History of Sacramento Kings in Timeline
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, competing in the NBA's Western Conference, Pacific Division. They are the oldest team in the NBA and the first major professional sports team located in Sacramento. Their home games are played at the Golden 1 Center.
1923: Rochester Seagrams Formed
In 1923, the Rochester Seagrams, a semi-professional team, formed in Rochester, New York. This team served as the basis for the future Rochester Royals franchise.
1945: Professional Team in Rochester
In 1945, a purely-professional team came into existence in Rochester, New York, after two decades of the semi-professional Rochester Seagrams team.
1945: Strong League Champion
In 1945, the Rochester Royals had a strong season, resulting in becoming league champion.
1945: Joined National Basketball League as Rochester Royals
In 1945, the Rochester Seagrams joined the National Basketball League and were renamed the Rochester Royals.
1945: Continued Success
Starting in 1945, the Rochester Royals experienced continued success for three seasons.
1945: Finished No Lower Than Second
Starting in 1945, the Royals finished no lower than second in its division in both the NBL and BAA/NBA.
1948: Continued Success
Ending in 1948, the Rochester Royals experienced continued success for three seasons.
1948: Joined Basketball Association of America
In 1948, the Rochester Royals jumped to the Basketball Association of America (BAA) along with three other NBL teams.
1948: Defected to BAA
In 1948, the Royals defected to the Basketball Association of America (BAA).
1949: Limited Schedule
In 1949, the Royals started being placed in the same division as the Minneapolis Lakers, limiting their schedule.
1949: Kings and the Lakers Playoffs
The Kings and the Lakers have faced each other in the playoffs nine times between 1949 and 2002.
1951: Won NBA Championship
In 1951, the Rochester Royals won the NBA Championship, defeating the New York Knicks. This marked the franchise's only NBA title.
1954: Limited Schedule
In 1954, the Royals ended being placed in the same division as the Minneapolis Lakers, which had limited their schedule since 1949.
1955: Roster Turnover
In 1955, the Rochester Royals' roster turned over, except for Bobby Wanzer, who became the new coach. The team also moved to the Rochester War Memorial.
1956: Hosted All-Star Game
In 1956, the NBA agreed to host their All-Star Game in Rochester.
1956: Drafted Si Green
In 1956, the Royals drafted Si Green as the #1 overall pick in the NBA draft.
February 1, 1957: Regular-Season Game in Cincinnati
On February 1, 1957, a well-received regular-season game was played at Cincinnati Gardens, influencing the Royals' eventual move to the city.
April 1957: Moved to Cincinnati
In April 1957, the Harrisons moved the Royals to Cincinnati. It was deemed the best choice for the Harrisons, who also considered other cities.
1957: Acquired Clyde Lovellette and George King
In 1957, during their first NBA draft in Cincinnati, the team acquired Clyde Lovellette and guard George King.
1957: Relocated to Cincinnati
In 1957, the Rochester Royals relocated to Cincinnati due to financial difficulties in the smaller Rochester market and became the Cincinnati Royals.
1958: Five Rookies on the Team
The 1958-59 Cincinnati team featured five rookies. The Harrisons, wanting out at this point, sold to a makeshift local group.
1960: Oscar Robertson Joins Team
In 1960, Oscar Robertson joined the team.
1961: Robertson Averaged Triple-Double
During the 1961-62 season, Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double.
1963: Ownership Dispute
In early 1963, an ownership dispute, where new owner Louis Jacobs booked a circus for Cincinnati Gardens for the week of the playoff series, scuttled the team's playoff chances.
1964: NBA Draft
In the 1964 NBA draft, the Royals drafted George Wilson, Bill Chmielewski, Steve Courtin, and Happy Hairston.
1964: First Playoff Victory since 1964
The Kings reached the Western Conference finals in 1981. This marked the franchises first playoff victory since 1964.
1966: Neutral Site Games and All-Star Game
During the 1966-67 season, the Royals began playing some of their home games in neutral sites. That year, they hosted the 1966 NBA All-Star Game, with Smith being named All-Star MVP.
1966: Contended Against Celtics and 76ers
From 1963 to 1966, the Royals contended strongly against Boston and the Philadelphia 76ers.
1968: Looking at Omaha as a Market
As early as 1968, the Cincinnati Royals had been looking at Omaha as a market and playing twelve "home games" in Nebraska.
1968: Jacobs' Death
In the summer of 1968, Owner Louis Jacobs died and ownership went to his sons Jeremy and Max Jacobs.
1970: Buffalo Braves Established
In 1970, the Buffalo Braves were established, which meant that upstate New York had a team after the Royals moved to Ohio.
1970: Cleveland Cavaliers Established
In 1970, the Cleveland Cavaliers were established, bringing a new rival for the Royals and a new team in Ohio.
1971: Looking at Omaha as a Market
As late as 1971, the Cincinnati Royals had been looking at Omaha as a market and playing twelve "home games" in Nebraska.
1971: Logo and Uniform Change
In 1971, the Cincinnati Royals adopted a new logo featuring a red crown with a blue half-basketball and changed their uniforms to feature a script 'Royals' in front with red numbers. Blue names and numbers were written at the back for home games, while white were used for away games, arranging the number above the name, which was unusual.
March 14, 1972: Move to Kansas City Announced
On March 14, 1972, the franchise's move to Kansas City was announced.
1972: Relocated to Kansas City-Omaha
Before the 1972-73 season, the team relocated to Kansas City-Omaha, Missouri, becoming the Kansas City-Omaha Kings.
1972: Games in Omaha
From 1972 to 1975, the KC-Omaha Kings played a total of 42 regular season contests in Omaha.
1972: Name Change and Relocation
In 1972, the team was renamed the Kansas City-Omaha Kings and relocated, retaining their uniforms and logos with the name change being the only adjustment.
1972: Archibald led in Scoring and Assists
In the 1972-73 season, Nate Archibald led the league in scoring and assists.
1973: Maurie Film Release
In 1973, the film Maurie dramatized the story of Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes.
1975: Settling in Kansas City and Uniform Change
In 1975, after settling in Kansas City for good, the Kings changed their road uniforms to display the city name in front.
1975: Became Kansas City Kings
In 1975, the club became simply the Kansas City Kings.
1976: Royals win American League West division championship
In 1976, Kansas City sports fans focused on the Royals, who started a run of success including winning the American League West division championship.
1977: Coaching Change
In 1977, Bob Cousy gave way to Phil Johnson, who was fired midyear and replaced by Larry Staverman.
1977: Playing Games in Omaha
Through the 1977-78 season, the Kansas City Kings continued to play several games in Omaha.
March 1978: Final Game in Omaha
In March 1978, the Kansas City Kings played their final home games in Omaha.
1978: Cotton Fitzsimmons hired as coach
In 1978, Cotton Fitzsimmons was hired as coach for the Kansas City Kings, which would later lead to some success for the team.
1978: Braves Move to San Diego
In 1978, the Buffalo Braves moved to San Diego, California to become the San Diego Clippers.
1979: Cotton Fitzsimmons wins Midwest Division, Phil Ford named Rookie of the Year
In 1979, coach Cotton Fitzsimmons led the Kings to win the Midwest Division with rookie point guard Phil Ford, who was named NBA Rookie of the Year.
1979: Kings make the playoffs
In 1979, the Kings made the playoffs, marking a period of improved performance for the team.
1979: Roof falls in at Kemper Arena
In 1979, the roof of Kemper Arena collapsed due to a severe storm, forcing the Kings to play at the Municipal Auditorium.
1980: Royals reach the World Series
In 1980, the Kansas City Royals reached the World Series, continuing their successful run and capturing the attention of Kansas City sports fans.
1980: Kings make the playoffs
In 1980, the Kings made the playoffs for the second year in a row, continuing their improved performance.
May 1981: Staverman Resigned
In May 1981, Larry Staverman resigned to take up the role of team president's assistant for the Cleveland Browns.
1981: Kings reach Western Conference Finals
In 1981, the Kings reached the Western Conference Finals, marking their first playoff victories since 1964.
1981: Road Uniforms Revert to Team Name
In the 1981-82 season, the Kings' road uniforms reverted to featuring the team name in front, with front numbers matching the color schemes of the back numbers.
1982: LaSalle Thompson drafted by Kings
In 1982, LaSalle Thompson was drafted by the Kings in the first round of the NBA draft.
June 8, 1983: Franchise sold to Sacramento-based investment group
On June 8, 1983, the Kings franchise was sold for $10.5 million to a Sacramento-based investment group led by Joseph Benvenuti and Gregg Lukenbill.
October 15, 1984: Announcement of conversion of warehouse into ARCO Arena
On October 15, 1984, the Kings announced a $12 million project to convert a warehouse into ARCO Arena.
1984: Relocated to Sacramento
After the 1984-85 season, the franchise relocated to Sacramento.
1984: Final season in Kansas City
The 1984-85 season was the Kings' final season in Kansas City, marked by low attendance and a 31-51 record.
April 16, 1985: NBA approves transfer of Kings to Sacramento
On April 16, 1985, NBA team owners officially approved the transfer of the Kings to Sacramento, contingent on arena construction.
June 1985: Kings' lease with Kemper Arena expires
In June 1985, the Kings' lease with Kemper Arena expired, marking the end of their time in Kansas City.
1985: Joe Kleine selected by the Kings
In 1985, Joe Kleine was selected by the Kings in the first round of the NBA draft.
1985: Wayman Tisdale drafted by Indiana Pacers
In 1985, Wayman Tisdale was drafted by the Indiana Pacers as the second overall pick.
1985: Move to Sacramento and Uniform Changes
In 1985, following their move from Kansas City to Sacramento, the Kings retained their color scheme of red, white, and blue, as well as the crown and basketball logo. However, the home uniforms used royal blue, while the road uniforms used powder blue. There were also differences in striping patterns.
1985: Kings move to Sacramento
In 1985, the Kings relocated to Sacramento, California, marking a new chapter for the franchise.
1986: Harold Pressley drafted by the Kings
In 1986, Harold Pressley was selected by the Kings in the first round of the NBA draft.
1986: Michael Jackson drafted by New York Knicks
In 1986, Michael Jackson was drafted by the New York Knicks but played his entire career with the Kings.
1986: First Sacramento season ends in playoffs
In 1986, the Kings' first season in Sacramento ended with a first-round appearance in the Western Conference playoffs.
1987: Ed Pinckney Played for the Kings
Ed Pinckney Played for the Kings from 1987-1989
1987: Jerry Reynolds and Bill Russell as Head Coaches
In 1987, Jerry Reynolds and Bill Russell started their tenures as head coaches of the Kings.
1988: Jerry Reynolds and Bill Russell as Head Coaches
In 1988, Jerry Reynolds and Bill Russell continued their tenures as head coaches of the Kings.
1988: Ricky Berry drafted by Kings
In 1988, Ricky Berry was selected by the Kings in the first round of the NBA draft.
February 23, 1989: Trade with Boston Celtics
On February 23, 1989, Brad Lohaus and Danny Ainge were traded to the Kings from the Boston Celtics for Joe Kleine and Ed Pinckney.
1989: Pervis Ellison drafted by Kings
In 1989, Pervis Ellison was selected as the first overall pick in the NBA draft by the Kings.
1989: Ricky Berry's suicide
In 1989, Ricky Berry tragically committed suicide during the off-season, deeply affecting the team and its fans.
1990: Throwback Uniforms
For the 2019-20 season, the Kings brought back their blue uniforms worn from 1990 to 1994 in commemoration of the franchise's 35th season in Sacramento.
1990: Trades and Departures
In 1990, Danny Ainge, Kenny Smith and Rodney McCray were traded to other teams, and several players' last season for the Kings.
1990: Lionel Simmons drafted by Kings
In 1990, Lionel Simmons was drafted by the Kings and made the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
1990: Uniform Changes
In 1990, the Kings made slight changes to their uniforms. Royal blue was now used on the road uniforms, the shorts incorporated the Kings logo, and the name and number on the back of the uniform switched places. Player names were now in a standard monotone serif font.
1992: Kurt Rambis traded to Los Angeles Lakers
After the 1992-93 season, Kurt Rambis was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
1992: Garry St. Jean chosen as coach
In 1992, Garry St. Jean was chosen as the new coach for the Kings.
1993: Kurt Rambis traded to Los Angeles Lakers
After the 1992-93 season, Kurt Rambis was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
1993: Bobby Hurley's career-altering car crash
In 1993, promising point guard Bobby Hurley suffered a career-altering car crash, impacting the Kings' prospects.
1993: First Losing Record at Home Since 1993-94
In 2007, the Kings posted a losing record (20–21) at home for the first time since 1993–94.
1994: Wayman Tisdale traded to Phoenix Suns
After the 1993-94 season, Wayman Tisdale was traded to the Phoenix Suns.
1994: Throwback Uniforms
For the 2019-20 season, the Kings brought back their blue uniforms worn from 1990 to 1994 in commemoration of the franchise's 35th season in Sacramento.
1994: Radical Change in Look
In 1994, the Kings radically changed their look, adopting a new color scheme of purple, silver, black, and white. The uniform set consisted of one wide side stripe running through the right leg of the shorts, with the primary Kings logo prominently featured.
1995: Spud Webb traded to Atlanta Hawks
After the 1994-95 season, Spud Webb was traded to the Atlanta Hawks for Tyrone Corbin.
1995: Kings in 1995-96 NBA season
The Kings made the playoffs in the 1995-96 NBA season.
1996: Playoff Appearance
In 1996, The Kings made a playoff appearance and lost to the Seattle Supersonics.
1996: Kings make the playoffs
In 1996, the Kings made the playoffs again, ending a drought since their move to Sacramento.
1996: Peja Stojaković drafted in 1996
The Kings drafted Peja Stojaković in 1996.
1996: Walt Williams Traded to Miami Heat
Walt Williams was traded to the Miami Heat for Billy Owens
1997: Lionel Simmons' last year with Kings
1997 marked the last year Lionel Simmons played with the Kings.
1997: Eddie Jordan replaces Garry St. Jean
In 1997, Eddie Jordan replaced Garry St. Jean as the head coach of the Kings.
1997: Introduction of New Purple Uniform
In the 1997-98 season, a new purple uniform, which shared the same template from the home and road uniforms, was introduced.
1997: New Mascot: Slamson the Lion
Since the 1997-98 season, the official Kings mascot has been Slamson the Lion.
May 1998: Chris Webber traded to the Kings
In May 1998, Chris Webber was traded to the Kings for Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe.
1998: Key Acquisitions
In 1998, the Kings drafted Jason Williams, signed Vlade Divac, and traded for Chris Webber, which would lead to success.
1998: Kings have winning season, Williams makes All-Rookie Team
In the 1998-99 season, the Kings had their first winning season in nearly 20 years, and Jason Williams was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
1999: Bill Wennington Returns to Kings
Bill Wennington after a successful career with the Chicago Bulls returned to the Kings.
1999: Trading Tariq Abdul-Wahad for Nick Anderson
In 1999, The Kings traded Tariq Abdul-Wahad to the Orlando Magic in exchange for veteran shooting guard Nick Anderson.
1999: End of Sell-Out Streak
In the 2007-08 season, the Kings' streak of selling out every home game since 1999 ended.
1999: Record TV Ratings
The 2023 series drew the highest first- and second-round playoff TV ratings for the NBA since 1999, with game 7 peaking at 11.9 million viewers on ABC.
2000: Bill Wennington's final NBA season
2000 marked Bill Wennington's final season in the NBA after returning to the Kings.
2000: Kings lose to Lakers in playoffs
In 2000, The Kings lost the series 2-3 against the Lakers.
February 2001: Sports Illustrated Cover: "The Greatest Show on Court"
In February 2001, the Sacramento Kings' rising popularity culminated in a Sports Illustrated cover story entitled "The Greatest Show on Court", featuring Williams, Christie, Stojaković, Webber, and Divac.
July 2001: Trade: Jason Williams for Mike Bibby
In July 2001, the Kings traded Jason Williams and Nick Anderson to the Vancouver Grizzlies for Mike Bibby and Brent Price, aiming for stability at point guard.
2001: Successful Season
In the 2001-02 season, the Sacramento Kings had a very successful season, achieving the best record in the NBA at 61-21.
2002: Classic Uniform Unveiled
Ahead of the 2024-25 season, the Kings unveiled their classic uniform as part of the team's 40th season in Sacramento. The style was based on the 2002 to 2008 purple uniform.
2002: Uniform Changes
Before the start of the 2002-03 NBA season, the Kings changed their uniforms once again. This set included a modernized version of the 'Kings' script on the home jersey, and the city name on the purple road jersey.
2002: Western Conference Finals
In 2002, the Kings and Lakers faced each other in the Western Conference Finals, a series marked by controversial calls, particularly in Game 6. The Lakers ultimately won the series in Game 7.
2002: Controversies in the Western Conference Finals
In 2002, the Kings' Western Conference Finals series sparked controversy and debate regarding officiating, with the NBA later reviewing the league's officiating due to allegations.
2002: Bibby Last Western Conference Finals Player
In February, when Bibby was traded, he had been the last player from the Kings team that reached the Western Conference Finals in 2002.
2002: The Famed 2002 Team
The 2004-05 season marked a change for the Kings, who lost three starters from the famed 2002 team.
2003: Chris Webber's Knee Injury
In 2003, Chris Webber sustained a major knee injury during the playoffs, impacting the Kings' performance and requiring major surgery.
2004: Divac Signs with Lakers; Miller Signs with Kings
In 2004, Vlade Divac signed with the Lakers, leading the Kings to sign Brad Miller as their starting center.
2005: End of Classic Script Wordmark
In 1990, this version marked the last time the classic script "Kings" wordmark was used until 2005.
2005: Bobby Jackson Traded; Shareef Abdur-Rahim Acquired
In the 2005 off-season, the Kings traded Bobby Jackson for Bonzi Wells and acquired Shareef Abdur-Rahim as a free agent.
2005: Introduction of Gold Alternate Uniform
In the 2005-06 season, the Kings introduced a gold alternate uniform, featuring the classic script 'Kings' wordmark.
2005: Difficult Season, Chemistry struggles
The 2005-06 season started poorly since the Kings had a hard time establishing team chemistry.
2006: Postseason Drought Begins
In 2006, the Kings began a 16-year streak of losing seasons, also beginning their playoff drought.
2006: Trade: Peja Stojaković for Ron Artest
In 2006, the Kings traded Peja Stojaković for Ron Artest to improve the team, despite initial doubts about Artest's ability to replace Stojaković's production.
2006: Coach Musselman Pleads No Contest to DUI
In the 2006-07 season, Kings' coach Eric Musselman pleaded no contest to DUI charges early in the season, adding to the team's troubles.
2006: Back Jersey Template
Since 2006, the Kings' back jersey template was later adopted by the WNBA and the NBA Development League, as well as the NBA during the All-Star Game.
2007: Kings Miss Playoffs
In 2007, the Kings missed the NBA playoffs, marking the first time in eight seasons they had not qualified.
2007: Attendance Decline
In the 2007-08 season, the Kings' attendance declined, with only three sold-out home games at ARCO Arena and average attendance well below capacity.
2007: Coaching and Roster Changes
The 2007 off-season involved significant changes for the Kings, including Reggie Theus replacing Eric Musselman as head coach, drafting Spencer Hawes, acquiring Mikki Moore, and extending Kevin Martin's contract.
July 29, 2008: Trade: Ron Artest to Houston Rockets
On July 29, 2008, the Kings traded Ron Artest, Patrick Ewing Jr., and Sean Singletary to the Houston Rockets for Bobby Jackson, Donté Greene, a future first-round draft pick, and cash considerations.
2008: Classic Uniform Unveiled
Ahead of the 2024-25 season, the Kings unveiled their classic uniform as part of the team's 40th season in Sacramento. The style was based on the 2002 to 2008 purple uniform.
2008: New Uniform Style
In 2008, the Kings introduced a new style of uniforms, with a modernized 'Kings' script on the road jersey and 'Sacramento' on the home jersey. The numbers are black on both uniforms.
2008: Struggling Kings
In the 2008-09 season, the Kings struggled and ended up with the NBA's worst record.
April 23, 2009: Firing of Kenny Natt and Assistants
On April 23, 2009, the Kings fired interim head coach Kenny Natt and his four assistants due to the team's poor performance.
2009: NBA Draft 2009
In the 2009 NBA draft, the Kings obtained the 4th overall pick and selected Tyreke Evans, along with Omri Casspi.
April 27, 2010: Tyreke Evans Wins Rookie of the Year
On April 27, 2010, Tyreke Evans was the first Sacramento-era player to receive the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, achieving a rare statistical feat.
June 24, 2010: NBA Draft 2010
On June 24, 2010, the Kings selected DeMarcus Cousins with the 5th pick and Hassan Whiteside with the 33rd pick of the 2010 NBA draft.
2010: Relocation Attempt to Anaheim
In 2010, the Maloofs sought to relocate the Kings to Anaheim, but the NBA Board of Governors ended the relocation effort.
2011: Introduction of Black Alternate Uniform
Before the 2011-12 season a black alternate uniform was introduced, sharing the same template as the home and road uniforms, but with the classic script 'Kings' wordmark and silver numbers.
2011: Trade for Jimmer Fredette
In the 2011 NBA draft the Kings traded for the draft rights of Jimmer Fredette and traded away Beno Udrih.
May 16, 2013: Agreement to Sell Kings to Vivek Ranadivé
On May 16, 2013, the Maloof family reached an agreement to sell the Kings to a group led by Vivek Ranadivé for a record NBA franchise valuation.
May 31, 2013: Sale to Ranadivé Group Finalized
On May 31, 2013, the sale of the Kings to the Ranadivé group was finalized, marking a new era for the franchise.
September 23, 2013: Shaquille O'Neal Purchases Minority Share
On September 23, 2013, Shaquille O'Neal purchased a minority share of the Sacramento Kings, jokingly dubbing the team's new organization the "Shaqramento Kings".
2014: Uniform Tweaks
For the 2014-15 season, the Kings made a few tweaks to their home and away uniforms. While the team kept the 2008-era template, they brought back the 1994-2002 "Kings" script from the primary logo on both uniforms, along with purple (home) and white (away) numbers.
May 9, 2016: Dave Joerger Hired as Head Coach
On May 9, 2016, the Sacramento Kings hired former Memphis Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger as head coach.
June 15, 2016: Brand and Uniform Changes
On June 15, 2016, the Kings changed their brand by adopting a logo reminiscent of their 1971-1994 design and unveiled their new uniforms, featuring four designs.
July 10, 2017: Kings Sign Veterans
On July 10, 2017, the Sacramento Kings signed three veteran players: Vince Carter, Zach Randolph, and George Hill.
2017: Jersey Sponsorship
Beginning with the 2017-18 season, the Kings' jerseys will be sponsored by Blue Diamond Growers.
2017: 'City' Uniform Release
Nike released a special edition 'City' uniform in 2017 that pays tribute to both local culture and team heritage. Sacramento's 2017-18 'City' uniforms feature a white and powder blue base with red trim, echoing the road uniform colors the team wore from 1985 to 1990. A recolored lion head logo in red and gray is also emblazoned in front.
2018: 'City' Uniform Tweak
For the 2018-19 season, the Kings tweaked the 'City' uniforms, replacing the lion-head logo with the wordmark 'Sactown'.
2019: Throwback Uniforms
For the 2019-20 season, the Kings brought back their blue uniforms worn from 1990 to 1994 in commemoration of the franchise's 35th season in Sacramento.
2019: 'City' Uniform Design Carried Over with Color Change
The same uniform design was carried over for the 2019-20 season, but with red as the base color and powder blue as the trim color.
August 14, 2020: Vlade Divac Resigns as General Manager
On August 14, 2020, the Sacramento Kings announced that general manager Vlade Divac would resign from his position. Joe Dumars was named interim Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations.
September 17, 2020: Monte McNair Hired as General Manager
On September 17, 2020, the Sacramento Kings announced that Houston Rockets executive Monte McNair would be hired as the franchise's new general manager.
October 14, 2020: Kings Announce Additional Hires
On October 14, 2020, Monte McNair announced three additional hires for the Sacramento Kings: Wes Wilcox as assistant GM, Phil Jabour as vice president of player personnel, and Paul Johnson as director of basketball operations.
2020: "City" Uniform Design
In 2020, the "Sactown" theme was retained for the 2020–21 "City" uniform, but with four design cues taken from prior uniforms. The black base paid homage to the 1994–2002 black uniforms. The checkerboard patterns were taken from their 1994–1997 purple/black alternate uniforms. The powder blue and red trim of the 1985–1990 road uniforms and of previous "City" uniforms were carried over to this design.
November 22, 2021: Luke Walton Fired, Alvin Gentry Replaces Him
On November 22, 2021, head coach Luke Walton was fired after a 6–11 start and was replaced by Alvin Gentry on an interim basis.
2021: Last Time Hosting All-Star Game
As of 2021, the 1966 All-Star game was the last time the franchise hosted an All-Star Game.
2021: "City" Uniform Design
In 2021, the 2021–22 "City" uniform featured references of the Kings' previous uniform designs. The "Sactown" script and off-centered number arrangement paid homage to the Kings uniforms from 1971 to 1994. The black base and purple trim honored the 1994–2002 uniforms, and a modified version of the Rochester Royals' logo on the waist was a tribute to the original incarnation of the franchise.
May 9, 2022: Mike Brown Announced as Head Coach
On May 9, 2022, Golden State Warriors associate head coach Mike Brown was announced as the next head coach of the Sacramento Kings.
2022: "City" Uniform Design
In 2022, the 2022–23 "City" uniform featured a gray base and purple trim, and was inspired by the team's near-relocation in 2012 and eventual sale to Vivek Ranadivé. The gray base was taken from exterior of the team's current home, Golden 1 Center.
2022: End of Losing Seasons Streak
In 2022, the Kings ended their 16 consecutive losing seasons.
February 24, 2023: Kings Beat Clippers in Double Overtime
On February 24, 2023, the Kings beat the Los Angeles Clippers in double-overtime by the final score of 176–175, which was the second-highest scoring game in NBA history. Malik Monk scored a career-high 45 points and De'Aaron Fox had 42 points.
2023: Playoff Series Against Warriors
In 2023, the Kings and Warriors faced off in the first round of the playoffs, resulting in a hard-fought series with controversies and fan scuffles. The Warriors defeated the Kings in seven games to advance to the semifinals.
2023: End of Postseason Drought
In 2023, the Kings ended their postseason drought, which had been the longest active drought in the four major North American sports.
2023: "City" Uniform Design
The 2023–24 "City" uniform was heavily inspired by the Cincinnati Royals uniforms worn in the late 1960s, featuring a vertically arranged "Kings" wordmark in a white stripe, red borders, silver sleeve stripes, and blue base. The uniform commemorated the centennial anniversary of the franchise, dating back to its early years as the Rochester Seagrams.
2023: Updated Uniform Set Announced
The Kings announced an updated uniform set ahead of the 2023-24 season. The most notable change was that black became the primary color and purple relegated to accent color, along with a new 'Kings' script heavily inspired by the team's uniforms from 1972 to 1994. The 'Statement' uniform drew inspiration from the alternate uniforms worn from 1994 to 1997, largely featuring purple with a black gradient along with purple and black checkerboard patterns on each side.
2024: Classic Uniform Unveiled
Ahead of the 2024-25 season, the Kings unveiled their classic uniform as part of the team's 40th season in Sacramento. The style was based on the 2002 to 2008 purple uniform.
2024: Value of Entry Fee
In 2024, the $25,000 entry fee to start the Rochester Royals franchise in 1945 is equivalent to $436,645.
2024: "City" Uniform Design
In 2024, the Cincinnati theme was revisited in the 2024–25 "City" uniform, with the "Kings" block lettering based on the team's warmup jackets in the late 1960s.
February 2025: Kings Trade De'Aaron Fox to Spurs
In February 2025, the Kings completed a three-team trade, sending De'Aaron Fox to the Spurs while acquiring Zach LaVine from the Bulls, Sidy Cissoko and a haul of draft picks.
