Following Sunday's loss to the Golden State Warriors, the Sacramento Kings were officially eliminated from the NBA playoffs. It is the 16th consecutive season they have failed to reach the post season. That is a new NBA record for futility. They were previously tied with the Los Angeles Clippers, who failed to make the playoffs every year from 1977 through 1991.
The Kings will miss the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season, a new NBA record.
Kings fans deserve better. pic.twitter.com/Yf3MKtAWFQ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 4, 2022
The last time the Kings make the playoffs was way back in 2006. That was the end of an era that saw them come so close to reaching NBA glory. The Kings were title contenders for numerous years, including arguably one of the better teams to not reach an NBA Finals.
The 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals were between the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings. Despite outplaying Los Angeles for much of the series, the Lakers ultimately won the series in seven games. However, there has long since been a debate about the integrity of that outcome.
In Game 6 of that series and the Kings leading the series 3-2, the Lakers shot 40 free throws in a 106-102 comeback victory. A number of calls were questioned after the game. Game 7 would go to overtime and see the defending champs eliminate the Kings. That was the last time Sacramento was a true threat to win the title.
They reached the postseason a few more times before the drought began.
Sacramento has struggled to find elite players since that squad. DeMarcus Cousins is likely the best player since that time period, but he had his own set of issues. De'Aaron Fox appears to be a star in his own right, but his lack of defense stands out. All hopes now turn to next season in the hopes that newly acquired Domantas Sabonis can lead the Kings back to the playoffs.
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