The last Sacramento Kings players to ___ in an NBA Playoff game are…
Apr 11, 2023, 10:26 AM | Updated: 3:08 pm
(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
Seventeen years. That’s a long time. The Sacramento Kings will make their long-awaited return to the NBA Playoffs on Saturday, marking the first time since May 5, 2006 that the franchise took the floor in a postseason game.
Once Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors is underway, the Kings will begin adding to its postseason statistics after nearly two decades of staring at previous box scores from the early 2000s teams that experienced eight-straight years of playoff basketball.
Who was the most recent King to score in a playoff game? How about scoring 20 or more points?
Let’s take a look.
Score in a Playoff Game
The last Sacramento Kings player to score in an NBA Playoff game was Vitaly Potapenko (May 5, 2006).
That’s right. Not Mike Bibby. Not Kevin Martin. Not Brad Miller. Vitaly Potapenko, a 6’10 big man that logged just 45 minutes of playing time over 12 regular season appearances with Sacramento during the 2005-07 seasons.
During a blowout 105-83 loss in Game 6 of a first-round matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, Potapenko knocked down a two-footer with 51 seconds remaining in what would be the Kings’ final playoff game for 17 years.
Potapenko retired from the NBA in 2007.
Make a Three-Point Field Goal in a Playoff Game
Kevin Martin was the last Kings to make a three-point field goal in an NBA Playoff game.
Martin drilled a triple with 3.6 seconds remaining in the third quarter of Game 6 against San Antonio on May 5, 2006.
The then-second-year guard went on to play with Sacramento until the 2009-10 season, when he was traded to the Houston Rockets in return for Carl Landry. Martin retired from the NBA in 2016.
Score 20+ AND 30+ points in a Playoff Game
Bonzi Wells had an incredible playoff run in 2006, and the forward is the most recent Kings to score 20 or more points in a playoff game.
Not only is Wells the last King to score 20+ points in a postseason game, but he’s also the most recent player to score 30+ points for the franchise during the NBA Playoffs.
Wells scored 38 points during Game 5 against the San Antonio Spurs on May 2, 2006–a 109-98 Spurs win at the AT&T Center.
During the six-game series, Wells averaged 23.2 points and 12.o rebounds per game while shooting 60 percent from the field and 62 percent from three-point range.
Wells last appeared in an NBA game during the 2007-08 season.
Finish a Playoff Game with 10+ Rebounds
You guessed it:
Bonzi Wells, who pulled down 11 rebounds during the Game 6 loss to San Antonio on May 5, 2006. Wells is also the last King to post a double-double in an NBA Playoff game, as he also finished the contest with 17 points.
Make a Game-Winner in the Playoffs
Kings fans know this moment well.
Kevin Martin’s buzzer-beating lay-in against the Spurs in Game 3 (April 28, 2006) will always be remembered in Sacramento.
Make Four or More Three-Point Field Goals in a Playoff Game
This one might surprise you.
Metta World Peace is the last King to make 4+ three-point field goals during an NBA Playoff game. The forward made four triples during Sacramento’s Game 5 loss on May 2, 2006.
With sharpshooters Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter on this year’s squad, expect this mark to get surpassed quickly during the upcoming series with Golden State.
Finish a Playoff Game with 20+ Rebounds
No player in the Sacramento era (1985-present) has finished an NBA Playoff game with 20 or more rebounds.
Sam Lacey did so back on April 13, 1975 when the franchise was located in Kansas City-Omaha. The most rebounds by a player in the Sacramento era?
Bonzi Wells, who grabbed 17 boards during a Game 4 win over San Antonio on April 30, 2006.
All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis finished 18 games this season with 15+ rebounds, and five games with 20+ rebounds
Finish a Playoff Game with 10+ Assists
Mike Bibby handed out 10 assists during a 122-118 loss to the Seattle SuperSonice in Game 5 of the first round on May 3, 2005.
Finish a Playoff Game with a Triple-Double
Only one player in the Sacramento era has finished an NBA Playoff game with a triple-double:
Chris Webber, who did so on April 20, 2004 during an 83-79 win over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the first round. Webber finished the game with 19 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists
Sabonis is another player to watch in this category, as the big man posted 14 triple-doubles this season, tying Webber’s Kings career total in triple-doubles.
Sacramento Kings Schedule
NBA Western Conference Playoffs – First Round
- Saturday, April 15th – Game 1: Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors – 5:30 PM PST
Upcoming NBA Postseason Schedule
NBA Play-In Tournament takes place April 11-14th
- Tuesday, April 11th – Atlanta Hawks (8) vs. Miami Heat (7) – 4:30 PM PST
- Tuesday, April 11th – Minnesota Timberwolves (8) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7) – 7:00 PM PST
- Wednesday, April 12th – Chicago Bulls (10) vs. Toronto Raptors (9) – 4:30 PM PST
- Wednesday, April 12th – Oklahoma City Thunder (10) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (9) – 6:30 PM PST
- Friday, April 14th – Matchups TBD
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