NBA Power Rankings: Where do the Kings sit in a revamped Western Conference?
Feb 20, 2023, 7:00 AM | Updated: 8:28 am
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
And just like that, the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend has officially passed.
The past three days in Salt Lake City have been monumental for the Sacramento Kings, sending four players to Utah (De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Kevin Huerter). Sacramento also got to celebrate the city’s first two All-Stars (Fox and Sabonis) to make the event simultaneously since the 2003-04 season.
But with 25 games remaining in the regular season, the real work starts now for The Beam Team.
Let’s take a closer look at how the Kings match-up with the rest of the Western Conference heading into the postseason.
Where do the Sacramento Kings rank?
Power Ranking: 5
Record: 32-25
The Sacramento Kings have been the cinderella story of the NBA this season.
Going from perpetual banishment of any sense of basketball relevance, to a playoff contender vying for home-court advantage in Round 1 of the playoffs, the Kings have restored a new hope for the city of Sacramento.
De’Aaron Fox has been on another level this season, scoring the most clutch baskets in the NBA (40). While Sabonis has recaptured his All-Star form from Indiana to create a dynamic one-two punch with De’Aaron in Sactown. Throw in a high-upside sharpshooter in Keegan Murray, and a strong supporting cast, head coach Mike Brown has created a fun basketball team in the 916.
So why are they not higher on the rankings? Here’s why: Strength of Schedule
Sacramento has one of the toughest slates to end the regular season, starting with the Trail Blazers, Clippers and Thunder in four days. After that: Pretty much every team in the hunt for playoff positioning in 2023.
With no time to take games off, the Kings could have some late-season fatigue set in for this relatively young group. Plus, general manager Monte McNair and the front office failed to address the backup big spot for the team, a glaring hole in the rotation.
Every Kings fan should feel proud of what Mike Brown has accomplished in less than a full season. No one would have had Sacramento this high on the rankings six months ago, i.e. progress.
The Rest of the Western Conference Rankings
1. Denver Nuggets (41-18)
2. Phoenix Suns (32-28)
3. Los Angeles Clippers (33-28)
4. Memphis Grizzlies (35-22)
5. Sacramento Kings (32-25)
6. New Orleans Pelicans (30-29)
7. Dallas Mavericks (31-29)
8. Oklahoma City Thunder (28-29)
9. Golden State Warriors (29-29)
10. Minnesota Timberwolves (31-30)
11. Portland Trail Blazers (28-30)
12. Los Angeles Lakers (27-32)
13. Utah Jazz (29-31)
14. San Antonio Spurs (14-45)
15. Houston Rockets (13-45)
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