As of this writing, the Sacramento Kings are on the doorstep of ending a drought of 16 straight seasons without a playoff berth. This will also end the longest drought of not making a postseason in North American sports. After a decade and a half of bad draft picks, horrible free agent signings, uninspired head coaching hires and Vlade (bleep)ing Divac as GM, the Kings have a ray of hope for their future.
So, you probably have that one question on your mind that always wanted to be answered. If you didn't, then that's okay. The question is how a person living in the middle of Phoenix Suns country can became a fan of their least successful rival? Well, I'm about to tell you that story.
In the late 80's, little A.J. was becoming a sports fanatic. He was learning about the four major professional sports in North America. While watching Suns games, they would play some against the Sacramento Kings in Arco Arena. I don't know, but something about Arco Arena gives you an aura of a franchise who can become one of the greatest. Could be the sellout crowds every game? It caught my eye and at the time, didn't really think much about it.
The year is 1992, and I just witnessed the greatest basketball game of all-time. Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Portland had a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, then the Bulls make a furious comeback and win their second straight title. I was rooting for Chicago, because of Michael Jordan. Was I really a Bulls fan? No, not really. I was just seeing a dynasty in the making as the Bulls would win another title the next season. After witnessing that classic game, the draft was around the corner. It featured talent as Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning and Christian Laettner. This was also the first NBA draft that I would actually pay attention to. During that August, I would start junior high and had hoop dreams, just like the movie. I also had football and baseball dreams, too. During that school year, I met up with some people who were into sports like me.
This is where my nerdiness comes in. I had an imaginary draft between the best players of the school. The best player went to the Dallas Mavericks, the second went to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The third player was a big dude and went to the Washington Bullets. This is when I was selected by the Sacramento Kings at four. See that, I didn't even think I was the best player in the school. I was fourth best. The rest of the draft is a blur to me. From there, I have kind of kept my eye on the Kings.
So, you are asking that this is the moment when A.J. became a Sacramento Kings fan? Nope, it gets complicated. Follow with me.
As I entered high school, my hoop dreams were all but vanished. I met some people who enjoyed sports as much as I do. I still kept my eye on the Kings during this time and throughout that time, the team was starting to get better, for once. Sacramento drafted Peja Stojakovic and Jason Williams, traded for Chris Webber, Doug Christie and signed Vlade Divac. They added Rick Adelman as head coach and actually made a bold move by trading J-Will to Memphis for Mike Bibby. And that is how the Sacramento Kings became "The Greatest Show On Court." They were the talk of the league. So much so that they were featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The Sacramento Kings were about to make history, as I watched afar.
Then came the game. Yes, that game. I won't go into detail about it and I'm trying to keep this positive and not say how Tim Donaghy should suffer in the fiery depths of Hell, there was a Game 7. The Kings were tough, but the Lakers came out victorious. 2002 was supposed to be the year. They could have defeated the New Jersey Nets in the Finals. Unfortunately, could have doesn't win you championships. The Kings would continue to be contenders until 2006. I still watched from afar, hoping for a neverending run at the playoffs. Towards the end of the 2000's, Sacramento went back to the doldrums of mediocrity.
In 2010, I decided to open a Facebook account and wanted to show what my interests were on the account. Favorite sports teams was one of those. I chose the Phoenix Suns, because they were the home team and I forgave them. (Side note: I'll elaborate more on this at a later date.) I finally decided to stop hiding and watching afar on something I should have been watching up close to begin with. The Sacramento Kings are my favorite team. After they drafted DeMarcus Cousins in 2010, I figured that they would improve in five years. The franchise has made a lot of missteps.......like a LOT of missteps during that time. Many head coaches were shafted, free agent signings underperformed, bad draft pick after bad draft pick (Thomas Robinson over Damien Lillard, anyone?), general managers thrown to the wasteside and a near move to Seattle is what has occurred during those thirteen years since my epiphany.
And now, I am finishing up this piece on the night the Sacramento Kings clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2006. To put that into perspective, I was in my 20's the last time they made the playoffs. This moment should turn the corner for a franchise that deserves success and can achieve it. Hopefully, they won't have to wait another sixteen years for another trip to the postseason.
Let's pray that this doesn't happen.
(Coming soon: How A.J. Forgave The Phoenix Suns)
(The Real Sports Marks AZ sent out our prayers to the people who lost family members in the Nashville school shooting this week.)
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