NBA.com makes a bold proclamation about the 2024-25 Sacramento Kings

The 2024-25 NBA season is nearly upon us (media day is just nine days away), which means that the Sacramento Kings are one step closer to tipping off.

In honor of this occasion, NBA.com is releasing its season previews for all 30 teams. On Thursday, the Kings were the team that they spotlighted. For the most part, the article was filled with storylines we have spent all offseason discussing here at A Royal Pain. However, there was one excerpt that addressed something we haven't really brought to light.

In his article, Shaun Powell wrote, "Do we dare suggest that the Kings are the best team in California? Have those words ever been written or spoken before? Salute to the franchise for arriving at this stage. If all goes well, the Kings could sneak into late May, but that’s a best-case scenario."

Are the Sacramento Kings the best team in California?

This is the part we were alluding to. Are the Kings finally the best team in their state? Since moving to Sacramento 40 years ago (!!!), the last time the Kings made it the deepest into the playoffs of any team in California was, well, um...never.*

(*Sidebar: Technically, in 2002-03, the Kings did make it further in the playoffs than any other California team. That season, both they and the Lakers made it to the Western Conference Semifinals. The Lakers were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in six games. Meanwhile, the Kings were eliminated by the Mavericks in seven games. However, the Kings have never made it to a round further than any other California team.)

Remember, the teams that are based in California are the Kings, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Golden State Warriors. Are the Kings really to be better than all of them this season?

As it stands, sportsbooks have the Kings with the highest over/under win total for the regular season. For instance, according to FanDuel, the Kings' over/under is set at 46.5. Here is where everyone else is at:

Now, if we have learned one thing over the last few years it's that the regular season isn't a perfect indicator of success in the postseason. But at the very least, these numbers show us that none of the other California teams project to be juggernauts, meaning that for the first time in a long time, the most populated state in United States of America is up for grabs.

One last note to mention here. In Powell's quote above, he mentioned that he sees the best potential outcome for the Kings as being them playing basketball in late May. Based on the 2024-25 NBA calendar (the NBA Finals is set to begin June 5), that means Powell thinks we have a chance at making the conference finals this season, if everything goes our way.