Sacramento Kings of the: National Basketball Association (NBA) were formerly known as theββRochester 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 movedββto Cincinnati, Ohio in 1957. After fifteen years of mediocrity, they movedββto 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 RanadivΓ© purchased the team later that year.
Starting in 2006β07 through the 2021β22 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 1976β77 and 1990β91. 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.
Seasonsβ»
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 | ||||||||||||||
1945β46 | NBL | β | β | Eastern | 2nd | 24 | 10 | .706 | 2 | Won Division semifinals (Pistons) 3β1 Won NBL Championship (Red Skins) 3β0 |
Red Holzman (ROY) | Lester Harrison | ||
1946β47 | NBL | β | β | Eastern | 1st | 31 | 13 | .705 | β | Won Opening Round (Nationals) 3β1 Won Division semifinals (Pistons) 2β1 Lost NBL Championship (American Gears) 3β1 |
Bob Davies (MVP) | |||
1947β48 | NBL | β | β | Eastern | 1st | 44 | 16 | .733 | β | Won Opening Round (Pistons) 3β1 Won Division semifinals (Packers) 2β1 Lost NBL Championship (Lakers) 3β1 |
| |||
1948β49 | BAA | β | β | Western | 1st | 45 | 15 | .750 | β | Won Division semifinals (Bombers) 2β0 Lost Division finals (Lakers) 2β0 |
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1949β50 | NBA | β | β | Central | 2nd | 51 | 17 | .750 | β | Lost Division semifinals (Pistons) 2β0 | ||||
1950β51 | NBA | β | β | Western | 2nd | 41 | 27 | .603 | 3 | Won Division semifinals (Pistons) 2β1 Won Division finals (Lakers) 3β1 Won NBA Finals (Knicks) 4β3 |
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1951β52 | NBA | β | β | Western | 1st | 41 | 25 | .621 | β | Won Division semifinals (Pistons) 2β0 Lost Division finals (Lakers) 3β1 |
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1952β53 | NBA | β | β | Western | 2nd | 44 | 26 | .629 | 4 | Lost Division semifinals (Pistons) 2β1 | ||||
1953β54 | NBA | β | β | Western | 2nd | 44 | 28 | .611 | 2 | Advanced Divisional Semifinals 2-1
Lost Division finals (Lakers) 2β1 |
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1954β55 | NBA | β | β | Western | 3rd | 29 | 43 | .403 | 14 | Lost Division semifinals (Lakers) 2β1 | ||||
1955β56 | NBA | β | β | Western | 4th | 31 | 41 | .431 | 6 | Maurice Stokes (ROY) | Bobby Wanzer | |||
1956β57 | NBA | β | β | Western | 4th | 31 | 41 | .431 | 3 | |||||
Cincinnati Royals | ||||||||||||||
1957β58 | NBA | β | β | Western | 3rd | 33 | 39 | .458 | 8 | Lost Division semifinals (Pistons) 2β0 | Bobby Wanzer | |||
1958β59 | NBA | β | β | Western | 4th | 19 | 53 | .264 | 30 | Bobby Wanzer Tom Marshall | ||||
1959β60 | NBA | β | β | Western | 4th | 19 | 56 | .253 | 27 | Tom Marshall | ||||
1960β61 | NBA | β | β | Western | 4th | 33 | 46 | .418 | 18 | Oscar Robertson (ROY, ASG MVP) | Charles Wolf | |||
1961β62 | NBA | β | β | Western | 2nd | 43 | 37 | .538 | 11 | Lost Division semifinals (Pistons) 3β1 | ||||
1962β63 | NBA | β | β | Eastern | 3rd | 42 | 38 | .525 | 16 | Won Division semifinals (Nationals) 3β2 Lost Division finals (Celtics) 4β3 |
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1963β64 | NBA | β | β | Eastern | 2nd | 55 | 25 | .688 | 4 | Won Division semifinals (76ers) 3β2 Lost Division finals (Celtics) 4β1 |
Oscar Robertson (MVP, ASG MVP) Jerry Lucas (ROY) |
Jack McMahon | ||
1964β65 | NBA | β | β | Eastern | 2nd | 48 | 32 | .600 | 14 | Lost Division semifinals (76ers) 3β1 | Jerry Lucas (ASG MVP) | |||
1965β66 | NBA | β | β | Eastern | 3rd | 45 | 35 | .563 | 10 | Lost Division semifinals (Celtics) 3β2 | Adrian Smith (ASG MVP) | |||
1966β67 | NBA | β | β | Eastern | 3rd | 39 | 42 | .481 | 29 | Lost Division semifinals (76ers) 3β1 | ||||
1967β68 | NBA | β | β | Eastern | 5th | 39 | 43 | .476 | 23 | Ed Jucker | ||||
1968β69 | NBA | β | β | Eastern | 5th | 41 | 41 | .500 | 16 | Oscar Robertson (ASG MVP) | ||||
1969β70 | NBA | β | β | Eastern | 5th | 36 | 46 | .439 | 24 | Bob Cousy | ||||
1970β71 | NBA | Eastern | 6th | Central | 3rd | 33 | 49 | .402 | 9 | |||||
1971β72 | NBA | Eastern | 6th | Central | 3rd | 30 | 52 | .366 | 8 | |||||
Kansas CityβOmaha Kings | ||||||||||||||
1972β73 | NBA | Western | 7th | Midwest | 4th | 36 | 46 | .439 | 24 | Joe Axelson (EOY) | Bob Cousy | |||
1973β74 | NBA | Western | 7th | Midwest | 4th | 33 | 49 | .402 | 26 | Bob Cousy Draff Young Phil Johnson | ||||
1974β75 | NBA | Western | 3rd | Midwest | 2nd | 44 | 38 | .537 | 3 | Lost conference semifinals (Bulls) 4β2 | Phil Johnson (COY) | Phil Johnson | ||
Kansas City Kings | ||||||||||||||
1975β76 | NBA | Western | 8th | Midwest | 3rd | 31 | 51 | .378 | 7 | Phil Johnson | ||||
1976β77 | NBA | Western | 7th | Midwest | 4th | 40 | 42 | .488 | 10 | |||||
1977β78 | NBA | Western | 11th | Midwest | 5th | 31 | 51 | .378 | 17 | Phil Johnson Larry Staverman | ||||
1978β79 | NBA | Western | 2nd | Midwest | 1st | 48 | 34 | .585 | β | Lost conference semifinals (Suns) 4β1 | Phil Ford (ROY) Cotton Fitzsimmons (COY) |
Cotton Fitzsimmons | ||
1979β80 | NBA | Western | 5th | Midwest | 2nd | 47 | 35 | .573 | 2 | Lost First round (Suns) 2β1 | ||||
1980β81 | NBA | Western | 5th | Midwest | 2nd | 40 | 42 | .488 | 12 | Won First round (Trail Blazers) 2β1 Won conference semifinals (Suns) 4β3 Lost conference finals (Rockets) 4β1 |
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1981β82 | NBA | Western | 9th | Midwest | 4th | 30 | 52 | .366 | 18 | |||||
1982β83 | NBA | Western | 7th | Midwest | 2nd | 45 | 37 | .549 | 8 | |||||
1983β84 | NBA | Western | 8th | Midwest | 3rd | 38 | 44 | .463 | 7 | Lost First round (Lakers) 3β0 | ||||
1984β85 | NBA | Western | 11th | Midwest | 6th | 31 | 51 | .378 | 21 | Jack McKinney Phil Johnson | ||||
Sacramento Kings | ||||||||||||||
1985β86 | NBA | Western | 7th | Midwest | 5th | 37 | 45 | .451 | 14 | Lost First round (Rockets) 3β0 | Phil Johnson | |||
1986β87 | NBA | Western | 10th | Midwest | 5th | 29 | 53 | .354 | 26 | Phil Johnson Jerry Reynolds | ||||
1987β88 | NBA | Western | 10th | Midwest | 6th | 24 | 58 | .293 | 30 | Bill Russell Jerry Reynolds | ||||
1988β89 | NBA | Western | 10th | Pacific | 6th | 27 | 55 | .329 | 30 | Jerry Reynolds | ||||
1989β90 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 7th | 23 | 59 | .280 | 40 | Jerry Reynolds Dick Motta | ||||
1990β91 | NBA | Western | 13th | Pacific | 7th | 25 | 57 | .305 | 38 | Dick Motta | ||||
1991β92 | NBA | Western | 10th | Pacific | 7th | 29 | 53 | .354 | 28 | Dick Motta Rex Hughes | ||||
1992β93 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 7th | 25 | 57 | .305 | 37 | Garry St. Jean | ||||
1993β94 | NBA | Western | 10th | Pacific | 6th | 28 | 54 | .341 | 35 | |||||
1994β95 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 5th | 39 | 43 | .476 | 20 | Mitch Richmond (ASG MVP) | ||||
1995β96 | NBA | Western | 8th | Pacific | 5th | 39 | 43 | .476 | 25 | Lost First round (SuperSonics) 3β1 | ||||
1996β97 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 6th | 34 | 48 | .415 | 23 | Garry St. Jean Eddie Jordan | ||||
1997β98 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 5th | 27 | 55 | .329 | 34 | Eddie Jordan | ||||
1998β99 | NBA | Western | 6th | Pacific | 3rd | 27 | 23 | .540 | 8 | Lost First round (Jazz) 3β2 | Geoff Petrie (EOY) | Rick Adelman | ||
1999β00 | NBA | Western | 8th | Pacific | 5th | 44 | 38 | .537 | 23 | Lost First round (Lakers) 3β2 | Vlade Divac (JWKC) | |||
2000β01 | NBA | Western | 3rd | Pacific | 2nd | 55 | 27 | .672 | 1 | Won First round (Suns) 3β1 Lost conference semifinals (Lakers) 4β0 |
Geoff Petrie (EOY) | |||
2001β02 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 61 | 21 | .744 | β | Won First round (Jazz) 3β1 Won conference semifinals (Mavericks) 4β1 Lost conference finals (Lakers) 4β3 |
||||
2002β03 | NBA | Western | 2nd | Pacific | 1st | 59 | 23 | .720 | β | Won First round (Jazz) 4β1 Lost conference semifinals (Mavericks) 4β3 |
Bobby Jackson (SMOY) | |||
2003β04 | NBA | Western | 4th | Pacific | 2nd | 55 | 27 | .672 | 1 | Won First round (Mavericks) 4β1 Lost conference semifinals (Timberwolves) 4β3 |
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2004β05 | NBA | Western | 6th | Pacific | 2nd | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12 | Lost First round (SuperSonics) 4β1 | ||||
2005β06 | NBA | Western | 8th | Pacific | 4th | 44 | 38 | .537 | 10 | Lost First round (Spurs) 4β2 | ||||
2006β07 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 5th | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 | Eric Musselman | ||||
2007β08 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 4th | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 | Reggie Theus | ||||
2008β09 | NBA | Western | 15th | Pacific | 5th | 17 | 65 | .207 | 48 | Reggie Theus Kenny Natt | ||||
2009β10 | NBA | Western | 14th | Pacific | 5th | 25 | 57 | .305 | 32 | Tyreke Evans (ROY) | Paul Westphal | |||
2010β11 | NBA | Western | 14th | Pacific | 5th | 24 | 58 | .293 | 33 | |||||
2011β12 | NBA | Western | 14th | Pacific | 5th | 22 | 44 | .333 | 19 | Paul Westphal Keith Smart | ||||
2012β13 | NBA | Western | 13th | Pacific | 4th | 28 | 54 | .341 | 28 | Keith Smart | ||||
2013β14 | NBA | Western | 13th | Pacific | 4th | 28 | 54 | .341 | 29 | Michael Malone | ||||
2014β15 | NBA | Western | 13th | Pacific | 4th | 29 | 53 | .354 | 38 | Michael Malone Tyrone Corbin George Karl | ||||
2015β16 | NBA | Western | 10th | Pacific | 3rd | 33 | 49 | .402 | 40 | George Karl | ||||
2016β17 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 3rd | 32 | 50 | .390 | 35 | Dave Joerger | ||||
2017β18 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 4th | 27 | 55 | .329 | 31 | |||||
2018β19 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 3rd | 39 | 43 | .476 | 18 | |||||
2019β20 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 4th | 31 | 41 | .431 | 22 | Luke Walton | ||||
2020β21 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 5th | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21 | |||||
2021β22 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 5th | 30 | 52 | .366 | 34 | Luke Walton Alvin Gentry | ||||
2022β23 | NBA | Western | 3rd | Pacific | 1st | 48 | 34 | .585 | β | Lost First round (Warriors) 4β3 | Mike Brown (COY) Monte McNair (EOY) |
Mike Brown | ||
2023β24 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 4th | 46 | 36 | .561 | 5 |
All-time recordsβ»
NBA recordsβ»
Statistic | Wins | Losses | Win% |
---|---|---|---|
Regular season record (1948βpresent) | 2,748 | 3,257 | .458 |
Post-season record (1948βpresent) | 83 | 111 | .428 |
All-time regular and post-season record | 2,831 | 3,368 | .457 |
NBL recordsβ»
Statistic | Wins | Losses | Win% |
---|---|---|---|
Regular season record (1945β1948) | 99 | 39 | .717 |
Post-season record (1945β1948) | 18 | 11 | .621 |
All-time regular and post-season record | 117 | 50 | .701 |
Referencesβ»
- ^ Sacramento Kings at Basketball Reference
- ^ Sacramento Kings at Land of Basketball
- ^ NBL records at Basketball Reference
- ^ Rochester Royals at Basketball Reference