Jones emerged as the NBA team's top candidate after multiple rounds of interviews in recent weeksESPN IMAGES
The NBA Kings "hired Mark Jones of ESPN and ABC Sports to replace Grant Napear as their primary play-by-play announcer on NBC Sports California," according to Jason Anderson of the SACRAMENTO BEE. Jones will work alongside Kings TV color analyst Doug Christie "beginning in the 2020-21 season." The Kings said that Jones "will continue as play-by-play commentator for ESPN's NBA and college football coverage while serving as the lead TV voice for the Kings" and calling a "majority" of the NBA team's games. The Kings will "soon introduce an additional play-by-play announcer who will fill in when Jones is absent in addition to other pregame and postgame responsibilities on NBC Sports California." The team has been searching for a new play-by-play man "since parting ways with Napear over the summer amid allegations of racial insensitivity." Napear's 32-year run on Sacramento's airwaves ended in June. Sources said that there was "strong interest" in the Kings' play-by-play job after Napear resigned. Jones "emerged as the top candidate after multiple rounds of interviews in recent weeks" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 11/7).
PERFECT FIT? THE ATHLETIC's Jason Jones noted Jones is "one of the most respected announcers in the business and already knows Christie well." Jones' personable demeanor "figures to make him a great fit with Christie, and Jones also has the ability to connect with the players he talks about during broadcasts." The Kings "pride themselves on being conscientious about community issues and racial justice." Jones said that working with Christie, who has been one of the main faces of the organization on that front, "falls in line with the franchise's philosophy." Jones called games during the NBA restart, when social justice was a part of the daily discussion, and he is "comfortable giving players the opportunity to discuss those issues and more" (THEATHLETIC.com, 11/7).
