Former Hornet's Relationship Seemingly Spells Bad News for Sacramento Kings
Former Hornet's Relationship Seemingly Spells Bad News for Sacramento Kings originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Former Charlotte Hornets star Jeremy Lamb has found himself the center of controversy when it comes to the Sacramento Kings. And it's not because of his stellar play on the floor.
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Following Lamb's initial trade to the Kings in 2022 as part of the Domantas Sabonis trade, he had little on-court impact, averaging 7.9 points in 18.9 minutes over 17 games. He was re-signed in October of 2023 but was waived a week later.
It was his seemingly huge influence off the court that had everyone talking. Lamb's unexpected input stems from his romantic relationship with Anjali Ranadive, the daughter of Kings owner Vivek Ranadive. Their relationship has reportedly become a major source for the controversy that has plagued the Kings franchise of late.
Anjali, who transitioned into basketball operations following her pop music career where she would perform at Kings games, became assistant general manager of the Stockton Kings (the G-League affiliate) in 2022.
In May of 2023, she was promoted to general manager. Following Lamb's release by Sacramento in October, he moved on to Stockton, where he was named to the opening night roster. People around the team began to question Lamb's role as more than that of your typical player.
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Anjali would become the center of attention when a Stockton player, Chance Comanche, was arrested and charged with murder during a team road trip of December 2023. The incident cast a shadow on her leadership, and Anjali stepped down less than a month later, citing academic and personal reasons.
The couple went public with their relationship in October of 2024. Despite her resignation, Anjali and Lamb remained highly visible. Regularly appearing with Vivek Ranadive, courtside at Kings' games. This only fueled speculation of Lamb's influence on the organization's decision-making.
Sacramento Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadive smiles and claps with his daughter Anjali after a basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center.© Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
According to The Athletic's Anthony Slater, Lamb and Anjali played some role in two of the most impactful moves in recent Sacramento Kings history. First, the mid-season firing of head coach Mike Brown. This came only months after Brown had signed a long-term deal, following breaking the team's 16-year playoff drought. Many believe the move to get rid of Brown in December of 2024 was a result of those closest to Vivek Ranadive, most notably Lamb and Anjali. The second was the trade of star player De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs at the 2025 NBA trade deadline.
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Brown's firing was seemingly the last straw for Fox. The star player had already turned down multiple max contract offers and let it be known to interim head coach Doug Christie that he was ready to get away from the nonsense going on with the Kings franchise. Shortly after that point, he was traded.
An anonymous Kings employee voiced growing frustrations, joking to The Athletic, 'What is the vision here? It feels like it could be headed toward chaos. We're all going to be working for Jeremy Lamb soon enough.' Such sentiment highlights the unease within the organization, where clear leadership and direction appear to be lacking.
While Lamb retired from professional basketball in 2024, his off-court influence, particularly through his proximity to ownership, has become a focal point of criticism. His post-playing career has arguably had a larger impact than his on-court career, albeit controversially, through his involvement in Sacramento's internal affairs.
Now, the Kings, once seen as a team turning a corner after ending a 16-year playoff drought, are again mired in uncertainty. Even Sabonis is reportedly seeking assurance about the organization's direction before fully committing to a long-term future with the team. Whether owner Vivek Ranadive can restore faith in the franchise remains to be seen, but Lamb's relationship and perceived influence have already left a lasting mark on the Kings' internal dynamics.
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While Lamb's visibility in decision-making has seemingly decreased, Anjali's influence, though less direct, is still believed to exist, according to The Athletic.
Related: Hornets Projected to Trade Up in Latest 2025 NBA Mock Draft
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
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