Sacramento Kings secure first Pacific Division title since 2003

Apr 4, 2023, 7:18 PM | Updated: Apr 5, 2023, 7:38 am

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings reacts after making a ba...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

The Sacramento Kings brought its streak of 16 seasons without a playoff berth to an end on Wednesday night, but they had an even more extended drought to take care of on Sunday.

For the first time since 2003–that’s right, 20 years–the Kings have been crowned as Pacific Division champions following a 121-103 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

The win also locks Sacramento into a top-three spot in the Western Conference standings.

𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐-𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂 𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐀𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

🟣🔦‼️ pic.twitter.com/ImQAT2YW1w

— X – Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) April 5, 2023

Thanks to an incredible season that has included two All-Star appearances (De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis), an All-Rookie talent (Keegan Murray), a talented supporting cast, a historic offense, and a Coach of the Year candidate (Mike Brown), the Kings have become the feel-good story of the 2022-23 NBA season.

It’s been a long road back to the postseason for Sacramento, one that has nearly spanned two decades as the franchise spun its wheels for years. From battling relocation to going through 14 head coaches over 16 seasons, times were rough in the 916, but the dark cloud over the organization has finally cleared.

NBA Playoffs. Pacific Division champions.

From 2006 to 2022, Sacramento posted a record of 467-809 (.366) while falling short in the Pacific Division year after year–but that doesn’t matter today.

The Division-champion Kings will finally get to add a banner to the Golden 1 Center rafters–the franchise’s first in 20 years.

Next Game

Sacramento will play the second leg of a back-to-back on Wednesday night when they face the reeling Dallas Mavericks. A Kings win over Dallas could push the Mavs further out of the Play-In picture.

Be sure to get all of your Kings vs. Mavs coverage right here on Sactown Sports 1140 beginning at 4:00 PM PST on Game Night with Scott Marsh and Henry ‘The High Flyer’ Turner before a 5:30 PM PST tip-off from downtown Dallas.