Will the Reno Bighorns be on the move after the 2017–18 season?
Team has called Reno home since 2008.
Prior to the 2016–17 season, the Sacramento Kings purchased a controlling interest in the Reno Bighorns, and speculation began to circulate as to whether a move was eventually in the works.
According to a reliable league source, the plan is still to have the team move closer to Sacramento for the 2018–19 season, but no exact location where the team will play has been determined.
There have been internal discussions as to where the team would be placed, including the possibility of having the Bighorns play in the Kings’ practice facility. That, however, has received push back from the G League front office as the league wants to have a specific atmosphere and appearance on its product.
The recent exception, however, would be the South Bay Lakers, who play and practice in the same training center their LA counterpart does. That facility though was built in mind with having South Bay play there. The current Kings facility was not built for those specifications.
While the team debates other locations in the greater Sacramento area, one city that has been pitched is Stockton, CA, according to a league source.
The city is home to a pair of minor league teams including the Stockton Ports (baseball) and Stockton Heat (hockey), so adding a basketball team would make sense in that respect.
Sacramento and Stockton are approximately 50 miles apart from one another, making travel relatively easy for the Kings to send players on assignment.
The Bighorns replied to an email request for comment via a team spokesperson on the team’s move next season.
“I’m not aware of any plans to move the team. We’re focused on the current season and the push to the playoffs, as well as continuing to support the Reno region through various community initiatives, and serving as a valuable developmental resource to the Sacramento Kings.“
The Bighorns would be the sixth team to be relocated since 2014. (Idaho Stampede / Salt Lake City Stars, Bakersfield Jam / Northern Arizona Suns, Tulsa 66ers / Oklahoma City Blue, Springfield Armor / Grand Rapids Drive, Erie BayHawks / Lakeland Magic).
