A new feature in Sacramento's practice facility this season was a bell.
The addition of the bell did two things. One, it was installed to "reward players and bring recognition to guys that do good things for the team," such as drawing a charge, contest a shot or collapse the defense in practice. Two, it was a nod to Sacramento's history with bells.
Specifically, cowbells.
If you've been to a Kings game or caught them on TV over the years, you'll have likely heard a raucous crowd that won't stop ringing cowbells. Why is that?
Here's the story behind how Sacramento became known as Cowbell Kingdom.
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Why do the Kings have cowbells?
Kings fans have been ringing cowbells at home games for over two decades now.
It all started when former Lakers head coach Phil Jackson called Sacramento a "cow town" and said Kings fans were "semi-civilized." How did Kings fans respond? By bringing cowbells to home games.
As you can imagine, thousands of fans ringing cowbells can make for a very loud and distracting arena. The Kings have long been known to have some of the best fans in the NBA.
The Kings have moved into a new arena since cowbells first became a tradition, but fans are still allowed to bring them to home games. "Any noise-making devices" is on the list of prohibited items inside the Golden 1 Center, but cowbells are excluded for Kings games only.
There was even a 3-foot-tall cowbell installed in the corridor between Sacramento's locker room and the court at the Golden 1 Center that players could ring ahead of their inaugural season at Golden 1 Center.
Nice touch, Kings. More cow bell. pic.twitter.com/0TYnbmbzRJ
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) November 16, 2016
Season ticket holders were also gifted a mini cowbell that season.
The cowbell has arrived! @SacramentoKings pic.twitter.com/WisgzIQnxw
— Zachary (@im_just_Zachary) September 27, 2016
Sacramento created a new tradition in the 2022-23 season by lighting a beam that shoots into the sky after wins, but it's hard to imagine there ever being a day when cowbells aren't a part of Kings culture.
