In lieu of the NBA Playoffs going on I decided to take a trip down memory lane. During the 1998-1999 season the Sacramento Kings surprised the NBA in a lockout shortened year by being one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. The new look Sacramento Kings featured newly acquired Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic, rookie Jason Williams, and All-Star Forward Chris Webber. In their first season together they dazzled on the court, and was awarded a playoff birth for the first time in many years. During that season the Kings fell short to the Utah Jazz losing in the first round of the playoffs. Despite losing the series many felt that the Kings were the team of the future. The season after the Kings repeated the same result, but instead of losing to the Jazz they were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers, who would become their nemesis for years to come.
The Kings were improving steadily as a team, but a few things were missing. Head Coach Rick Adelman became weary of Jason Williams’s style of play, and backup point guard Bobby Jackson would often close games out due Adleman’s dislike in Williams’s decision making abilities during crunch time. After another first round exit you could sense that change was coming.
The change was initiated and Jason Williams was traded for Mike Bibby of the Memphis Grizzlies. Many people were devastated by the trade (myself included). Williams was a fan favorite due to his style of play, and after looking back on it the Kings gave up on Williams quite early in his career. With Mike Bibby coming to Sacramento it gave the Kings a point guard that can score, distribute, and play off the ball as well. The Kings big men were excellent passers so ball movement was essential to their success.
With Bibby running the show the Kings improved to 61-21 during his first season and 59-23 the following season. During both seasons the Kings were arguably the best team in the Western Conference. With the acquisition of Bibby, the development of Hedo Turkoglu and Peja Stojakovich the Kings became more of a well rounded team for Chris Webber. The Kings also had great role players in Jim Jackson, Doug Christie, and Bobby Jackson in the stable as well.
The most heart breaking moment during that time was the series against the Shaq and Kobe led Lakers in the 2001-2002 season. The Kings team was one that you had to root for, and they had the team to beat the Lakers but they didn’t. They took the Lakers to seven games, but I am sure that basketball fans remember that it was game 4 that changed the outlook of the series. Robert Horry’s game winning shot made it a 2-2 series with momentum going in favor of the Lakers. The Kings were a rebound away from a 3-1 lead, and with the Kings heading back go Arco it would have been damn near impossible for the Lakers to win the series. To me that was the play that took the soul of the Kings.
After that playoff series the Kings were a great regular season team, but never took the next step in winning the NBA title. The Kings could never catch a break in the playoffs. Losing to the Jazz, Lakers, Mavs, and T’Wolves the front office decided that their chance in winning it all was pretty much finito.
It pains me to see the Kings go ringless in such an exciting era of hoops for them, but you have to realize how great the Spurs and Lakers were doing that time. I just always reminisce and think what if Vlade Divac would have grabbed that rebound in game 4.
Despite not winning a title these Sacramento Kings will always have a place in basketball history as one of the most exciting teams to ever play.
Man I remember thinking that series was over then Horry cashed out. The Kings were real tight, one of the most underrated teams in NBA history.