It’s been a long, hard and historically terrible last decade and a half for the Sacramento Kings and their fans. After being one of the most impressive teams of the early 2000s, the team from the California capital has done very little since.
After the Seattle Mariners broke their curse last season by making the playoffs for the first time in 21 years, the Kings became the lousiest franchise in North America. They haven’t made the playoffs in 16 years, an unfathomable drought when you realize that half (and now well over half) of the teams in the league qualify for the postseason each year.
Sacramento Kings currently in third place in the Western Conference
It hasn’t just been on-court performance that has depressed Sacramento Kings fans over the years. There have been poor trades, even worse scouting and drafting, and the team came close to being relocated in 2013 before a new owner came along and built an arena downtown.
16 years is a long time. The last time Sacramento qualified for the postseason, their starting lineup consisted of the likes of Bonzi Wells and Peja Stojakovic, with Corliss Williamson and Kenny Thomas coming off the bench. LeBron James was still four years away from his first start with the Cavaliers, and Chris Paul had just finished his rookie season.
WIN NO. 3️⃣5️⃣ FOR THE #BEAMTEAM ???? ????
The Kings are 10 games over .500 for the first time since 2004-05 ???? pic.twitter.com/9EZQDbZtXU
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) February 27, 2023
But something has finally changed for the Kings. Whether it’s the addition of a star in Domantas Sabonis or a key player in Malik Monk, the team seems to have found its rhythm. New head coach Mike Brown has instilled an offense that currently ranks No. 1 in the league in points per game, and while the defense needs a lot of help, there are noticeable signs of improvement.
This season marked the first time since 2003-04 that a Sacramento Kings player not named DeMarcus Cousins was selected to the All-Star team, sending both Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox to the first appearance. of the young shipowner. They currently sit somewhat comfortably in third place in the hotly contested Western Conference, and are 10 games over .500 for the first time since 2005.
Can they go on like this? They currently have an 86 percent chance of making the playoffs, which will be an even more impressive feat if they can do it while staying in third place.
