Beloved local journalist Martin “Marty Mac” McNeal truly had a place in journalism as a prolific sports writer in the NBA.

McNeal was the Sacramento Kings beat writer for the Sacramento Bee for 14 years, spending a total of 19 years with the newspapers from 1990 to 2009.

Kings General Manager Vlade Divac issued the following statement on the passing of Martin McNeal, the team’s beat writer for The Sacramento Bee from 1992 to 2005.

Said ESPN’s Mark Jones: “Crushing to hear about the passing of NBA writer Marty McNeal.

Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s The Undefeated, said: “Rest In Peace to former NBA beat writer Marty McNeal.