Chris Webber is back around Kings, helping at training camp

One of the greatest players in Kings history is back in the building.

Chris Webber attended Sacramento’s opening training-camp practice at the invitation of general manager Scott Perry and addressed the team during its closing huddle, according to Brenden Nunes of Sactown Sports.

For coach Doug Christie, seeing his former teammate around again carried some extra meaning.

“Man, I miss him,” Christie said. “He always brings a good vibe for me.”

There’s also a basketball reason for having Webber around. Christie has repeatedly referenced those early-2000s Kings teams while discussing the style he wants Sacramento to play, and current center Domantas Sabonis offers some obvious similarities as a big man who can facilitate offense.

Webber and Christie spent five seasons together during the franchise’s greatest Sacramento-era run, including the 2002 trip to the Western Conference finals.

The connection extends to some of today’s Kings, too. Rookie Darius Acuff Jr., like Webber, is from Detroit and described having the Hall of Famer at practice as “crazy.” Keegan Murray said Webber is close with his father, with the two having played against each other in high school. 

Webber isn’t joining Christie’s staff. At least nothing like that has been announced. But if you’re trying to remind today’s Kings what winning basketball in Sacramento once looked like, he’s a pretty good guy to have hanging around.