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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

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
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
1951–52 NBA Western 1st 41 25 .621 Won Division semifinals ( Pistons) 2–0
Lost Division finals ( Lakers) 3–1
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

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
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
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
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
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

NBA records

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

[1] [2]

NBL records

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

[3] [4]

References