While the Sacramento Kings are not participating in the 2025 NBA Playoffs (the 18th time they have missed the event in the last 19 years), it is that time of the year. As a result, we thought we would provide some historical data on the franchise's performance during the game's second season.
Before we do that, we should mention that the Kings have only been in Sacramento since 1985. Before that, they were the Rochester Royals, the Cincinnati Royals, and the Kansas City Kings. All data from those years will be included in this post.
Now, without further ado, here we go.
Sacramento Kings Playoff Record
In their franchise's history, the Kings have played 192 playoff games. Their record in those games is 81-111 (.422). Only eight other current organizations have won fewer playoff games than the Kings. Those teams are the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, and Toronto Raptors (per RealGM).
In total, the Kings have been to the playoffs 30 times, made it to the second round 20 times, the conference finals eight times, and the NBA Finals once in 1951.The one time they did go to the Finals, the Kings ended up winning it in a highly-memorable seven-game series against the New York Knicks.
In their four decades in Sacramento, the Kings have not had nearly as much success. This is what happens when you go sixteen straight years without making the postseason. So far, they have made the playoffs eleven times, the second round four times (so they haven't won a playoff series in 21 years), the conference finals once, and no trips to the NBA Finals.
The Hornets and Pelicans are the only teams without a single appearance in the conference finals. The Hornets, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, and Clippers have all never made the Finals. And the Hornets, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Clippers, Nets, Magic, Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, and Utah Jazz have never been the last team standing. Fortunately, thanks to the prehistoric version of the team, the Kings aren't in any of those categories.