Loyalty is a funny thing in sports. Sometimes, it’s forged in championship rings and legendary runs. Other times, it’s rooted in the soil of your hometown, a pull that transcends even the most iconic dynasties. Imagine winning 3 championships with the Chicago Bulls and still picking a different franchise to support. That’s the hard choice Michael Jordan’s ex-teammate from the Bulls, Bill Cartwright, seems to have taken for himself. Cartwright contributed important 7.9 points, and 5.1 rebounds per game during Chicago’s second 3-peat. So him picking a different team to support is something in itself.

Cartwright’s surprising preference came to light during an interview with ABC10, where he was asked about the Sacramento Kings. For those unaware, Cartwright isn’t just some casual Kings fan—he was born and raised in the Sacramento area, specifically in Elk Grove. His basketball roots run deep there, starting at Elk Grove High School, where he dominated the competition. So, naturally, he has a connection to the Kings. But does that connection run so deep that he’d pick them over the Bulls?

Apparently, yes. “I’m a Sacramento fan. I’m pulling for the Kings. I’m pulling for the Warriors. I do watch pretty much every game. Like every King fan, you get a little bit frustrated. Okay, so you beat Cleveland and you lose to the Bulls. Probably not good,” Cartwright said, summing up what many Sacramento fans might have felt after their team’s recent 128-116 loss to the Bulls.

But despite the ups and downs, he’s not giving up on them. “You do have hope because they do have. I think the Kings are on the right course. They’ve got good players. I don’t believe they’re far away. So for being really good. So I’m a fan. I have faith. I’m just gonna go with them,” he added during the interview.

Now, let’s not forget—Cartwright wasn’t just some journeyman on the Bulls’ championship teams. He was an integral part of their success. And it’s not like he just passed through Chicago—he spent six of his 15 NBA seasons with the Bulls. So why not stick with the team that brought him three rings? Well, it turns out, his ties to Sacramento go beyond just childhood memories.

The city has embraced him in ways that make it feel like home even after his playing days. But this isn’t just a casual fan’s fleeting sentiment. It’s a deep-seated connection, a bond built on shared history and unwavering support. And when the Sacramento Kings, a team valued at a staggering $3.7 billion, suffered a recent embarrassing loss to his former Bulls, this ex-teammate stepped up, not with criticism, but with a powerful dose of reassurance, offering a unique perspective that could ease the worries of a city and its franchise

Bill Cartwright was bestowed with a first-of-a-kind honor by the Sacramento

Cartwright recently received an honor unlike any other in Sacramento. Last October, the city’s Walk of Stars welcomed four new names, and among them was the legendary center himself. Joining him were philosopher and presidential candidate Dr. Cornel West, actress Merrin Dungey, and civil rights icon Nathaniel Sextus Colley. But what made this moment even more historic? For the first time ever, all the inductees were people of color.

For Cartwright, the journey to this recognition had been nothing short of remarkable. Looking back at his early days in the league, he recalled a memory that still stands out. “My first game was against Dr. J. I was pretty much in heaven,” he shared. Known for his defensive tenacity and smooth midrange shot, he made his presence felt on the court. But perhaps even more defining was his leadership—something that shone brightest during a tense moment in Bulls history.

The 1994 playoffs saw Scottie Pippen refuse to check in for the final moments of a crucial game after Coach Phil Jackson picked Tony Kukoc to take the last shot. Kukoc made it, but the locker room still had to deal with the fallout. Jackson left the resolution to the players, and that’s when Cartwright stepped up. He gathered the team, confronted Pippen with raw emotion, and helped mend the situation. The result? Pippen returned, and the Bulls fought to a seven-game series.

Clearly, Cartwright gave his heart and soul to the team back when he was in Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls. It’s just his association with his roots that seemingly makes him pick Sacramento over Chicago.