From their earliest days as a franchise in Rochester to their present-day home in Sacramento, the Kings have worn a multitude of jerseys that have sparked strong opinions among fans.
Regardless, the Royals-turned-Kings have had some iconic jerseys that will be remembered throughout their entire history.
Here are the five best jerseys the Kings have ever worn.
5. Sacramento Kings 2019-20 City
Paying homage to Sacramento’s nickname – Sactown – the 2019-20 city jersey sported by the Kings is completely unique to any other jersey in their history. In the past, the Kings have rocked with white, blue, black, and their signature purple – but never a red jersey. Seeing De’Aaron Fox glide past everyone else in a well-put-together red jersey is a sight every fan loved to see.
It feels like a breath of fresh air. Seeing something different is always a welcome sight, and the red mixed with the streaks of blue and white throughout the jersey gave a welcome alternate during that season.
4. Kansas City Kings 1974-76 Away
Back in the early 70s, the Kings were briefly called the Kansas City-Omaha Kings. They played in both cities but eventually dropped Omaha after not playing many games there. Despite all that confusion, they still had some great jerseys.
The royal blue color is an iconic Kings color – paying homage, of course, to their time as the Royals, as well as being the main color associated with the organization until their switch to their now-famous purple. The accents of red and white tie it together perfectly, and the crown to dot the “i” in “Kings” is a well-designed addition. This jersey is a classic in the franchise and is even part of the inspiration being the beloved 2019-20 Classic Jersey.
3. Sacramento Kings 1994-97 Alternate
In 1994, the Kings began their transition to their iconic purple color, starting with this alternate jersey. That alone is enough for this jersey to make the list of the greatest Kings jerseys, but it doesn’t stop at that important history lesson.
The jersey is incredibly unique, with a checkered pattern down the side and a slice of black that is reminiscent of older Royals jerseys. Any jersey that is iconic enough to inspire a hardwood classic replication is worthy of being on this list.
2. Sacramento Kings 1985-90 Away
1985 is important in the Kings franchise for a very specific reason – it is the year they relocated to Sacramento. Looking to make a statement after the move, the Kings came out with a fun yet bold baby blue jersey.
This jersey kept the same concepts of blue that the Kings had always donned but put a new twist on it. The clean red outlines fit the white wording perfectly, and the way they match so cleanly with the baby blue makes these jerseys a classic, and they take a well-deserved second spot on this list.
1. Cincinnati Royals 1967-71 Home
You can not have a list of the best Kings jerseys without mentioning the Royals. This royal blue color is the pinnacle of all Kings jerseys in the pre-purple days.
The vertical wording supported by the red stripes creates a classic jersey for the franchise. This jersey helped separate the organization’s fashion from the rest in the old days of the NBA and easily is the first great Kings/Royals jersey.