Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA) were formerly known as the Rochester Royals, Cincinnati Royals, the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, and the Kansas City Kings. While the Kings were created first as a semiprofessional team in 1923 with the Rochester Seagrams, their professional roots began in 1945 with their arrival in the National Basketball League, where it won the title in their first season. They joined the Basketball Association of America in 1948, with the league soon rebranding itself as the NBA. The Royals won the NBA title in 1951. After reaching the postseason ten times in twelve professional seasons, they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1957. After fifteen years of mediocrity, they moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1972, for which they played games in Kansas City and in Omaha, Nebraska. After thirteen years of mediocrity, they moved to Sacramento, California in 1986. An attempt to change ownership by way of selling the team and moving to Seattle failed in 2013. Vivek Ranadivé purchased the team later that year.
Starting in 2006–07 through the 2021–22 season the Kings set an NBA record in futility with 16 consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance, breaking old record of 15 playoff-less seasons that was compiled by the Los Angeles Clippers between 1976–77 and 1990–91. Every single one of those seasons saw them finish below .500, which is also a record. Since 1945, the team has reached the postseason just 33 times, with 11 in Sacramento and 10 in Rochester.
They have not reached the NBA Finals in 71 years (a record), have not reached a Conference finals in twenty seasons (tied for 5th for most seasons in history), and have not won a playoff series in eighteen seasons (tied for a record).
As one of the original eight NBA teams, they have the most losses in league history.
Seasons
[edit]NBL champions | NBA champions | Conference champions | Division champions | Playoff berth | Play-in berth |
Season | League | Conference | Finish | Division | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | GB | Playoffs | Awards | Head Coach | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rochester Royals | ||||||||||||||
1945–46 | NBL | — | — | Eastern | 2nd | 24 | 10 | .706 | 2 | Won Division semifinals (Pistons) 3–1 Won NBL Championship (Red Skins) 3–0 |
Red Holzman (ROY) | Lester Harrison | ||
1946–47 | NBL | — | — | Eastern | 1st | 31 | 13 | .705 | — | Won Opening Round (Nationals) 3–1 Won Division semifinals (Pistons) 2–1 Lost NBL Championship (American Gears) 3–1 |
Bob Davies (MVP) | |||
1947–48 | NBL | — | — | Eastern | 1st | 44 | 16 | .733 | — | Won Opening Round (Pistons) 3–1 Won Division semifinals (Packers) 2–1 Lost NBL Championship (Lakers) 3–1 |
| |||
1948–49 | BAA | — | — | Western | 1st | 45 | 15 | .750 | — | Won Division semifinals (Bombers) 2–0 Lost Division finals (Lakers) 2–0 |
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1949–50 | NBA | — | — | Central | 2nd | 51 | 17 | .750 | — | Lost Division semifinals (Pistons) 2–0 | ||||
1950–51 | NBA | — | — | Western | 2nd | 41 | 27 | .603 | 3 | Won Division semifinals (Pistons) 2–1 Won Division finals (Lakers) 3–1 Won NBA Finals (Knicks) 4–3 |
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1951–52 | NBA | — | — | Western | 1st | 41 | 25 | .621 | — | Won Division semifinals (Pistons) 2–0 Lost Division finals (Lakers) 3–1 |
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1952–53 | NBA | — | — | Western | 2nd | 44 | 26 | .629 | 4 | Lost Division semifinals (Pistons) 2–1 | ||||
1953–54 | NBA | — | — | Western | 2nd | 44 | 28 | .611 | 2 | Advanced Divisional Semifinals 2-1
Lost Division finals (Lakers) 2–1 |
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1954–55 | NBA | — | — | Western | 3rd | 29 | 43 | .403 | 14 | Lost Division semifinals (Lakers) 2–1 | ||||
1955–56 | NBA | — | — | Western | 4th | 31 | 41 | .431 | 6 | Maurice Stokes (ROY) | Bobby Wanzer | |||
1956–57 | NBA | — | — | Western | 4th | 31 | 41 | .431 | 3 | |||||
Cincinnati Royals | ||||||||||||||
1957–58 | NBA | — | — | Western | 3rd | 33 | 39 | .458 | 8 | Lost Division semifinals (Pistons) 2–0 | Bobby Wanzer | |||
1958–59 | NBA | — | — | Western | 4th | 19 | 53 | .264 | 30 | Bobby Wanzer Tom Marshall | ||||
1959–60 | NBA | — | — | Western | 4th | 19 | 56 | .253 | 27 | Tom Marshall | ||||
1960–61 | NBA | — | — | Western | 4th | 33 | 46 | .418 | 18 | Oscar Robertson (ROY, ASG MVP) | Charles Wolf | |||
1961–62 | NBA | — | — | Western | 2nd | 43 | 37 | .538 | 11 | Lost Division semifinals (Pistons) 3–1 | ||||
1962–63 | NBA | — | — | Eastern | 3rd | 42 | 38 | .525 | 16 | Won Division semifinals (Nationals) 3–2 Lost Division finals (Celtics) 4–3 |
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1963–64 | NBA | — | — | Eastern | 2nd | 55 | 25 | .688 | 4 | Won Division semifinals (76ers) 3–2 Lost Division finals (Celtics) 4–1 |
Oscar Robertson (MVP, ASG MVP) Jerry Lucas (ROY) |
Jack McMahon | ||
1964–65 | NBA | — | — | Eastern | 2nd | 48 | 32 | .600 | 14 | Lost Division semifinals (76ers) 3–1 | Jerry Lucas (ASG MVP) | |||
1965–66 | NBA | — | — | Eastern | 3rd | 45 | 35 | .563 | 10 | Lost Division semifinals (Celtics) 3–2 | Adrian Smith (ASG MVP) | |||
1966–67 | NBA | — | — | Eastern | 3rd | 39 | 42 | .481 | 29 | Lost Division semifinals (76ers) 3–1 | ||||
1967–68 | NBA | — | — | Eastern | 5th | 39 | 43 | .476 | 23 | Ed Jucker | ||||
1968–69 | NBA | — | — | Eastern | 5th | 41 | 41 | .500 | 16 | Oscar Robertson (ASG MVP) | ||||
1969–70 | NBA | — | — | Eastern | 5th | 36 | 46 | .439 | 24 | Bob Cousy | ||||
1970–71 | NBA | Eastern | 6th | Central | 3rd | 33 | 49 | .402 | 9 | |||||
1971–72 | NBA | Eastern | 6th | Central | 3rd | 30 | 52 | .366 | 8 | |||||
Kansas City–Omaha Kings | ||||||||||||||
1972–73 | NBA | Western | 7th | Midwest | 4th | 36 | 46 | .439 | 24 | Joe Axelson (EOY) | Bob Cousy | |||
1973–74 | NBA | Western | 7th | Midwest | 4th | 33 | 49 | .402 | 26 | Bob Cousy Draff Young Phil Johnson | ||||
1974–75 | NBA | Western | 3rd | Midwest | 2nd | 44 | 38 | .537 | 3 | Lost conference semifinals (Bulls) 4–2 | Phil Johnson (COY) | Phil Johnson | ||
Kansas City Kings | ||||||||||||||
1975–76 | NBA | Western | 8th | Midwest | 3rd | 31 | 51 | .378 | 7 | Phil Johnson | ||||
1976–77 | NBA | Western | 7th | Midwest | 4th | 40 | 42 | .488 | 10 | |||||
1977–78 | NBA | Western | 11th | Midwest | 5th | 31 | 51 | .378 | 17 | Phil Johnson Larry Staverman | ||||
1978–79 | NBA | Western | 2nd | Midwest | 1st | 48 | 34 | .585 | — | Lost conference semifinals (Suns) 4–1 | Phil Ford (ROY) Cotton Fitzsimmons (COY) |
Cotton Fitzsimmons | ||
1979–80 | NBA | Western | 5th | Midwest | 2nd | 47 | 35 | .573 | 2 | Lost First round (Suns) 2–1 | ||||
1980–81 | NBA | Western | 5th | Midwest | 2nd | 40 | 42 | .488 | 12 | Won First round (Trail Blazers) 2–1 Won conference semifinals (Suns) 4–3 Lost conference finals (Rockets) 4–1 |
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1981–82 | NBA | Western | 9th | Midwest | 4th | 30 | 52 | .366 | 18 | |||||
1982–83 | NBA | Western | 7th | Midwest | 2nd | 45 | 37 | .549 | 8 | |||||
1983–84 | NBA | Western | 8th | Midwest | 3rd | 38 | 44 | .463 | 7 | Lost First round (Lakers) 3–0 | ||||
1984–85 | NBA | Western | 11th | Midwest | 6th | 31 | 51 | .378 | 21 | Jack McKinney Phil Johnson | ||||
Sacramento Kings | ||||||||||||||
1985–86 | NBA | Western | 7th | Midwest | 5th | 37 | 45 | .451 | 14 | Lost First round (Rockets) 3–0 | Phil Johnson | |||
1986–87 | NBA | Western | 10th | Midwest | 5th | 29 | 53 | .354 | 26 | Phil Johnson Jerry Reynolds | ||||
1987–88 | NBA | Western | 10th | Midwest | 6th | 24 | 58 | .293 | 30 | Bill Russell Jerry Reynolds | ||||
1988–89 | NBA | Western | 10th | Pacific | 6th | 27 | 55 | .329 | 30 | Jerry Reynolds | ||||
1989–90 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 7th | 23 | 59 | .280 | 40 | Jerry Reynolds Dick Motta | ||||
1990–91 | NBA | Western | 13th | Pacific | 7th | 25 | 57 | .305 | 38 | Dick Motta | ||||
1991–92 | NBA | Western | 10th | Pacific | 7th | 29 | 53 | .354 | 28 | Dick Motta Rex Hughes | ||||
1992–93 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 7th | 25 | 57 | .305 | 37 | Garry St. Jean | ||||
1993–94 | NBA | Western | 10th | Pacific | 6th | 28 | 54 | .341 | 35 | |||||
1994–95 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 5th | 39 | 43 | .476 | 20 | Mitch Richmond (ASG MVP) | ||||
1995–96 | NBA | Western | 8th | Pacific | 5th | 39 | 43 | .476 | 25 | Lost First round (SuperSonics) 3–1 | ||||
1996–97 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 6th | 34 | 48 | .415 | 23 | Garry St. Jean Eddie Jordan | ||||
1997–98 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 5th | 27 | 55 | .329 | 34 | Eddie Jordan | ||||
1998–99 | NBA | Western | 6th | Pacific | 3rd | 27 | 23 | .540 | 8 | Lost First round (Jazz) 3–2 | Geoff Petrie (EOY) | Rick Adelman | ||
1999–00 | NBA | Western | 8th | Pacific | 5th | 44 | 38 | .537 | 23 | Lost First round (Lakers) 3–2 | Vlade Divac (JWKC) | |||
2000–01 | NBA | Western | 3rd | Pacific | 2nd | 55 | 27 | .672 | 1 | Won First round (Suns) 3–1 Lost conference semifinals (Lakers) 4–0 |
Geoff Petrie (EOY) | |||
2001–02 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 61 | 21 | .744 | — | Won First round (Jazz) 3–1 Won conference semifinals (Mavericks) 4–1 Lost conference finals (Lakers) 4–3 |
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2002–03 | NBA | Western | 2nd | Pacific | 1st | 59 | 23 | .720 | — | Won First round (Jazz) 4–1 Lost conference semifinals (Mavericks) 4–3 |
Bobby Jackson (SMOY) | |||
2003–04 | NBA | Western | 4th | Pacific | 2nd | 55 | 27 | .672 | 1 | Won First round (Mavericks) 4–1 Lost conference semifinals (Timberwolves) 4–3 |
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2004–05 | NBA | Western | 6th | Pacific | 2nd | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12 | Lost First round (SuperSonics) 4–1 | ||||
2005–06 | NBA | Western | 8th | Pacific | 4th | 44 | 38 | .537 | 10 | Lost First round (Spurs) 4–2 | ||||
2006–07 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 5th | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 | Eric Musselman | ||||
2007–08 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 4th | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 | Reggie Theus | ||||
2008–09 | NBA | Western | 15th | Pacific | 5th | 17 | 65 | .207 | 48 | Reggie Theus Kenny Natt | ||||
2009–10 | NBA | Western | 14th | Pacific | 5th | 25 | 57 | .305 | 32 | Tyreke Evans (ROY) | Paul Westphal | |||
2010–11 | NBA | Western | 14th | Pacific | 5th | 24 | 58 | .293 | 33 | |||||
2011–12 | NBA | Western | 14th | Pacific | 5th | 22 | 44 | .333 | 19 | Paul Westphal Keith Smart | ||||
2012–13 | NBA | Western | 13th | Pacific | 4th | 28 | 54 | .341 | 28 | Keith Smart | ||||
2013–14 | NBA | Western | 13th | Pacific | 4th | 28 | 54 | .341 | 29 | Michael Malone | ||||
2014–15 | NBA | Western | 13th | Pacific | 4th | 29 | 53 | .354 | 38 | Michael Malone Tyrone Corbin George Karl | ||||
2015–16 | NBA | Western | 10th | Pacific | 3rd | 33 | 49 | .402 | 40 | George Karl | ||||
2016–17 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 3rd | 32 | 50 | .390 | 35 | Dave Joerger | ||||
2017–18 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 4th | 27 | 55 | .329 | 31 | |||||
2018–19 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 3rd | 39 | 43 | .476 | 18 | |||||
2019–20 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 4th | 31 | 41 | .431 | 22 | Luke Walton | ||||
2020–21 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 5th | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21 | |||||
2021–22 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 5th | 30 | 52 | .366 | 34 | Luke Walton Alvin Gentry | ||||
2022–23 | NBA | Western | 3rd | Pacific | 1st | 48 | 34 | .585 | — | Lost First round (Warriors) 4–3 | Mike Brown (COY) Monte McNair (EOY) |
Mike Brown | ||
2023–24 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 4th | 46 | 36 | .561 | 5 |
All-time records
[edit]NBA records
[edit]Statistic | Wins | Losses | Win% |
---|---|---|---|
Regular season record (1948–present) | 2,748 | 3,257 | .458 |
Post-season record (1948–present) | 83 | 111 | .428 |
All-time regular and post-season record | 2,831 | 3,368 | .457 |
NBL records
[edit]Statistic | Wins | Losses | Win% |
---|---|---|---|
Regular season record (1945–1948) | 99 | 39 | .717 |
Post-season record (1945–1948) | 18 | 11 | .621 |
All-time regular and post-season record | 117 | 50 | .701 |
References
[edit]- ^ Sacramento Kings at Basketball Reference
- ^ Sacramento Kings at Land of Basketball
- ^ NBL records at Basketball Reference
- ^ Rochester Royals at Basketball Reference