The Purple & Black Pill

Well everyone, we made it. We're finally on the other side of the decrepit Luke Walton Era, another in a long line of decrepit Eras for this dogshit franchise. Dunc & Ty briefly lose their minds as they discuss the magical convergence of The Puke Game and Walton's subsequent firing, and offer up some handy career advice for the legendary pukesman himself. They also break down the hilarious Lakers/Pistons fracas, the Kings' recent skid, and De'Aaron Fox's uncertain future with the team.

Duncan has a cold, but he guts through it as the boys break down the recent slate of games, in which the Kings went a disappointing 1-2 to close out their short homestand. They put these early ups and downs into perspective and go on to cover Harrison Barnes's continued brilliance, De'Aaron Fox's continued struggles, and the ensuing visions of Ben Simmons that just don't seem to go away. 

The boys are back to digest five big games early in this Kings season. They delve into encouraging signs, frustrating inconsistencies, and just what exactly has been going on with De'Aaron Fox. They also take a moment to appreciate Jonas Valanciunas, 19th-Century Circus Villain.

The boys recap a weekend of disappointing losses to better teams, while also outlining some of the silver linings. They cover Davion Mitchell's defensive prowess, Harrison Barnes's red-hot start, and Terence Davis's futility, as well as some troubling early-season signs from would-be superstar De'Aaron Fox. 

The boys are BACK and so thrilled to finally have actual basketball to discuss after the tedious NBA narratives of the offseason. They discuss the Kings' up-and-down opening-night victory in Portland, including a massive career night from Harrison Barnes. They also recap the big public stink made by Marvin Bagley's agent, and toss out a couple predictions out for the upcoming year. 

After a summer of slumber, the boys are BACK to help orient you after a not-all-that-eventful offseason. They talk Davion Mitchell and the draft, free agency and trades, the Buddy Hield deal that wasn't, and, of course, the elephant in everyone's room: Ben Simmons rumors. Season 2 baby we love it baby!!!Don't forget to hit up the mailbag at purpleandblackpill@gmail.com!

The boys react to the Kings' refusal to move up in the draft, despite all of us being very nice and good this year. Pick number 9 in a hopefully-deep draft will have to do. They also provide reactions to the Philly and Utah playoff meltdowns, chew on the possibility of the Kings taking on a distressed asset in Ben Simmons, and pick their favorites among the Final Four to walk away with the title.

The boys discuss assistant coach Rex Kalamian's departure for greener pastures in Detroit after a legendary one-year Kings tenure as "defensive coordinator," as well as the rest of the crazy run of NBA news this week. After a rundown of the playoff matchups, they close things out with a traditional P&BP call for supernatural intervention to get the Kings their rightful spot on the coaching carousel. 

The boys are back (in town) to bring you a recap of the weekend's playoff action, discuss Bobby Jackson landing the head coaching gig in Stockton, and learn a bit about the history of our team's mascot. 

Duncan's away, so Ty goes full AM Radio to bring you the first-ever solo-hosted P&BP episode. Join him as he reviews the Kings' final lottery odds and recaps the opening weekend of the playoffs.

The boys return from vacation refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to deal with the dual disappointment of both missing the Play-In *and* getting official word from the Kings that Luke Walton will, in fact, remain our coach into next season. They also dig into the decidedly happier news that the Hall of Fame's 2021 class includes three Sacramento legends: Chris Webber, Rick Adelman, and Yolanda Griffith.

The boys recount a weekend of pretty decent effort and Ty subjects Duncan to a trivia challenge wherein the object is to guess the first name of each player on OKC's tanktastic roster. In other news, Vlade sat courtside, De'Aaron Fox caught Covid and likes Luke Walton, and Duncan's dealing some spicy takes. 

Ty's a little under the weather because (humblebrag) he got his second vaccine dose. Still, the boys trudge on, discussing the Pacers' coaching drama, Jokic's MVP case, and which teams might actually win the title this year.

The boys are back in town following the Vlade mega-ep, and they're here to get you caught up on Kings happenings in the home stretch of this bizarrely up-and-down season. Explore the topsy-turvy world of trying to figure out whether we're supposed to be rooting for wins or losses, and listen along as Duncan provides some certified Pandemic Perspective wisdom.

Duncan, Ty, and special guest KC Brown close out their journey through the past as they reach the (merciful) conclusion of Vlade's stint as leader of Sacramento's basketball operations. The boys offer some perspectives on Vlade's status as a Kings icon in general, as well as whether it's a good or even practical idea to indoctrinate children into the faith of Kings fandom.

Duncan and Ty are joined by guest KC Brown as they continue their deep dive into the Kings legacy of Vlade Divac. Today the gang tackles the early days of Vlade the GM, covering everything from the infamous Hinkie Swindle to the Joerger era to Vlade's obsession with mediocre bench veterans. Join us again on Friday for the next installment.

The boys mark Episode 21 by welcoming on their buddy and devoted Vlade Divac superfan KC Brown to discuss the complicated legacy of the former Kings star and executive. In the first installment, the trio recall Vlade's playing career, the stark cutural shift for the Kings marked by his arrival, and the glory years of beautiful basketball that ensued. 

The second seven-game losing streak of the season has the boys pretty well fed up with this season. They discuss another lackluster result, Sam Amick's recent sitdown with Tyrese Haliburton, and the devastating fallout of the knee injury suffered by Jamal Murray of the Nuggets. 

After another completely gutless loss, this time to a tanking Detroit team without their two highest-paid players, the boys abandon formula and protocol and instead just decide shoot the shit for an entire episode. 

Amidst another grim turn in the Kings' pointless playoff push, Ty climbs on his soapbox and curses a lot while addressing certain other grim realities surrounding this team. The boys also discuss deep bench development options and Paul Pierce's uhhhhhhhhhhh "legacy."

The boys get back on track after their first-ever Podcaster's Nightmare aka Episode Lost To Technical Difficulties. They round up initial impressions to the Kings' new bench additions, weigh in on this season's increasingly controversial buyout market, and scope out the team's place in the race for the play-in tournament.

Ty is way too excited to finally fulfill his destiny and host a trade deadline special. The boys react to incoming Woj Bombs (with a particular eye on Kings deals, of course) as the final horn sounds on in-season wheeling and dealing. They also briefly recall the golden era, when big-time celebs like Gil Bellows from Ally McBeal used to sit courtside.

The boys discuss the widening wealth gap between the NBA's haves and have nots, as well as the apparent futility of this year's trade deadline. They also recap the Kings' weekend games and provide an update on March Madness prospects as the tourney progresses.

The boys lament even more rotten injury luck for poor Marvin Bagley, and Duncan provides a quick primer on which prospects to watch for on opening weekend of the NCAA Tourney.

The boys recap some increasingly pointless-feeling basketball games and discuss the non-linear nature of the Kings' endless rebuild. They also take a look at the implications of recent cultural shifts on the trade market, and on labor relations generally in the NBA. 

The boys review a very blah All-Star Game and milk a rumor-mongering Athletic article for all it's worth in the latest installment. Drop us a line at purpleandblackpill@gmail.com

A squeaked-out victory against the banged-up Lakers does not bring the comfort we crave. Walton Watch continues as a general feeling of circling the drain pervades. The boys embrace the darkness and play the world's worst game: Which Post-Adelman Kings Coach Was the Worst? 

In the wake of an all-time KANGZ performance, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, the boys attempt to pick up the pieces and chart a path forward for this woebegone franchise. We also discuss Buddy's bounce-back game and celebrate baby baby boi Hali's leap year birthday.

Another episode, another batch of scintillating losses to recap. Come cope with the boys as they discuss the Kings' world-historically piss-poor defense, Buddy's ongoing woes, and the inimitable Dr. Lydecia Holmes. Be sure to hit up the mailbag at purpleandblackpill@gmail.com

The boys desperately grasp at silver linings as the Kings tip over into full-blown meltdown mode. With seven straight losses behind them, the question becomes: how bad can this get? We look the beast in the eyes by speaking the forbidden incantation among Kings fans: "What could we get for De'Aaron Fox?"  Send Duncan & Ty a Kings mailbag question at purpleandblackpill@gmail.com!

The boys recount some more Kings decrepitude, including a brutal home loss to a Kevin Durant-less Brooklyn, and dig into a couple silly season trade rumors. Should the Kings be buyers or sellers at the deadline? Should anyone be anything?

Well folks, you know the drill. We thought the Kings were maybe good, and they let us know in no uncertain terms that they are, in fact, not. Duncan & Ty are here to help you cope. We also dig deep into the psychological underpinnings of Kings fandom.

The boys recount a tough but spirited loss against some very large Philadelphia men, and discuss the mystery (and legend) of Nemanja Bjelica.

What a weekend for our boys. And now we face a frightening question for Kings fans: Is This Team Good?