Covering the Sacramento Kings for
@Sactown1140
👑 | Co-host of the Return of the Roar podcast🎙️| Probably (definitely) the shortest member of Kings media
Still not fully ready to head into the offseason, but I just wanted to take a second to thank you all.
To anyone who took the time to read my work, listen on the air, or engage with me here: Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I'm so grateful for this job. Can't wait for the fall.
Two All-Stars.
Coach of the Year.
Clutch Player of the Year.
All-Rookie play from Keegan Murray.
All-NBA-level seasons for De'Aaron Fox & Domantas Sabonis.
First playoff appearance in 17 years.
First Pacific Division clinch in 20 years.
The birth of the Beam.
The 2022-23 Kings…
Domantas Sabonis is on track to make history.
In his first full season with the Kings, Sabonis is averaging 19.2 points, 12.5 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game while shooting 61% FG.
Only one other player in NBA history has averaged 19+ points, 12+ rebounds and 7+ assists on…
It all comes down to one game.
If the Sacramento Kings want to clinch their NBA In-Season Tournament group, they’ll have to beat the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday at Golden 1 Center.
Draymond Green’s return. NBA Playoff rematch. TNT.
Here we go 🍿
Keegan Murray on this exchange with his twin brother, Kris:
"He was just being annoying, telling me how many offensive rebounds he was getting."
Kris finished the night with a career-high 18 rebounds.
What shouldn't be lost in the shuffle during tonight's action:
Richaun Holmes was a consummate professional during his time with the Kings, even when things got tough.
The entire Holmes family will forever have fans in Sacramento.
Let's check in on Domantas Sabonis' league rankings...
▪️ Rebounds (1st)
▪️ Rebounds per game (1st)
▪️ Double-doubles (1st)
▪️ Offensive Rating (2nd)
▪️ Win Shares (3rd)
▪️ Triple-Doubles (T-3rd)
▪️ Assists (7th)
▪️ Field Goal % (9th)
All-Star. All-NBA. All of it. 🐂
De'Aaron Fox is playing like an All-Star.
Tyrese Haliburton is playing like an All-Star.
Domantas Sabonis is playing like an All-Star.
The Sacramento Kings are 9-6 and in the 5th spot in the West.
The Indiana Pacers are 9-6 and in the 5th spot in the East.
What a trade.
Charles Barkley just said that he would have selected Domantas Sabonis over Zion Williamson as a starter, adding that the starter voting process is "a popularity contest."
The Sacramento Kings are 40-26.
The Sacramento Kings are the 2nd seed in the West.
The Sacramento Kings own the best road record in the West.
The Sacramento Kings own the top offense in the NBA.
The Sacramento Kings are good.
De’Aaron Fox is the only Kings player in FRANCHISE HISTORY to post 40+ points, 10+ assists and 5+ steals in a single game.
Not Robertson. Not Webber. Not Richmond.
Fox.
Just an unreal run that he’s been on over the past 6 games:
34.7 PTS | 4.5 REB | 6.7 AST | 1.8 STL
Keegan Murray said that he had to buy Chick-Fil-A for the team before every road trip this season as part of his rookie duties.
“It was like $300 every road trip, so that kind of hurt.”
And yes, he smiled while telling us this information.
One year ago today, the Sacramento Kings sat in the 13th spot in the Western Conference with a record of 22-36.
Today, the Kings are 32-24—3rd in the West—with two All-Star representatives, the best road record in the conference and the league’s top offense 👑
On a night when the main storyline was supposed to be Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving, De'Aaron Fox put Sacramento on his back with another incredible closing effort.
12 points in the fourth. 14 points in OT.
36 points in a big win for the Kings.
That's an All-Star, folks 🦊
Monte McNair HAS to have a shot at winning Executive of the Year, right?
▪️The Domantas Sabonis trade has been a massive success
▪️Hired Mike Brown—the favorite for Coach of the Year
▪️Selected Keegan Murray
▪️Traded for Kevin Huerter
▪️Signed Malik Monk
▪️Made under the radar…
Domantas Sabonis will likely finish the year with numbers that have only been met or exceeded by Wilt Chamberlain and Nikola Jokic in NBA history, but he isn't good enough to be an All-Star.
Make it make sense.
4th overall pick.
Summer League MVP.
Rising Stars Team.
Rookie of the Month winner (2x).
Rookie 3PT record holder.
All-Rookie 1st Team.
Keegan Murray with a rookie season for the books.
This current Golden State Warriors core--Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr--had NEVER trailed 0-2 in an NBA Playoff series...
...until facing the Sacramento Kings.
According to a league source, the Sacramento Kings will have 10 nationally broadcasted games in 2023-24, including the team’s home opener (Date & opponent TBA).
Last season, the Sacramento opened its schedule with five nationally telecasted games.
Keegan Murray says he’s been training with De’Aaron Fox this season and the two have been playing 1-on-1 everyday.
When asked if he’s beaten Fox yet, Murray laughed and said he’s been getting close.
Giants ace Logan Webb says he’s started to turn some of his teammates into Sacramento Kings fans.
Alex Cobb and Ryan Walker are some of the newest Kings fans, per Webb.
The Sacramento Kings desperately needed to add shooting to its roster last summer.
Monte McNair said, “Sure. How about 400+ triples?”
Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter have both eclipsed the 200-made 3PT FG mark this season 🔥
Rookie leaders in made 3PT FG:
K. Murray - 66
B. Mathurin & J. Smith Jr. - 59
Rookie leaders in 3PT% (min. 70 attempts)
K. Murray - .386
A. Nembhard - .383
Rookie leaders in games with 4+ 3PT FG makes:
K. Murray - 6 games
B. Mathurin - 4 games
Keegan Murray.
Bleacher Report’s 2017 re-draft:
1. Jayson Tatum
2. Donovan Mitchell
3. Bam Adebayo
4. Lonzo Ball
5. John Collins
6. De’Aaron Fox
7. Jarrett Allen
8. OG Anunoby
9. Jonathan Isaac
10. Derrick White
11. Lauri Markkanen
12. Monte Morris
13. Kyle Kuzma
14. Luke Kennard
The Sacramento Kings 2023-24 roster:
De'Aaron Fox
Kevin Huerter
Harrison Barnes
Keegan Murray
Domantas Sabonis
Davion Mitchell
Malik Monk
Chris Duarte
Sasha Vezenkov
Trey Lyles
Nerlens Noel
Alex Len
Kessler Edwards
Colby Jones
Keon Ellis (Two-way contract)
Jalen…
De'Aaron Fox said that Tyrese Haliburton texted the Kings group chat that he had been traded before the news broke, and that nobody believed him at first.
It might take some time for me to really absorb how special this Kings season was.
All-Star seasons from De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
A strong rookie season for Keegan Murray.
The Mike Brown Coach-of-the-Year effect.
Fox for Clutch Player of the Year.
End of the Drought.…
Very cool scene in Sacramento, as Domantas Sabonis breaks Kevin Love’s 53-game double-double streak.
The chant, a video montage, message from owner Vivek Ranadive and embrace from head coach Mike Brown.
Monte McNair has made his decision.
De'Aaron Fox is Sacramento's franchise guard.
Domantas Sabonis is a GREAT player. Top-5 big in the game. Adding him is a massive win for the future of this team.
But man, seeing Tyrese go is not an easy pill to swallow.
WE ARE GOING BACK TO SACRAMENTO, FOLKS.
GAME 7.
What a response from the Kings. Wow. They come into Chase Center and pick up their first win in the building since February 2020.
Light the beam.
My favorite Sacramento Kings moment from 2023 didn’t even take place during a game.
A sold-out crowd fully seated 20 minutes before player introductions. First playoff game in 17 years.
An ovation that still gives me chills.
Looking forward to more memories in 2024 🎆
Rookies with 4+ made three-point field goals in a single game this season:
Keegan Murray - 17 games
Andrew Nembhard - 4 games
Bennedict Mathurn - 4 games
Jaden Ivey - 4 games
🎯
This Kings vs Rockets game was scratched from an ESPN broadcast so that Suns vs Nuggets could take its place.
Kings 96
Rockets 96
Q4 - 10:00
Nuggets 100
Suns 75
End 3Q
Great choice, ESPN!
De’Aaron Fox says that Sasha Vezenkov is up there with “the best shooters in the world.”
Fox said that during a recent three-point drill, he watched Vezenkov miss just 7 shots out of 150.
A packed Oakland Coliseum stood in silence during the first at bat of the top of the 5th inning to honor 55 years of A’s baseball in the Bay Area.
Then, both A’s and
#SFGiants
fans sounded off with another message to team owner John Fisher.
Not a bad offseason for the Sacramento Kings thus far.
▪️ Draft Colby Jones and Jalen Slawson
▪️ Extend Harrison Barnes
▪️ Trade for Chris Duarte
▪️ Retain Trey Lyles, Alex Len
▪️ Sign Sasha Vezenkov
▪️ Domantas Sabonis extension
Monte McNair inherited a train wreck, drafted well, made one of the boldest trades in recent NBA history and turned the Kings from a laughing stock into a legit playoff contender in the West.
The man deserves his props, along with a new contract.
During his All-Star media session, De'Aaron Fox said he's been telling Keegan Murray that his growth will be important to Sacramento's ability to compete for a championship someday.
Fox pointed to how the league's best teams have talented wings before referencing Murray's…
The Sacramento Kings on December 31, 2021:
▪️Record: 15-22
▪️11th place in the West
▪️13.5 GB of
#1
seed
▪️109.4 PTS/G (12th in NBA)
The Sacramento Kings on December 31, 2022:
▪️Record: 19-15
▪️5th place in the West
▪️3.5 GB of
#1
seed
▪️118.3 PTS/G (2nd in NBA)
📈📈📈
Malik Monk. Your Sixth Man of the Year.
35 points in the second half.
18 points in the 4th.
39 points on the night.
When the Kings needed him most, he came through big time.
Sacramento started the game 8/12 (67%) from three-point range during the first quarter.
They went on to shoot 2/23 (8%) from deep during the final three quarters.
There's your ballgame.
Noted Lakers fan Shannon Sharpe wants nothing to do with the Sacramento Kings come the postseason:
“I don’t want to see those Kings in the playoffs. I don’t want to see them in the Play-In Tournament… I don’t want to see the Kings no more.”
Keegan Murray's 26-point third quarter is the most points scored by a Sacramento King in a single quarter in franchise HISTORY.
(Per Stathead with data going back to 1996).
The Sacramento Kings haven’t raised a banner in 20 years.
They’ll have a chance to clinch its first Pacific Division championship since 2003 on Sunday.
It should be a special day for the Kings, who will be playing its first home game since snapping the playoff drought 🥹
De’Aaron Fox is the first Kings player in the Sacramento era (1985-present) to score 30+ points in five-straight games, breaking a tie with Chris Webber, DeMarcus Cousins and Mitch Richmond (four straight games).
Tiny Archibald was the most recent player in franchise history to…
Mike Brown did what no other Kings coach could do during a 17-year stretch:
Win.
Brown has instilled a winning culture in Sacramento, and this organization is on an upward trajectory thanks to his contributions on the floor and in the locker room.
Coach of the Year.
New uniforms.
An All-NBA duo.
No more playoff drought.
Deepest roster in 20 years.
22 games on national TV.
More Beam.
Very excited for the 2023-24 season of Sacramento Kings basketball.
52 days until the preseason opener ⏰
Sacramento entered the NBA All-Star break with a record of 32-25.
The Kings are 15-5 since returning from the break, which is tied for the best post-All-Star-break record in the NBA, along with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ending the year strong.
The Sacramento Kings (12-10) have the best road record in the Western Conference and the fifth-best road record in the NBA.
Sacramento is the ONLY team in the West with a winning record on the road 🤯
What is happening?
For the first time in 20 years, the Sacramento Kings are Pacific Division champions 🏆
A 16-season playoff drought--OVER.
A 20-year division title drought--OVER.
Special season.