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One of the oldest franchises in basketball, the Sacramento Kings was founded in 1923 as a semi-professional team. They started as the Rochester Seagrams before joining the NBA in 1948 as the Rochester Royals.
As the Royals, the franchise won their first and only championship in 1951 defeating the New York Knicks in seven games. The team would move to Cincinnati in 1957 with Oscar Robertson becoming their first true superstar. The triple-double machine won MVP in 1964 but he failed to lead the team to an NBA Finals appearance.
In 1972, the franchise relocated once again in Kansas City and they adopted the name Kings. After 13 seasons, they relocated one more time to Sacramento wherein they had more disappointing seasons rather than successful ones.
The Kings had their best run from 1998 to 2006 making the Western Conference Finals in 2002 where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games. Since 2006, the Kings have not made the postseason but nevertheless, they have produced a lot of great players over the years. Here are the Sacramento Kings’ all-time starting five.
Center – Sam Lacey
Drafted fifth overall in 1970, Sam Lacey became a consistent big man for the Cincinnati Royals. He provided the team with double-doubles almost on a nightly basis. He is also one of the best defensive players of his era. In fact, he is one of five players in NBA history to have 100 steals and 100 blocks in six straight seasons.
Lacey was a one-time All-Star and he played 11 seasons with the franchise. He helped the team make the playoffs four times alongside Oscar Robertson. Lacey ranks fifth in the Kings’ all-time scoring list, third in assists, and first in rebounds, steals, and blocks. For his accomplishment with the franchise, his No. 44 has been retired.
Honourable Mention: Center – DeMarcus Cousins
Although DeMarcus Cousins never helped the Kings make the postseason, he was a consistent player that never had any support from ownership. Despite that, Cousins was a three-time All-Star with the Kings. He also ranks sixth in scoring, sixth in rebounds, fourth in steals and blocks in the franchise leaderboards.
Forward – Jerry Lucas
An Ohio native, Jerry Lucas was signed by the Cincinnati Royals as a free agent in 1963. Lucas struggled in his rookie season after transitioning to the power forward position. However, he quickly adapted and became an All-Star the next season, ultimately becoming a six-time All-Star with the Royals.
Along with Oscar Robertson and Sam Lacey, Lucas helped the Royals make the playoffs four times. However, they never reached the NBA Finals but Lucas got his ring in 1971 as part of the New York Knicks. In the Kings’ all-time leaderboards, he ranks eighth in scoring and second in rebounds. His No. 16 was retired in 1980.
Honourable Mention: Forward – Peja Stojakovic
A member of the Kings during their most recent successful run, Peja Stojakovic was one of the most lethal shooters of his generation. Arriving in 1998, the Kings never missed the playoffs when Stojakovic was part of the team until 2006. He was a three-time All-Star and made the All-NBA Second Team in 2004.
Forward – Chris Webber
The Kings’ superstar who led the team to one of their successful years in franchise history from 1998 to 2006, Chris Webber embraced his role. Webber was acquired from the Washington Bullets in 1998 and he quickly became the team’s franchise player. He was an All-Star four times while with the Kings and he led to the playoffs six times.
Webber also became one of the best power forwards of his generation during his time in Sacramento. He was an All-NBA First Teamer in 2001 and an All-NBA Second Team member three times, all with the Kings.
Webber ranks eighth in the team’s all-time rebounds list, seventh in steals and fifth in blocks. The Kings honoured him by retiring his No. 4 jersey in 2009.
Honourable Mention: Forward – Jack Twyman
Before Oscar Robertson was the franchise player, Jack Twyman was the team’s star in the 1950s. He was a six-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA Second Team member. Twyman is second in the Kings’ all-time scoring list and fifth in rebounds. His No. 27 has been hanging from the rafters since the 1970s.
Guard – Nate Archibald
Before he became an NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, Nate “Tiny” Archibald played the first six seasons of his career with the Kings franchise. He became the star player of the franchise immediately because Oscar Robertson was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks that same season.
Archibald was a three-time All-Star with the Royals while also become the only player in NBA history to lead the league in scoring and assists in 1973. He ranks fourth in points and third in assists in the Kings’ all-time leaderboards. Despite his status a star player for the franchise, he was traded to the Nets after the 1976 season.
Honourable Mention: Guard – Bob Davies
A member of the original Rochester Royals, Bob Davies led the franchise to their first ever championship in 1951. He was also a four-time All-Star and a one-time assists leader. In 1971, Davies was named to the NBA’s 25th Anniversary Team.
Guard – Oscar Robertson
There is no doubt that Oscar Robertson is the greatest player in Kings' history. Robertson was a triple-double machine with the Cincinnati Royals, winning the 1961 Rookie of the Year Award. He averaged a triple-double in the first five seasons of his career. Robertson also won the NBA MVP Award in 1964.
While with the Royals, “The Big O” was a ten-time All-Star and won the All-Star Game MVP three times. He also led the NBA in assists six different times while also making the All-NBA first team nine straight times from 1961 to 1969.
Robertson is still the Kings’ all-time scoring leader while also ranking third in rebounds and first in assists.
Honourable Mention: Guard – Mitch Richmond
If not for the greatness of Nate Archibald and Oscar Robertson, Mitch Richmond could have easily made the all-time starting five.
Richmond was the only positive for the Kings organization during a poor run in the 1990s. He was with the Kings for seven seasons but he never made the playoffs. Richmond ranks third in points, ninth in assists, third in steals, and second in three-pointers made in franchise history.
Guess the Lakers players!
