Top 5 One-Year Wonders In Sacramento Kings History

Bonzi Wells – 2005-’06

Like other players on our list, Bonzi Wells enjoyed a career resurgence with the Kings. He averaged 13.6 points per game during the 2005-’06 season, which was his highest total in four years, and nearly led the team in rebounds with 7.7 per. But he played in just 52 games due to injury, and shot an abysmal 22 percent from deep. He was the fifth leading scorer on a team that was in an obvious decline.

But it was Wells’ performance in the playoffs that year that give him a shoo-in spot on this list. The Kings lost in the opening series of the postseason to the San Antonio Spurs, but the contests were competitive and there was even a signature moment for the Kings with Kevin Martin‘s game-winning layup. Wells was arguably Sacramento’s best player in the series, averaging 23.2 points and an outstanding 12 rebounds per in the six-game series.

His signature performance, and possibly the best one of his career, came in Game 5. Wells scored 38 points on 13 of 20 from the field including a perfect 3 for 3 from behind the line. He made 9 of his 12 free throws as well. He also pulled down 12 rebounds, 3 of them offensive. Unfortunately, the Kings lost by 11.

That outstanding performance came on the heels of a 25 point, 17 rebound one in Game 5. Wells might have been a flash in the pan, but he was a big reason the Kings were even competitive in the most recent playoff series they ever played.