Sacramento Kings fans admire the beam in front of the Golden 1 Center. They know this beam is not just a beam; they have been waiting for this moment since the franchise moved to Sacramento.
Whether it was Richmond, Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic, or Demarcus Cousins, none could take the team to the top. And this curse of the playoffs defeated, the sleeping monster woke up.
Dalvin Albert has been with the franchise since 2012 and has risen in rank in the Kings' organizational chart. He greatly supports the title by developing players like Hector, Keegan Murray, and Dalen Terry.
"Dalvin, how are you? It's a mess here, and the cleaning will be long! A cleaner, although he complains, has a smile on his face. He's a diehard Kings fan. As long as the Kings are champions, they work overtime to clean up once a year.
Dalvin looked at the ceiling of the room. There will be a banner next season, no matter what award he has to be present at the ceremony.
The light at the Golden 1 Center went out, but the beam stayed on all night. This beam is the brightest star in the night of Sacramento and basketball fans worldwide.
***
After a night of madness, Sacramento, the forgotten capital of California, is the calm before the storm. When he woke up, his phone rang. His first cousin Carmela Vargas.
"Carmela, what's the problem?"
"Hector Hermano, you just went on TV. Mom is proud of you. Carmela couldn't escape the news. At the end of the news show, Hector lifted the NBA trophy. They talked about his journey at length; even ordinary people who don't care about sports games know who Hector is and his achievements.
"Hahahaha, I will have a hard time returning to Mexico. I come back the day after tomorrow. The parade takes place tomorrow. Embarrassed, Hector realizes the situation.
"Enjoy, it's your day. Say hello to Belinda, Tata, and Mom say hello to you. We couldn't come because Grandpa's condition has deteriorated, but I'm sure he's proud of you. »
A simple phone call boosted Hector for this day, and seeing the text messages piled up, he smiled.
National teammates, basketball associations, friends off the court, business partners, the opinion of the equipment manufacturer... Hector read all the messages of blessings. He is very grateful. They are all indispensable to his growth.
This season, Hector has won everything, not only in the NBA: Winner and MVP of the AmeriCup with the national team last summer. DPOY, 1st Defensive Team, NBA Cup MVP, All-Star Game MVP, MVP regular season and Finals MVP, of course, NBA Cup champion, and most importantly, the NBA championship.
He won everything in his path and left nothing to the opponents. This is Hector's status at the end of the season.
***
A royal road has formed in the streets of Sacramento. Countless fans flock all over the city, shouting enthusiastically and relentlessly. Both amateur and professional photographers brought their cameras to immortalize this spectacular scene forever.
The city is in purple and white, the team's color that proudly represents the city. The 2026 Sacramento Kings Championship Parade officially begins!
The passionate atmosphere infected everyone unconsciously, like COVID-19. The players shouted and greeted the fans.
Hector began lifting the hard-won O'Brien Trophy, thanking fans for their support. The MVP screams are heard and grow, which surprises Hector. Hearing it in a 16,000-seat venue is a few things, but hundreds of thousands is another level.
"For that moment, the wait was too long!" local reporters shouted.
The bus took three hours to reach its destination, the Golden 1 Center—the church of an entire city.
The mayor of Sacramento spoke first and thanked Hector for bringing this honor to the city. Former mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA player and legend, thanked Hector. A photo of the Kings' members and the city government is essential.
After that, Kings GM Monte McNair spoke. He expressed pride before he could manage the Sacramento Kings. He did not attend Hector's recruitment but is a pillar in Ewing's.
"At first, my decision was challenged, but look at how powerful Hector became under his wing." Everyone spoke one part: Malik Monk, Vezenkov. Dalen Terry thanked Hector for making him grow.
Many things are related to Hector. De'Aaron and Harrison discussed the "unflappable rookie" who arrived in 2018.