The Sky Kings, Wichita’s new minor league professional basketball team, is closing out its first regular season on May 28 with a Fan Fest at Charles Koch Arena, featuring six guest celebrities that include former NBA players and a Hollywood celebrity.

Sky Kings owner Ben Hamd says he is projecting that 7,000 to 9,000 fans will attend Fan Fest and that attendance will set a minor league basketball record for the country. Admission is free. 

Doors will open at 2 p.m. May 28 with tipoff for the last game of the regular season against the Little Rock Lightning at 3 p.m.. The meet and greet with the team and visiting celebrities after the game will last 2.5 hours after the end of the game, giving fans a chance to take photos and get autographs.

The Sky Kings have already secured a spot in the playoffs for the The Basketball League with a 17-5 record, and at least two players will be in the NBA Summer League, starting in July.

Special guests for Fan Fest include:

  • Brandon Rush: Former basketball player for the University of Kansas and former NBA player
  • Devonte’ Graham: University of Kansas alum and NBA player for the San Antonio Spurs
  • Jose Alvarado: NBA player for the New Orleans Pelicans
  • Ron Baker: Wichita State University alum and former NBA player for the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards
  • Shaq Morris: Wichita State University alum and former international basketball player
  • Tyshawn Taylor: University of Kansas alum and former NBA player
  • Charles “Chip” Esten: Musician and actor last known for his role in “Outer Banks” 
Devonte’ Graham, former KU basketball standout and a player for the San Antonio Spurs is one of five basketball standouts who will be at the Wichita Sky Kings final season game.

The Wichita Sky Kings are leading the 48-team TBL in single season attendance, thanks to Hamd’s use of basketball standouts and guest celebrities to draw in fans.

“We are providing entertainment in addition to basketball,” he said. “I’ve had celebrity guests at every game and we do things like a half-court shoot and celebrity meet and greet. I wanted our last game of the regular season to be special, so I decided to offer free admission and a roster of celebrities.”

He said their average attendance has been about 2,000 to 3,000 fans and he is expecting to grow steadily to reach the Koch Arena capacity of 10,500.

Hamd is a real estate developer and says he located his team in Wichita because it is a “historically basketball town” and large enough to support a minor league team.