he was the team. This happens in every city. From Sacramento to LA to Chicago. And it's happening here right now. Francis is taking the heat too. But he is the franchise, believe it or not, and in the end you'll be thankful he the criticism.
Actually, I think Webber deserves it more. Even though the fans were happy that he ultimately re-signed, he did a lot of damage to his relationship with Sacramento when he was looking to leave. He complained about the night-life where and wanted to go to a 'real' city. Fans don't take kindly to that attitude. And, when the Kings were successful with Peja instead of Webber, they saw they didn't really need to put up with his attitude to have a good team. Now, his shortcomings will be seen in an incharitable light when fans could have been more accepting if Webber had been during his free agency. Francis, on the other hand, has had more trouble on the court than Webber, but he's always been committed to the city and the team. The Vancouver trade will always be a blemish on his record, but he doesn't bash the Rockets or the city and never seriously entertained leaving. His performance may have been worthy of boos more often than Webber's, but the city also has much more reason to love Francis than Sacramento does to love Webber.
It is a part of the game, but Francis has sucked the entire year and has taken the boos in stride, like a professional... Webber hasn't been back long enough for the fans to boo anything, but if he lets it get to him, he could be gone, maybe to us...
I agree. Webber wasn't exactly loyal to his fans. Now he's crying about the fans not being loyal to him. That's hypocrisy. Webber has proven that he could not handle the heat. Off the court, he whined. On the court, he melted during crunch time. He is a fabulous talent, more so than Francis. But he never shines under pressure.
Adelman messed up in terms of bring Webber back, as far as I'm concerned. He had a team that was clicking and had jelled. Webber was coming back after missing nearly a full year do to his knee injury, and was not 100%. Why in the world was Webber given his starting job and first option role back immediately??? He needed to be eased back into that role, but instead they took shots from Peja and minutes from Miller. Webber's shot as looked off, his rythym has been off, and his knee is not allowing him to jump right or move well laterally. I assume this was done to help get him ready for the playoffs, but it's hurt the team, IMHO. The fans have a right to boo him when he's out there taking 18 shots and missing 13. Evan
I'd take him. Even at 50% physical and mental capacity he's better than anything we have right now. Not all the players on your team are gonna perform in the clutch.
Believe it or not, Yao is gonna be the franchise and your stevie will be shipped out of town during the offseason. Mark my word.
He's pivotal for them to succeed in the playoffs. Brad Miller and Bobby Jackson were/are injured, so CWebb was given more time to play despite his creaky knee. Peja's a pure shooter, so I think it's be better for him to adjust early than suddenly losing minutes and touches during the playoffs
Funny how an off season of lying to the grand jury, getting a drug suspension and whining will turn those fickel fans against you. Webb met with the owners, to what, figure out how to make the fans stop treating him so bad?
Webber turned a league laughing stock into a playoff team and a championship contender in 5 years. Now, what have Steve done in 5 years?
