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 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 championsNBA championsConference championsDivision championsPlayoff berthPlay-in berth

Season League Conference Finish Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Playoffs Awards Head coachRochester Royals1945–46 NBL — — Eastern 2nd 24 10 .706 2 Won Division semifinals (Zollner Pistons) 3–1Won NBL Championship (Red Skins) 3–0 Red Holzman (ROY) Lester Harrison1946–47 NBL — — Eastern 1st 31 13 .705 — Won Opening Round (Nationals) 3–1 Won Division semifinals (Zollner Pistons) 2–1 Lost NBL Championship (American Gears) 3–1 Bob Davies (MVP)1947–48 NBL — — Eastern 1st 44 16 .733 — Won Opening Round (Zollner Pistons) 3–1 Won Division semifinals (Duffey Packers) 2–1 Lost NBL Championship (Lakers) 3–1 1948–49 BAA — — Western 1st 45 15 .750 — Won Division semifinals (Bombers) 2–0Lost 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) 2–1Won Division finals (Lakers) 3–1Won NBA Finals (Knicks) 4–3 1951–52 NBA — — Western 1st 41 25 .621 — Won Division semifinals (Pistons) 2–0Lost 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 round-robin Divisional Semifinals 2–1Lost Division finals (Lakers) 2–11954–55 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 Wanzer1956–57 NBA — — Western 4th 31 41 .431 3 Cincinnati Royals1957–58 NBA — — Western 3rd 33 39 .458 8 Lost Division semifinals (Pistons) 2–0 Bobby Wanzer1958–59 NBA — — Western 4th 19 53 .264 30 Bobby WanzerTom Marshall1959–60 NBA — — Western 4th 19 56 .253 27 Tom Marshall1960–61 NBA — — Western 4th 33 46 .418 18 Oscar Robertson (ROY, ASG MVP) Charles Wolf1961–62 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) 3–2Lost Division finals (Celtics) 4–3 1963–64 NBA — — Eastern 2nd 55 25 .688 4 Won Division semifinals (76ers) 3–2Lost Division finals (Celtics) 4–1 Oscar Robertson (MVP, ASG MVP) Jerry Lucas (ROY) Jack McMahon1964–65 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 Jucker1968–69 NBA — — Eastern 5th 41 41 .500 16 Oscar Robertson (ASG MVP)1969–70 NBA — — Eastern 5th 36 46 .439 24 Bob Cousy1970–71 NBA Eastern 6th Central 3rd 33 49 .402 9 1971–72 NBA Eastern 6th Central 3rd 30 52 .366 8 Kansas City–Omaha Kings1972–73 NBA Western 7th Midwest 4th 36 46 .439 24 Joe Axelson (EOY) Bob Cousy1973–74 NBA Western 7th Midwest 4th 33 49 .402 26 Bob CousyDraff YoungPhil Johnson1974–75 NBA Western 3rd Midwest 2nd 44 38 .537 3 Lost conference semifinals (Bulls) 4–2 Phil Johnson (COY) Phil JohnsonKansas City Kings1975–76 NBA Western 8th Midwest 3rd 31 51 .378 7 Phil Johnson1976–77 NBA Western 7th Midwest 4th 40 42 .488 10 1977–78 NBA Western 11th Midwest 5th 31 51 .378 17 Phil JohnsonLarry Staverman1978–79 NBA Western 2nd Midwest 1st 48 34 .585 — Lost conference semifinals (Suns) 4–1 Phil Ford (ROY) Cotton Fitzsimmons (COY) Cotton Fitzsimmons1979–80 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) 2–1Won conference semifinals (Suns) 4–3Lost 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 McKinneyPhil JohnsonSacramento Kings1985–86 NBA Western 7th Midwest 5th 37 45 .451 14 Lost First round (Rockets) 3–0 Phil Johnson1986–87 NBA Western 10th Midwest 5th 29 53 .354 26 Phil JohnsonJerry Reynolds1987–88 NBA Western 10th Midwest 6th 24 58 .293 30 Bill RussellJerry Reynolds1988–89 NBA Western 10th Pacific 6th 27 55 .329 30 Jerry Reynolds1989–90 NBA Western 12th Pacific 7th 23 59 .280 40 Jerry ReynoldsDick Motta1990–91 NBA Western 13th Pacific 7th 25 57 .305 38 Dick Motta1991–92 NBA Western 10th Pacific 7th 29 53 .354 28 Dick MottaRex Hughes1992–93 NBA Western 11th Pacific 7th 25 57 .305 37 Garry St. Jean1993–94 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. JeanEddie Jordan1997–98 NBA Western 9th Pacific 5th 27 55 .329 34 Eddie Jordan1998–99 NBA Western 6th Pacific 3rd 27 23 .540 8 Lost First round (Jazz) 3–2 Geoff Petrie (EOY) Rick Adelman1999–00 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) 3–1Lost conference semifinals (Lakers) 4–0 Geoff Petrie (EOY)2001–02 NBA Western 1st Pacific 1st 61 21 .744 — Won First round (Jazz) 3–1Won conference semifinals (Mavericks) 4–1Lost conference finals (Lakers) 4–3 2002–03 NBA Western 2nd Pacific 1st 59 23 .720 — Won First round (Jazz) 4–1Lost conference semifinals (Mavericks) 4–3 Bobby Jackson (SMOY)2003–04 NBA Western 4th Pacific 2nd 55 27 .672 1 Won First round (Mavericks) 4–1Lost 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 Musselman2007–08 NBA Western 11th Pacific 4th 38 44 .463 19 Reggie Theus2008–09 NBA Western 15th Pacific 5th 17 65 .207 48 Reggie TheusKenny Natt2009–10 NBA Western 14th Pacific 5th 25 57 .305 32 Tyreke Evans (ROY) Paul Westphal2010–11 NBA Western 14th Pacific 5th 24 58 .293 33 2011–12 NBA Western 14th Pacific 5th 22 44 .333 19 Paul WestphalKeith Smart2012–13 NBA Western 13th Pacific 4th 28 54 .341 28 Keith Smart2013–14 NBA Western 13th Pacific 4th 28 54 .341 29 Michael Malone2014–15 NBA Western 13th Pacific 4th 29 53 .354 38 Michael MaloneTyrone CorbinGeorge Karl2015–16 NBA Western 10th Pacific 3rd 33 49 .402 40 George Karl2016–17 NBA Western 12th Pacific 3rd 32 50 .390 35 Dave Joerger2017–18 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 Walton2020–21 NBA Western 12th Pacific 5th 31 41 .431 21 2021–22 NBA Western 12th Pacific 5th 30 52 .366 34 Luke WaltonAlvin Gentry2022–23 NBA Western 3rd Pacific 1st 48 34 .585 — Lost First round (Warriors) 4–3 Mike Brown (COY)Monte McNair (EOY)Mike Brown2023–24 NBA Western 9th Pacific 4th 46 36 .561 5 2024–25 NBA Western 10th Pacific 4th 40 42 .488 10 Mike Brown Doug Christie2025–26 NBA Western 14th Pacific 5th 22 60 .268 31 Doug Christie

All-time records NBA records StatisticWinsLossesWin%Regular season record (1948–present)2,8003,359Post-season record (1948–present)83111All-time regular and post-season record2,8933,470 Sacramento Kings at Basketball ReferenceSacramento Kings at Land of Basketball

NBL records StatisticWinsLossesWin%Regular season record (1945–1948)9939Post-season record (1945–1948)1811All-time regular and post-season record11750 NBL records at Basketball ReferenceRochester Royals at Basketball Reference

Notes

References