Congratulations, Kayte!
The Sacramento Kings shared a Youtube highlight reel this morning announcing that Doug Christie will be replaced on the Kings’ broadcast by Kayte Christensen-Hunter this season.
The news comes after Doug Christie joined Luke Walton’s coaching staff this offseason, leaving the door wide open for a familiar face and beloved voice by Kings fans in Kayte.
Kayte has served 11 seasons as NBC Sports California’s pregame and postgame analyst, as well as sideline reporter. Kayte did fill in on the sideline a few times this season, most notably leading the charge during the Kings’ first-ever all-female/non-binary broadcast during Women’s History Month this past year.
A former WNBA player, Kayte played for the Phoenix Mercury, Houston Comets and Chicago Sky. The veteran has always provided thoughtful, fair assessment of Sacramento, even through the thick of the team’s toughest times. Following the retirement of Jerry Reynolds, I look forward to getting to hear Kayte’s color analysis of Sacramento in real time as opposed to before and after the games.
The Kings also shared that Mark Jones and Kyle Draper would be returning to their respective roles. Jones joined the Kings’ broadcast last year and quickly became a League Pass favorite, shining in the booth alongside Doug Christie. Kyle Draper was on the call when Jones served as play-by-play announcer for ESPN.
A lot has changed in the Kings’ booth since 2019, as they said goodbye to longtime game-callers in Jerry Reynolds and Grant Napear. It’s no secret that Mark Jones and Doug Christie were stellar on the call together, and I think having Kayte next to Jones and Draper will bring a fresh perspective as Sacramento transitions into a new era.