NO. 63 -- KAYTE CHRISTENSEN-HUNTER | Sacramento Kings TV Analyst

Experience The Buzz

Oct 29, 2021•1 hr 42 min•Season 1Ep. 63

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KAYTE CHRISTENSEN-HUNTER is part of history when it comes to women broadcasting in the NBA. As an NBA fan I think of Doris Burke who in 2017, was ESPN's first woman appointed to become a full-time NBA game analyst. Kayte has quietly done every role thinkable in her 15 years with the Sacramento Kings. And now she has her dream job as the team's TV color analyst.

In today's episode of Experience the Buzz, Host Steve Buzzard sits back and enjoys the knowledge and stories of Kayte. "I speak for a lot of people when I say that Kayte is so deserving of this position. And today when you hear her speak about her journey and share some great stories , I am confident that you will be glad that Kayte is here in Sacramento." Our conversation hits FOUR areas:

The 1st Quarter 🏀 dives into the broadcasting journey of Kayte. She talks about the importance of Craig Amazeen, who was responsible for hiring Christensen-Hunter. We get the inside track to the timeline that made Christensen-Hunter the TV Analyst of the Sacramento Kings. We find out about Doug Christie and his desire to coach coupled with the love that former Kings have with the city of Sacramento. We finish out the segment talking about Golden One Center in comparison with Arco Arena (Sleep Train Arena or Power Balance Pavilion also accepted).
2nd Quarter 🏀 dives into a series of subjects. Fans in the stands at Golden One Center. The positives and negatives of not having to go on the road. Broadcasting a game-winning shot from Harrison Barnes. Takeaways from Kayte's other roles in TV and radio. We then transition to where it all started ... an AAU team coached by her school's math teacher Mike Martin. That led to a scholarship at UC Santa Barbara and in 2002, Kayte was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.
The 3rd Quarter 🏀 begins with Kayte discussing the end of her WNBA career. She shares what she learned from her six-year career and how that helped her in the next phase in life. Kayte discusses broadcasting as a woman and then offers her thoughts about key people in her broadcasting career, including Jim Kozimor, Carmichael Dave, and Doris Burke.
The 4th Quarter 🏀 is dedicated to this year's version of the Sacramento Kings. We talk about it all. Luke Walton. The Ben Simmons Pre-Season Saga. Harrison Barnes. Davion Mitchell.

Here are my favorite HIGHLIGHTS ...
1. Mike Martin - Kayte talks about her school's math teacher, who became her AAU basketball coach. This one person helped ignite the fire that allowed Kayte to pursue a career in basketball as well as become the first college graduate in her family.
2. When talking about her journey. "My life is a series of things that happened to me and led me in a direction and I just jumped at them."
3. About her playing days being shortened by injury, "I really don't miss playing basketball. I mis

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