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History of the Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are one of the NBA's oldest and most storied franchises, tracing their roots to the Rochester Royals, who were founded in 1945. After winning the 1951 NBA Championship, the franchise relocated to Cincinnati in 1957, then to Kansas City in 1972 before finally settling in Sacramento, California, in 1985. While the Kings have yet to win an NBA championship in Sacramento, they have become one of the city's defining sports institutions, highlighted by the exciting teams of the early 2000s led by Chris Webber, Peja Stojaković, Mike Bibby, and Vlade Divac.

Arrival in Sacramento

After 13 seasons as the Kansas City Kings, owners sought a market where the franchise could become the centerpiece of the local sports scene. In 1985, the team relocated to Sacramento, making it the first major professional sports franchise in California's capital city.

The Kings immediately captured the community's support. Sellout crowds at the ARCO Arena created one of the loudest home-court environments in the NBA, earning Sacramento a reputation as one of the league's most passionate basketball cities.

Early Years

The Kings struggled during much of the late 1980s and early 1990s, often finishing near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

Despite the losses, several exciting players gave fans reason for optimism, including:

• Reggie Theus
• Otis Thorpe
• Lionel Simmons
• Mitch Richmond
• Wayman Tisdale

The arrival of Mitch Richmond in 1991 transformed the franchise. A six-time NBA All-Star with Sacramento, Richmond became one of the league's premier scorers and eventually earned induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Chris Webber Era

The most successful period in Sacramento history began in 1998 when the Kings acquired Chris Webber from the Washington Wizards.

Under head coach Rick Adelman, general manager Geoff Petrie, and owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, Sacramento built one of the NBA's most entertaining teams.

The roster featured:

• Chris Webber
• Peja Stojaković
• Mike Bibby
• Vlade Divac
• Doug Christie
• Bobby Jackson
• Hedo Türkoğlu

The Kings became known for their fast-paced offense, exceptional passing, and unselfish style of play.

The 2002 Western Conference Finals

The 2001–02 Kings are widely regarded as the greatest team in franchise history.

Sacramento finished with a 61–21 record, the best in the NBA, and entered the playoffs as the league's top seed.

After defeating the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks, the Kings faced the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

The series became one of the most memorable—and controversial—in NBA history.

The Lakers won Game 7 in overtime to advance to the NBA Finals, ending Sacramento's best opportunity to compete for a championship.

Despite the disappointment, the Kings remained contenders for several more seasons.

Years of Struggle

Following injuries to Chris Webber and roster changes, Sacramento gradually declined during the mid-2000s.

The franchise entered one of the longest playoff droughts in NBA history, missing the postseason from 2007 through 2022.

During this period, standout players included:

• DeMarcus Cousins
• Tyreke Evans
• Isaiah Thomas
• De'Aaron Fox

Ownership changes and arena uncertainty also threatened the team's future, but local efforts kept the Kings in Sacramento.

A New Era

The franchise turned the corner after drafting De'Aaron Fox in 2017 and later selecting Tyrese Haliburton before eventually acquiring Domantas Sabonis.

Under head coach Mike Brown, Sacramento returned to prominence.

During the 2022–23 season, the Kings finished with a 48–34 record, ending their 16-year playoff drought—the longest in NBA history at the time.

The team earned the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and pushed the Golden State Warriors to seven games in an exciting first-round playoff series.

Stars such as De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Malik Monk, and Keegan Murray have helped establish Sacramento as one of the NBA's rising contenders.

Home Arenas

Sacramento Kings Timeline

Franchise Greats

• Chris Webber
• Mitch Richmond
• Peja Stojaković
• Vlade Divac
• Mike Bibby
• De'Aaron Fox
• Domantas Sabonis
• Lionel Simmons
• Otis Thorpe
• Bobby Jackson
• Doug Christie
• Jack Twyman*
• Oscar Robertson*

*Played for the franchise before its move to Sacramento.

Notable Coaches

• Rick Adelman
• Mike Brown
• Garry St. Jean
• Reggie Theus

Awards and Achievements

• 2002 Western Conference regular-season champions (61 wins).
• Multiple Pacific Division championships.
• Ended a 16-year playoff drought in 2023.
• Mitch Richmond inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Chris Webber inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
• One of the NBA's most passionate fan bases.

Legacy

The Sacramento Kings transformed a franchise with roots dating back to 1945 into the heart of California's capital city. While the franchise's lone NBA championship came during its days as the Rochester Royals, Sacramento has produced some of the NBA's most memorable teams, particularly the high-powered squads of the early 2000s that captivated basketball fans with their beautiful style of play.

From the thunderous crowds at ARCO Arena to the modern era at Golden 1 Center, the Kings have become an integral part of Sacramento's identity. Led by legends such as Mitch Richmond, Chris Webber, and De'Aaron Fox, the franchise continues to pursue the city's first NBA championship while honoring one of the richest histories in professional basketball.