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History of the Kansas City Kings
The Kansas City Kings represented the NBA in the Midwest from 1972 to 1985, bridging the franchise's time as the Cincinnati Royals and its eventual move to become the Sacramento Kings. Although the Kings never won an NBA championship during their years in Kansas City, they featured Hall of Fame players, memorable playoff runs, and one of the greatest guards in basketball history, Nate "Tiny" Archibald. The franchise also played several seasons as the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, splitting home games between Missouri and Nebraska before settling permanently in Kansas City.
From Cincinnati to Kansas City
Following the 1971–72 season, owner Max Winter relocated the franchise from Cincinnati to Kansas City, Missouri. To broaden the team's regional appeal, the club became the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, dividing its home schedule between Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City and the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska.
The dual-city arrangement lasted until 1975, when the team dropped Omaha from its name and became simply the Kansas City Kings.
Tiny Archibald's Historic Season
The franchise's biggest star during its early years was Nate "Tiny" Archibald, one of the NBA's greatest point guards.
During the 1972–73 season, Archibald accomplished one of the rarest feats in NBA history by leading the league in both scoring (34.0 points per game) and assists (11.4 per game) in the same season. No other player has duplicated the achievement over a full season.
Despite Archibald's brilliance, the Kings struggled to surround him with enough talent to become championship contenders.
Building a Competitive Team
Throughout the late 1970s, Kansas City developed into a respectable playoff team under head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons.
Key players during this era included:
- Scott Wedman
- Phil Ford
- Sam Lacey
- Otis Birdsong
- Brian Taylor
The Kings became known for fundamentally sound basketball and regularly qualified for the NBA Playoffs.
The 1981 Western Conference Finals
The greatest season in Kansas City history came during the 1980–81 season.
Despite finishing the regular season with a 40–42 record, the Kings upset the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns to reach the Western Conference Finals.
Kansas City faced the powerful Houston Rockets, led by Moses Malone.
Although the Kings were defeated in five games, the 1981 playoff run remains the deepest postseason run in franchise history during the Kansas City era.
The Final Years
During the early 1980s, attendance declined as the franchise struggled financially.
Although talented players such as Eddie Johnson, Reggie King, and Larry Drew emerged, the team could not consistently compete with the NBA's elite.
Ownership ultimately decided to relocate the franchise once again.
Following the 1984–85 season, the Kings moved to Sacramento, California, where the franchise remains today.
Home Arenas
| Years |
Arena |
| 1972–1975 |
Municipal Auditorium (Kansas City) and Omaha Civic Auditorium (Omaha) |
| 1975–1985 |
Kemper Arena (Kansas City) |
Franchise Timeline
| Year |
Event |
| 1972 | Franchise relocates from Cincinnati to become the Kansas City-Omaha Kings. |
| 1973 | Tiny Archibald leads the NBA in both scoring and assists. |
| 1975 | Team becomes the Kansas City Kings. |
| 1981 | Reach the Western Conference Finals. |
| 1985 | Relocate to Sacramento, California. |
Franchise Greats
- Nate "Tiny" Archibald
- Scott Wedman
- Phil Ford
- Sam Lacey
- Otis Birdsong
- Eddie Johnson
- Larry Drew
- Reggie King
Notable Coaches
- Cotton Fitzsimmons
- Jack McCloskey
- Phil Johnson
Awards and Achievements
- 1981 Western Conference Finals appearance.
- Multiple NBA playoff appearances.
- Nate Archibald led the NBA in scoring and assists during the 1972–73 season.
- Home to several NBA All-Stars and Hall of Fame players.
Legacy
Although the Kansas City Kings never captured an NBA championship, they provided the city with more than a decade of exciting professional basketball. The franchise produced one of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history through Tiny Archibald and reached the Western Conference Finals in 1981, creating unforgettable memories for fans.
The team's relocation to Sacramento in 1985 marked the end of NBA basketball in Kansas City, but the franchise's legacy continues through today's Sacramento Kings. The Kansas City era remains an important chapter in one of the NBA's oldest franchises, connecting the championship-winning Rochester Royals and Cincinnati Royals to the modern Kings.
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