Local chatter: Oak Park grad Monte McNair returns west as Sacramento Kings general manager

Monte McNair is moving back to his home state. 

The former Oak Park High three-sport star and Princeton football receiver was announced as the general manager of the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. 

McNair spent the previous 13 seasons in Houston working with Daryl Morey, who is widely seen as one of the top executives in the NBA. 

“Monte is one of the NBA’s top basketball minds who has played an instrumental role in building several winning teams in Houston,” Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé said in a news release. “I am excited to bring his extensive experience and vision onboard to lead our basketball operations department, and it is my pleasure to welcome Monte and his family to Sacramento.”

Hired by Houston as an analyst in 2007, McNair was promoted to director of basketball operations in 2013, vice president of basketball operations in 2016 and assistant general manager in 2018.

“I am thrilled to join the Kings organization and honored to shape the franchise’s bright future for the team’s loyal fans,” McNair said in a news release. “I would like to thank Vivek for this opportunity and look forward to becoming a part of the Sacramento community.”

Houston won 50 or more games seven times and reached the playoffs eight straight seasons during McNair’s tenure.

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“Monte has been absolutely critical to the success of the Rockets over his long tenure,” said Morey in 2018.  “His unique combination of analytical skills and ability to work with our coaching staff was a key driver in our record-breaking season last year."  

The Kings also announced Joe Dumars as their chief strategy officer. The former Detroit general manager was named interim vice president of basketball operations when Vlade Divac stepped down as general manager last month. 

McNair, who worked as a sports programmer and researched at STATS LLC before joining the Rockets in 2007, will meet the Sacramento media for the first time as general manager on Wednesday. 

McNair’s hire uniquely makes Oak Park High the alma mater of an NBA general manager and a WNBA general manager. 

Former Oak Park High basketball player Alisha Valavanis runs the Seattle Storm, who won the WNBA championship in 2018. 

Storming into the playoffs

Speaking of Valavanis’ team, the Storm tied Las Vegas for the best record in the WNBA this season at 18-4. 

Second-seeded Seattle will open the WNBA semifinal series against Minnesota on Sunday at noon on ABC. 

Guard Sami Whitcomb is averaging 8.1 points and 2.0 assists in 16.5 minutes per game for Seattle. The Buena High graduate is shooting 38.1% from 3-point land. 

Young Wolff in hunt

Matthew Wolff continues to meet golf’s major challenges head on. 

The Westlake High graduate, who finished tied for fourth at the PGA Championship last month, opened his U.S. Open debut on Thursday at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York with a 4-under-par 66. 

That left him just one stroke off first-day leader Justin Thomas. 

Wolff told reporters after his round that it helped playing with former Oklahoma State teammate Viktor Hovland and Rickie Fowler.

“Kept a level head out there,” Wolff said. “I had a really good group with Viktor and Rickie … were all just having a good time. 

“I think that’s what kept me the most calm out there to not really make this tournament even bigger than it needs to be.”

Wolff shot a 4-over 74 on Friday and is now even par for the tournament, well within striking distance of the lead.

Wolff understands the challenge. He called Winged Foot “one of the hardest golf courses I’ve ever played,”

But watching Collin Morikawa win the PGA last month was also inspiring for the 21-year-old.

“Seeing all these young guys having success on the tour gives each and every one of us the most confidence in our games,” Woff said. “I know we can compete with each other, and seeing people win majors in tournaments, you kind of feel like you can do the same thing as them.

“It’s still an unbelievable thing that Collin did win the PGA. I’m really happy for him, but it gives me the confidence to know I can come out here and do the same thing.”

A quick visit

Danielle Kang was back in Southern California last weekend for the second major of the LPGA Tour season, the ANA Inspiration at Rancho Mirage.

The Westlake High graduate tied for the lead after a 4-under 68 in the first round, before finishing tied for 11th with a consistent 8-under total.

COVID-19 restrictions kept fans from cheering for the home favorite, but Kang did hear a familiar voice coaxing her 5-iron from 191 yards to the fifth hole on Sept. 10 to “get in the hole!”

“My mom,” Kang told The Associated Press. “Yeah, this was the first time she got to come watch me play this entire year, so I'm really excited and happy about that. She sometimes doesn't even know if I made a birdie or not. She just keeps taking off. I tell her, `Can you just watch instead of running off to the next hole?' ”

A major victory would have pushed Kang to No. 1 in the world. Instead, she dipped a spot in the Rolex Rankings to No. 3 this week. 

Kang and the LPGA are in Portland, Oregon, for the Cambia Classic this weekend.

Old faces, new places

Theo Howard led Oklahoma with five catches for 63 yards in the Sooners’ 48-0 rout of Missouri State last weekend on Sept. 12. The former Westlake High star transferred to Norman after redshirting at UCLA.

Michael Pittman Jr. had two catches for 10 yards in his NFL debut on Sunday, when Indianapolis was upset 27-20 by Jacksonville. Oaks Christian nearly had an alum on both sidelines, but Jacksonville defensive end Cassius Marsh was inactive for the game.

Joe Curley writes the Local Chatter column for The Star. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @vcsjoecurley.