The Sacramento Kings have been a staple of basketball in California since 1985, when they first relocated to the state. Since then, the franchise has become one of the most iconic in all of the NBA, well known for its talented teams, passionate fans, and unique arena. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the history of the Sacramento Kings and some of their most memorable moments. But first, lets find out more about the franchise itself.
The History of the Sacramento Kings
The roots of the Sacramento Kings franchise actually date back to 1923, when the team was known as the Rochester Seagrams. A year later, the name was changed to the Rochester Royals, and the team remained in Rochester until 1957 - when it was relocated to Cincinnati and became the Cincinnati Royals. Eventually, the team moved again in 1972 to Kansas City, Missouri and was renamed the Kansas City-Omaha Kings. Finally, in 1985, the Kings made their way to California, settling into the city of Sacramento, and becoming the Sacramento Kings.
The First Decade as the Sacramento Kings
The Kings didn't waste any time making their mark in the city and in the NBA when they first arrived. In the 1985-1986 season, they made the playoffs for the first time in their new home of Sacramento, and they even reached the Western Conference Finals in the 1991-1992 season, eventually losing to the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, despite having a talented roster and making the playoffs on several occasions, the team struggled to win games, leading to a streak of ten consecutive seasons without a postseason appearance.
The 2004 Move to Sactown
In 2004, the Kings faced the potential of leaving Sacramento. As part of a proposed plan, the team would have been relocated to Anaheim, California. However, due to a public outcry and the efforts of local officials, the team remained in Sacramento and the move was cancelled - with the team even rebranding itself as the “Sactown Kings” to show its commitment to the city.
The Return to Relevance
After struggling for most of the early 2000’s decade, the Kings finally began to find some stability in the 2013-2014 season, when the team acquired guard Isaiah Thomas and forward Rudy Gay, as well as coach Michael Malone, who was eventually named NBA’s Coach of the Year. The team made the playoffs that season, but were defeated in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs. Despite the playoff loss, the season marked a new era for the Kings, and they continued to improve over the next few seasons.
The 2019-2020 Season
The Kings went through a new regime in the offseason, bringing in a whole new front office and coaches. Despite some optimistic predictions, the team failed to make the playoffs yet again as they faced some internal struggles. However, this season is looking much more promising and the Kings finally have the pieces in place to make a run at the playoffs.
The Sacramento Kings have been a part of NBA basketball for nearly four decades, and have become a major part of the local community. Though the team has faced some difficult times in the past, the recent changes to the front office and coaching staff have given fans hope for the future. Whether the Kings can make it back to the playoffs this season or not, one thing is for certain - the team’s legacy will live on in Sacramento.
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