How the best ever Sacramento Kings team missed the NBA Finals, then deteriorated

In early 2002, the Sacramento Kings looked like they might be the next NBA dynasty. They were well on their way to the Finals, and as the rival Los Angeles Lakers came apart, the Kings were poised to take over.
And then ... things happened. First came the notorious, controversial end to the 2002 Western Conference Finals against those Lakers. Then came an injury to Sacramento's star, Chris Webber. Then came some bad feelings, some bad moves, and eventually some really bad basketball.
This starts as the story of a perfectly built team running into misfortune when it should have been peaking. It becomes a story of that perfect creation crumbling into pieces, with no clear plan to rebuild. This one hurts.
Edited by Jiazhen Zhang
Motion graphics by Phil Pasternak
Written and produced by Seth Rosenthal
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[@bigbadzeus8321]

SB Nation: *releases this video* Tim Donaghy: “Ight imma head out”

[@ArmondoOrtiz76Lincol]

He wasn't involved in those games.

[@roguishpaladin]

@@ArmondoOrtiz76Lincol Did you watch 3:30?

[@ArmondoOrtiz76Lincol]

@@roguishpaladin watched the whole video, even have Tim Donaghy's book. I'll say again he wasn't involved in that series.

[@matthewliu6987]

The Kings would've made the Finals and won the chip if David Stern didn't rig the WCF for Kobe and Shaq. Anyone who still thinks it wasn't rigged for the Lakers is either braind ead or a Lakers bandwagon.

[@RGTitan901]

Matthew Liu facts

[@a1gamer561]

I would like to think of an alternate universe where the Refs were fine in 2002 and C Webb didn’t get injured in 2003 and the Kings become a dynasty

[@sacramentokingswillrise7525]

And Didn't have a Long Ass Playoff Drought

[@Will_kid_cortez]

The spurs 2003. 2005 and 2007 would have prevented that dynasty

[@santinotupou9127]

Kings got robb they should have went on beat nets in finals

[@andrewcarrillo779]

Matthew Spurs man basket ball conspiracies are wild.

[@chrisrenshaw8529]

Lakers won fair and square stop whining

[@ChiefBlue4298]

Who else is here after the Sacramento Kings clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2006?

[@mrpopo5097]

They lost

[@adrianadrian3510]

What a moment for the Kings 💜

[@nathanprentiss7578]

Glad to not live in 2002. Kings fan here now in okc. Went to both games here this year. Don’t be surprised if kings thunder turn into something as soon as next season.

[@woo_shynen8805]

@@mrpopo5097doesnt matter, they still took golden state to 7 . They have a bunch of young players who can develope overtime.

[@joesakic91]

​@@woo_shynen8805But will the Kings follow it up with much deeper playoff runs with the nucleus that they currently have led by Domantas Sabonis and DeAaron Fox?

[@miliano]

"This one hurts." As a Kings fan, you have no idea.

[@jhoops-i9m]

When will it end is the question

[@joesakic91]

@@jhoops-i9m I'll take a guess and say hopefully, 2023 where all four California-based NBA teams all make the playoffs.

[@giannibowling6725]

Lord Fox must take us to the promise land

[@kedrprao]

Not drafting Luka just killed my soul as Kings fan. I can’t take it anymore

[@joesakic91]

@@kedrprao But the Kings coaches and management would've ruined Luka Doncic's development.

[@SactoKevin]

I grew up in Sacramento and was a middle schooler during this era. When I tell you the whole damn city was draped in purple, I mean it. I even went to the WCF in 02 and sat 3 rows back from the floor. Best moment in my life!

[@johnstuartsmith]

Now, the only folks in Sacramento wearing anything purple work for FedEx....

[@SactoKevin]

thebarber916 I still have my cowbell! It was painted purple with a OG kings logo sticker

[@81115]

@@johnstuartsmith lol

[@anthonyisca2074]

Can't wait for the kings to rebuild so I can see this. I was 4 last time we made playoffs and I already know when Sacramento wins it, they're gonna have to call in the national guard🤣

[@nathanwhyte9048]

@@johnstuartsmithfax I live here😂

[@nathans5898]

Random fun fact: Rick Adelman’s daughter was my High School English teacher. We all had crushes on her 😂

[@noah_that_bills_fan1613]

Wow nice

[@OBSVFULC]

Ew, y'all had a crush on her?

[@s.c0044]

The best history i have read in a long time

[@ihatetitcok2845]

Wooow srsly????

[@nathans5898]

@@ihatetitcok2845 Yep. Her fist year as a teacher one of the seniors thought she was a new student and asked her out on a date. That story made it around the school very quickly 😂. She did look young. Hormones and memories...good times.

[@pullover332]

Here I am, a Kings fan, preparing myself to watch this video and be sad for the whole 15 minutes. Then I realized I've been sad over this team for the past 15 years.

[@razkable]

2005-2006 was a fun year....,but yeah 19 years of misery since

[@doccholo905]

Same

[@blingwraith6951]

me too.

[@nathans5898]

Here I am, a Trailblazers fan, and I understand.

[@ihatetitcok2845]

@@blingwraith6951 th thi this this is blasfemous

[@ngarcia103]

2004: The Timberwolves eliminate the Kings who were in the midst of a collapse... only to catch the bug and immediately start a collapse of their own

[@Doknot-tb9ey]

So ironically sad.

[@ivaneurope]

During that series Sam Cassell injured himself because of (allegedly) his post-scoring Big Balls Dance. Legend has it that Flip Saunders is still haunted by Cassell's dance even in the afterlife.

[@3N2sw]

Lol, sad but true.

[@gilbertcorral7153]

That’s true timberwolves weren’t the same either after 04

[@ragnaruniii1041]

It feels like Robert Horry has been a part of every episode in this series

[@theultimatepielord8697]

Big shot Bob more like big body count Bob

[@Kromatt]

Divac made a dumb mistake , should have grabbed the board instead

[@joesakic91]

@@Kromatt Chris Webber also made a mistake of not staying on Robert Horry at the three-point line.

[@trvspvrk]

Kings haven’t made the playoffs since Lebron was Jayson Tatum age

[@justintruong9063]

Raspberry Faygo They haven’t made it back to the playoffs since ‘06 and last year was the closest they got to making it to the playoffs finishing 39-43.

[@mike04574]

Justin Truong they prolly won’t make it this year either

[@OnlyGoodSHHH]

is that suppose to be a joke..... oh. haaaaaaaaa?

[@tmzebe530]

Thx for the reminder. We have a squad now tho. Wish we didnt give up big willie tho.

[@joetwo7951]

Lbjs first game was in sac

[@markjones952]

Basketball is my favorite sport. I like the way they dribble up and down the court.

[@Joe_Parmesan]

What a story, Mark!

[@krlllx]

just like im the king of the microphone

[@krlllx]

so is dr j and moses malone

[@thedarkknight9153]

Football is my favorite sport. I like seeing men run on a field with pads.

[@javirios3107]

That's cool and all but, I like slam dunks that take it to the hoop and my favorite play is the alley-oop.

[@raigresham1298]

Probably the toughest one for me to watch so far. I LOVED this team and remember shouting out of my mind at the tv about the BS calls down the stretch. Only to find out years later we were all probably right about the officiating in that game....

[@joesakic91]

Yet, the Pedowitz report dismissed Tim Donaghy's claims. Maybe the Sacramento Kings should learn from their fellow peers on how to turn off the distractions like the referees and keep playing basketball to win.

[@whitemamba24xe98]

That game 6 in 2002 still hurts me, and I’m not even a Kings fan:(

[@loganmurdock4679]

I think even if you weren't a Kings fan and just a basketball fan in general it was a universal wtf moment for everyone

[@imightbebiased9311]

Kobe gets fouled on the drive, and well, maybe don't tip the ball out to the wide open dude at the 3 point line if you want to win a title.

[@joesakic91]

@Rodzilla But Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks exacted revenge on the Miami Heat in 2011 with an NBA title.

[@ryanmooney1524]

That game is why I will never like the lakers in the slightest

[@joesakic91]

@Xavier Edwards Game 4 of the 2002 WCF was more of a killer for the Sacramento Kings.

[@nasholston5112]

That 02 Kings team is still one of my favorite teams of all time. They were ahead of their time actually.

[@dusk6159]

Very much so, especially on the passing too and with one of the best passing big men Webber, and already after bringing the Greatest Show on Court a few years before, back with Williams's flash, it's crazy.

[@razkable]

@@dusk6159 imagine if gerald wallace was older..that team could of been amazing...he was an 11th man ...old ass chucky brown got more play in big games....

[@FupaDoncic]

Asmosis Jones and What if Turkoglu had the point forward skills he had in Orlando.

[@briandelamora2806]

Being a Kings fan and watching this really hurt, but actually witnessing this rise, fall, and now the embarrassing team we've become is heartbreaking. That championship would have meant so much.

[@Jemombuurrrn2228]

11/15/2022 today they b killing in the west one of the best team now

[@beforeflight5566]

Its great to see kings on the rise again

[@deathstarstallion]

Things are looking up now. I think they could be champions in 2025 I think there's a pretty good chance they make the conference finals this upcoming year

[@woo_shynen8805]

@@deathstarstallionima be honest, I dont think their making the finals, but they have a good enough to squeak into the western conference finals.

[@joesakic91]

​@@deathstarstallionWell, Mike Brown and the Light the Beam era Sacramento Kings have to capitalize their few chances with their deeper runs, let alone a title, because you may never know when you'll be back.

[@stephentaylor795]

This hurts so much. The kings still haven’t recovered from Webber getting hurt.

[@Blazer-RPT]

Stfu Kings are not nba finals worthy refs did the right thing

[@thotsnpreyers]

@@Blazer-RPT Refs proved that the NBA was fake. Did me a huge favor by curing one of my time consumers though. I havent cared about basketball since so I guess it was the right thing. Might as well be WWE.

[@thotsnpreyers]

@III BAKURYU III Agreed. So why care?

[@thotsnpreyers]

@III BAKURYU III The stats are pointless in fake competition. You would be best to drop it all completely and just care about your own stats in life... but I'm not trying to tell you how to live. Just like your favorite sports team, I don't care about you.

[@thotsnpreyers]

@III BAKURYU III amen

[@Timestamps_]

I'm glad yall finally got around to this. Time for us to be sad all over again.

[@dusk6159]

Exactly, this was needed and long overdue, together with the rewind 2002 Game 6 Wcf/2002 Wcf to also hopefully come, and yeah, time to be sad for those screwed CWebb's Kings..

[@snc237]

Or happy

[@ppw350Zunit]

I know right!?!? 😫

[@CLopez63]

As painful as re-living this history was, this video is absolutely fantastic and 100% spot on. Very well done. I grew up and lived through the entire history in this video as a die-hard fan. Seeing something so...accurate was very refreshing. We Kings fans just want to have some fun, man. That's all we want. *sigh* "Maybe next year."

[@withalittlehelpfrom3]

Light the Beam!!!!! And I ain’t even a Kings fan.

[@ranger8155]

finally your year brother

[@SamUHells]

Happy for you guys this year from a Celtics fan 💯

[@jackdaley1310]

ayyy y’all havin fun

[@CLopez63]

Appreciate the love y'all. This season has been more fun than I can ever say

[@LuciferBalor]

"This one hurts." You have no idea.

[@catman422]

I'm a life long Kings fan, die hard for life, and I knew this episode was coming. I need a drink first before I watch this.

[@RM-sy4qd]

I feel you man. Just wait till part 2 which includes the DMC vs George Karl saga you may want to ante up the alcohol level on what your drinking..😂

[@MrLp1980]

I’m not a kings fan but this still hurts. They should have been the 2002 champs.

[@joesakic91]

@@MrLp1980 Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

[@MrLp1980]

joesakic91 you must be a laker fan. If you are you know that game 6 was rigged. I’m not even a kings but that was the kings title.

[@joesakic91]

@@MrLp1980 Game 4 was more of a killer for the Kings. Win that game, Games 6 and 7 wouldn't exist.

[@Negat1ve0n3]

These guys made basketball fun to watch. The ball movement and unselfishness was otherworldly. Their defense was outstanding too. Too bad they ran into a lot of misfortunes.

[@joesakic91]

Until the Splash Brother era Golden State Warriors came along and made it better with titles to boot.

[@sanjitmann8489]

@@joesakic91 ya cuz of good luck lol

[@joesakic91]

@@sanjitmann8489 Good luck with will, skill, grit, and guts. BTW, not a GSW fan.

[@bamnignorance]

We got robbed from Robert horry. He shot a 3 with 0.0 left on the clock and it counted.

[@joesakic91]

@@bamnignorance That's Samaki Walker before halftime.

[@shanefrederick7731]

As a Kings fan, the memories make me smile. However, the "what could have been" makes me sad.

[@LandoC22]

Real talk, crazy bittersweet!

[@NickIntoTech]

Your a kings fan? Ouch, I feel bad. but don’t worry man I’m a rockets fan and it’s been Absolute pain these last few seasons

[@DrLuke49]

It goes without saying that the NBA made more money when the Lakers ruled the league. David Stern knew way more than he ever let on about the 2002 West Finals.

[@DrLuke49]

@@NickIntoTech I am also a Houston Rockets lifer who sometimes thinks about: *1996 - 2nd round sweep out of the playoffs by Seattle/OKC *1997 - West Final loss to Utah *1998 - 1st round loss to Utah after we were on the verge of knocking out the Jazz in Game 4 *1999 - 1st round loss to the Lakers after we choked away Game 1 *2004 - 1st round loss to the Lakers *2005 - 1st round loss to Dallas after we won the first two games on the road *2007 and 2008 - 1st round losses to Utah *2009 - 1st round loss to the Lakers after we won Game 1 on the road but lost Yao Ming to a career ending broken foot injury *2013 - 1st round loss to OKC *2014 - the Damian Lilliard shot *2017 - 2nd round loss to San Antonio after we won Game 1 on the road The biggest painful moment of all is: *2018 West Final Game 7 loss to Golden State after we were up 3 games to 2 with an 10 point halftime lead in Game 6 at an 11 point halftime lead at home in the final game.

[@TwoWay-xX]

that kings team was so good. peja was nice

[@satisfyingwalks4010]

Tim Donaghy has left the chat...

[@joesakic91]

@deepak And the Pedowitz report entered the chat.

[@asundelgun3487]

@@CBarber22 big facts

[@asundelgun3487]

@Bayek Of Siwa you ever hear of getting less time for snitching. He didn't have anything which is why he didn't get less time lol

[@asundelgun3487]

@Bayek Of Siwa yes you do. It's called "turning state's evidence"...wtf are you talking about

[@asundelgun3487]

@Bayek Of Siwa and appeared to be game 6 was rigged. What evidence is there that any of the other games were rigged????

[@MKISports]

It really took 17 years until the Sacramento Kings became relevant again... A long time coming...

[@joesakic91]

Now, the Sacramento Kings have to exorcise two more demons: NBA Finals appearance and NBA title.

[@uncreative5766]

I remember my dad loved watching this group of scrappy players who grinded like hell. It really was sad objectively to see the Maloof family kill not just the core, but the entire team's spirit and their WNBA team.

[@no1uknugamingchannel]

Losing the Monarchs hurt

[@RemyKingKen]

Deplorable Centrist very interesting care to explain further or any keywords I can search?

[@coryburns834]

@@RemyKingKen yeah google BLM and read what they stand for leaders admit that they are Marxist. Go to their website and see for yourself and tell others please

[@RemyKingKen]

Cory Burns well the nba has been heavily involved with the Chinese market despite the atrocities they’ve actually committed. Idk I’m not really big into socialism/communism but I draw the line completely when it turns violently. I’m going to look into it but as long as they aren’t trying to push a “new world order” type of agenda I don’t see anything wrong with the nba supporting the BLM movement.

[@JackTalksCFB1]

Man this team really got robbed...

[@KuyaArbee]

I rewatched and they choked such a big lead....... multiple games they had where they lead and couldn’t capitalize with smart shots to cushion an easy victory lead. Even with the rigged ref calls! Sacramento kings had all the advantages

[@bikrambal791]

Kuya Arbee sometimes when you keep getting random foul calls it kinda puts you down and ruins your playing mood.

[@Juancho90]

Kuya Arbee this guy literally just said “even with the rigged refs they had ALL the advantages” lmao what a clown

[@JackTalksCFB1]

Mitch Gill bro it’s not that serious

[@KuyaArbee]

Juan CHO kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKisq4aCa6epbM0 So you’re saying that the last shot was also rigged? Just admit the Kings lost. It’s over and done and they didn’t do anything about it after that year

[@darrientwyman1309]

I like how the NBA makes you forget the 2002 Kings so we dont talk about the scandall

[@selfishstockton6123]

Never forget

[@joelplatt3396]

Oh I won’t forget! Especially how Shaq had the nerve to talk $hit after getting the “win” the way they did. But LA kinda collapsed to. It was AWESOME when Detroit destroyed them in ‘04!

[@joesakic91]

@@joelplatt3396 And the Spurs denied the Pistons a back-to-back in 2005 thanks to Big Shot Bob while the Lakers accomplished a back-to-back in 2009 and 2010.

[@Joe-kv6tk]

@@joesakic91you again!!!!!! Lakers are a fraudulent franchise propped up by the officials.

[@DeckerGamingOG]

As a kings fan, I was very hesitant to click 😭

[@razkable]

its insane how la won games 4 6 and 7...i still have no idea how they did it ...those games were so intense and la had a way worse bench

[@doccholo905]

It still hurts. 14 years of no playoffs.

[@arcaneegg5076]

U should get on clippers or lakers bandwagon or even warriors

[@coryburns834]

@@razkableSacramento made it easy for La to win Kings weren't good enough to win the Lakers were good enough to win

[@selfishstockton6123]

Cory Burns If the Lakers were good enough to cheat they were good enough to win you mean, can’t separate one without the other

[@alexshayatovich8722]

I would never understand firing a coach who keep getting you 50 win seasons. 02 Kings team still my favorite team to play on 2k20.

[@s_ame1135]

I know right. It's not like the replacement was a championship coach either.

[@JRyoga]

Off-court politics. Ownership started losing money, threw a temper tantrum when the city wouldn't foot the bill for a new arena, started taking it out on the coach.

[@JRyoga]

@PATRICK MILLIGAN Because I feel like it, and because that's what happened.

[@JRyoga]

@PATRICK MILLIGAN Your opinion doesn't interest me.

[@hjkohler2966]

Do u guys have a giant stick up your ass? Jeez

[@nom5358]

most beautiful passing game ever. bring this style back!!! 😢

[@joesakic91]

The Splash Brother era Golden State Warriors have it and won titles with it.

[@post_obamacore]

22 years a kings fan, ever since i moved to the area the same year they started to make the playoffs and build up to that 2002 roster. a heartbreaking 22 years.

[@Eboy227]

They got cheated and sent to the nba shadow realm 😭

[@drphot6050]

Your soul is mine!

[@chillvibed]

Nba wanted the lakers to 3 peat. The kings were doomed before the season started. Lakers will win 2020 finals. Right that down.

[@Hakeem990]

David stern had a track record

[@rwkc3004]

😂😂😂

[@jamesgentry13]

Shut up loser

[@keeshandave8603]

And now, 17 years later, the Kings have clinched a spot in the NBA Playoffs

[@chriso5662]

And they lost. Again

[@keeshandave8603]

@@chriso5662 it's just 1 playoff loss. I mean it's not as bad as it seems

[@joesakic91]

​@@keeshandave8603It all depends on the follow up.

[@keeshandave8603]

@@joesakic91 oh...

[@bingobongo496]

@@keeshandave8603 you just gave away one off the best point guard in the future for just an nba playoff run......you are screwed

[@MannyMensah94]

Those kings are one of those "whatif" teams?

[@imightbebiased9311]

Pretty much. Like Portland in that same era, or the Cavs that got beaten by Jordan's shot, or the Knicks. San Antonio, Houston figured out how to win. The other teams didn't.

[@MannyMensah94]

@@imightbebiased9311 true. Put the Thunder in the conversation

[@zhuoranli4576]

I think they are the best no-chip team in this century. Yes, I rank them above thunders and suns

[@robertperrella4194]

adelman should have played gerald wallace more for defense and OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING IN THAT LAKER SERIES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......that move cost the sacramento kings an nba championship !!!!!!!!!!

[@selfishstockton6123]

robert perrella the refs cost them a championship

[@sostdm617]

Sacramento kings was my favorite team to play with in NBA live 01-03

[@doccholo905]

Back when NBA Live was great

[@sostdm617]

@@doccholo905 facts

[@sbgibbons99]

I was a Sacto resident and Kings fan during all of these years, 02 versus the Lakers broke our hearts. To this day we believe we were much better than the Lakers. It was heartbreaking to see this team go down.

[@josequintanilla9932]

But you weren’t

[@Viking-ps3xj]

Love this series

[@ericsigersmith6067]

Favorite non celtics team eva!

[@BeefPapa]

As a laker fan I was low-key jealous of their chemistry and ball movement.

[@joelplatt3396]

As well as the fact that they could win without ref interference??

[@joesakic91]

@@joelplatt3396 And the Sacramento Kings are still snakebitten since 1951.

[@JamesJohnson-ip2by]

This guy's narrative is stellar,as well as funny. The woman that does some of the collapse is good too. I hope they come out with more collapse docs,the newest one is Orlando magic with Shaquille and Penny, keep up the good work 👏 👍

[@jerrycaidic08]

"Why Adelman when you can Musselman." - Seth Rosenthal, 2020.

[@MFPLATYPUS]

It sure is funny to think how close we were to a Kings v. Nets finals at one point

[@RevGRue]

Still would've been better than what we got that year.

[@KJ-yg2nw]

Facts, them 00 - 03 lakers would’ve eaten alive any east team back then

[@matthewliu6987]

@@KJ-yg2nw Lakers only made the finals because it was rigged for them tho. Kings were robbed

[@skywalker2676]

Kings would of mopped them too

[@RGTitan901]

The Kings would’ve smoked the Nets too

[@georgeborgardt2280]

I'd love to see you do a 2012 Ravens collapse. It starts with losing Ray Lewis and Ed Reed post superbowl, then Dennis Pitta's 4 year journey of injuries, Ray Rice, major turnover of offensive coordinators, a record setting injury season, then a full rebuild as the torch is slowly passed from Ozzy Newsome to Erick DeCosta. Yeah they made the playoffs once in that time, but it also has 3 major flops where victory or a playoff spot is their's to lose, and they lose it. Also could talk about how they've rebuilt with pieces that are eerily similar to the superbowl teams of old. Earl Thomas for Ed Reed, Matt Judon for Suggs, Mark Ingram for Ray Rice, ect., minus the obvious difference at quarterback.

[@zwebackshyper9307]

you're such a good story teller

[@dusk6159]

Oh yeah of course, luckly it was him or the other original colleagues to do this and this kind of Nba collapses/rewinds in general, these are too heavy and the top of the top, they would be ruined with that specific lady, this material would go to waste on top of the other already.

[@sega32xxx14]

@@dusk6159 Yeah I mean I’ve never commented cause I don’t want to come off as sexist or anything because I’m genuinely not, that and it has nothing to do with her gender. But I almost can’t finish most of the videos she hosts, just doesn’t have the type of talent for the job I guess, but I always grow like....increasingly annoyed trying to watch the videos she hosts. That and they have a roster of highly talented, under utilized hosts as it is, why was an untalented , over utilized host forced in this way? She’s fine being a part of those little 3 way talk videos, there IS a place for her, just not hosting 40% of the videos out of nowhere...

[@dusk6159]

@@sega32xxx14 Exactly, and from top to bottom of course.

[@QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat.” ― Richard Marcinko

[@nathanpattison4413]

This was so painful but I needed this. Thank you. Go Kings!

[@isurfsharks9687]

"Why Adelman when you can Mussellman?"

[@jeremymccommons7741]

Imagine your favorite teams only title chance being rigged in the favor of the lakers.

[@joits]

*sad cowbells*

[@pzooka]

joits I wish I could like this 1000 times

[@Flamingbro69]

Why do I feel like it’s possibly gonna happen this year? -Lakers Fan

[@rjante2236]

@@Flamingbro69 To be honest, if the Lakers win the Finals, EVERYONE will call it rigged. Not that I blame them, considering the circumstances.

[@manzac112]

@@rjante2236 Did you really think the NBA wanted 2 small-market teams in a Finals against each other?

[@jasbb2]

I feel like even if you weren't living in Sacramento during this time or a SAC fan, you were rooting for them. It was a special team

[@DavidLawsonTalksOnstage]

This doubles as a “Weird Rules” starring Tim Donaghy.

[@michaelnewton1332]

This series was rigged on Stern's orders. Donaghy was nothing more than a fall guy.

[@lewivdadon]

I appreciate you talking about this story though as a longtime Kings fan (before Webber) this still stings. Everything has been said about '02 but that '03 team had a better roster but Webber 's injury derailed Everything. He was just here for the team anyway, not for the city of Sacramento. Funny cause DeMarcus Cousins was the total opposite. Mussleman is a great coach but his fate was sealed getting that DUI right before the season started. I think they're a 2021 playoff team though. The team also enjoyed playoff success in '86 and '96 before that Adelman tenure.

[@kubatbg91]

But Cousins was traded, he had not left in FA

[@teejaemon]

Then the Kings let Luka slip out of their fingers for Bagley.

[@co81385]

This was a good one! I will always remember that Kings team, just because I graduated high school in 03, and I remember everything sports-related from my senior year. It truly is a tragedy that things unfolded for them the way that they did, and that they never made a Finals appearance. I think that an all time "What If?" is what would have happened if Webber didn't get hurt during the 03 playoffs.

[@TenThumbsProductions]

Is there one of these on the Tigers? Because you could do two in less than 5 years. That 2006 squad had 8 throwing errors to first, 5 from the pitching staff. Then they didn't win a ring with a starting rotation that was Verlander, Scherzer, Price, Porcello, Sanchez. Man...

[@joshlewis575]

Man the fact they didn't get 1 in that decade hurts. That rotation should've won easily, n couldn't even get outta the division series

[@CashMoolah00]

Very true, 90s Cleveland Indians volume 2.

[@maliktalaat1]

Urinatingtree did a vid on those tigers teams I’d highly recommend

[@sw0rdhyd350]

Don't forget their batting lineup too. Torii Hunter, Ian Kinsler, Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Victor Martinez...

[@guodade2239]

I am pleased to see this one, although it is to be fair not done in such a detailed way as some of the others. I agree wholeheartedly about the Detroit Tigers, and also would like to see: - 2000s- 2010s Phoenix Suns - post-Lombardi Packers (unless this is too ancient) - 1970s Baltimore Colts (actually two collapses, and would be very interesting because of the stadium controversy and ultimate relocation to Indianapolis) - 1990s Redskins - late 1990s Jaguars - 1960s Yankees (unless this is too ancient) - New York Islanders (1980s and 1990s) - New Jersey Devils (2000s to 2010s) - Montreal Canadiens after 1994 NHL lockout - Nottingham Forest - Leeds United

[@ExistentHope]

As a kings fan I will always love that team 2001-2002 Kings

[@kedrprao]

I mean that’s literally the only Kings team worth loving in last 40 years lol

[@jotac87278]

Divac, Webber and Brad Miller were all phenomenal passers in that system

[@pac12shorts90]

Rewinder idea: Andy Dalton pass to break the Bills playoff drought

[@speedy1072]

As a ravens fan.... great idea. But pain.

[@jamesh.8632]

Please don’t, as a ravens fan I can’t even see that play or think about it without tearing up

[@TheLocalLt]

Can’t do that one without doing one on Nate Poole knocking the Vikings out of the playoff picture in 2003 week 17, sending the packers to the playoffs and setting up the classic “we want the ball and we’re gonna score” and “4th and 26” games that postseason

[@erics2739]

This was iron bowl type rivalry speaking of football

[@Simeautomatic100]

*It's a damn disgrace what happened to them! Still never got over it!* 😡😡😡

[@rahultalkssports1404]

yeah.

[@Simeautomatic100]

@Mitch Gill *how bout I knock you over your head with a 2x4 instead??*

[@matthewliu6987]

The Kings would've made the Finals and won the chip if David Stern didn't rig the WCF for Kobe and Shaq. Anyone who still thinks it wasn't rigged for the Lakers is either braind ead or a Lakers bandwagon.

[@Piripiao_YT]

*Somewhere in the parallel universe, The Sacramento Kings along with its main stars, are respected champions and didn't have a long ass playoff drought.*

[@I_AmTone3]

I’ve might’ve been Young but I remember these Early 2000’S Kings they really was a True Underdog for real. It just sad that they didn’t Win at least one Championship because Sky was really the Limit for them... @ 2:51 I remember watching that whole game with My Brother & I was shock when Rob hit that shot & My Brother looked over at me & said “That’s Big Shot Rob”

[@kingyaro5082]

I actually went to school with Robert Horry's son

[@I_AmTone3]

Yaroslav Beloglazov Thats Dope 👍🏾

[@thedarkknight9153]

He didn't even know it's Big Shot Bob

[@I_AmTone3]

The Dark Knight y’all know what I meant 😒😒😒

[@raymondfelton692]

They were not underdogs

[@ryany-land1668]

I grew up watching this team in middle school and remember feeling sick for weeks after that western conference loss.

[@arvind01612840261]

You could also do a Collapse on the 1981 Kings, who became the last team to reach the Conference Finals with a losing record and immediately went on a playoff win drought that lasted nearly 20 years.

[@iam77_]

Can’t wait for the next one!

[@kotalight4657]

Boogie and Klay would've been something crazy. Especially when Boogie developed his playmaking.

[@connorakers668]

who's here after they finally clinched a playoff spot after 17 long years

[@emannuelmartinez]

I knew this episode was going to come one day...my heart still breaks, I don’t think I’m ready yet.

[@Spontainiouz]

Just like I can't watch a replay of game 7 of the 1994 finals

[@AirRusher1992]

Came back here after the Kings finally ended the longest Playoff drought in NBA history securing a spot in the 2023 Playoffs for their first berth since 2006. Anyone else present here?

[@joeyteter9383]

Man growing up watching these Kings battle the west, especially those games/series against LA was awesome. Always fun as hell to watch

[@jasongodfrey823]

These Sacramento Kings should've had 2 or 3rings this team was the truth.

[@chillvibed]

Let's be real, 1 at most. You can't assume multiple if there wasn't even 1 at least.

[@cormacclarke_]

2010 KING 1 in 02 and if Webber didn’t tear his acl the following year they would have back to back no cap 🧢

[@joesakic91]

@Jason Godfrey Maybe one only for them in 2003.

[@travisfountain9562]

no team was getting past prime Duncan, aging but still effective David Robinson, and prime Ginobli

[@iVince905]

Probably the best team to never win a championship. They were robbed in 02.

[@lamonimita3422]

Man, as a basketball fan whose love for the game peaked in the 2000's... It's so hard to know that so many of my favourite NBA players never had the ending to their careers that I would have loved to see. Iverson, Webber, Francis, Arenas, Nash, McDyess, Marbury etc. Webber especially - people forget quickly how versatile he was; a demon on the court in his prime.

[@at2130]

Webber was a beast he's way underrated all time.

[@laujjohnny7401]

This is the best documentary of the best Sacramento Kings team. Respect! Thumbs up for this video 👍👍👍👍#GoKings!!!

[@jflack6]

How the Sac-town team missed the finals: Cheating. The End.

[@blackmamba2k899]

Fax

[@f1piggy102]

I can’t believe there’s people that still think the refs didn’t rob the Kings.

[@DestinyZX1]

That and the NBA were greedy fools.

[@wyatthill6252]

@@f1piggy102 they are all Lakers fans

[@jasonfire3434]

Choked in Game 7 though

[@Konz115rd]

From NYC a Knicks fan, but I hated the Lakers. And I liked Chris Webber, so seeing them lose hurt. I remember having tears. Like why the Kings cant beat them.When years later the ref came out and said he cheated I felts some relief. Soo many fans,players even the commissioner stating this wasn't true was bullshit. How a ref stated when and what teams he cheated and you can see the scores. For for stern to say it was false made me no longer like the NBA. As a New York I cheer for the Knicks on the side. But I dislike basketball and I forever hate the Lakers and their players past present and future. Thank you for mentioning the truth eventho it was brief.

[@joesakic91]

Pedowitz report disagrees.

[@rucianapollard7098]

I was hurt when the Kings were cheated out of their championship run in 2002, and I quit watching the NBA for a few years afterward. When I heard the ref say he cheated on games, specifically that 2002 series, I stopped watching the NBA and haven't watched since!!

[@joesakic91]

@@rucianapollard7098 Then, you miss out on a lot of things.

[@MetalGod999]

Great job, SB Nation! I was hoping you guys would talk about the Sacramento Kings, and you finally did! Awesome work!

[@joesakic91]

I have a request for a Collapse episode, Secret Base: the 2019 Toronto Raptors.

[@gabrielpacana8596]

I'm a Laker fan and the Lakers-Kings 2002 conference finals was my fondest childhood sports memories. Them Kings put up a better fight then the Nets who would get swept. I can't believe it's been 20 years.

[@joesakic91]

Nah, a 2002 Lakers-Celtics NBA Final would've been better.

[@chronoxiong]

This one hurts for sure. Thanks for the video.

[@CCROGGY]

The episode on the US will be lit…

[@SavingSoulsMinistries]

Mike Bibby is who I based my game off of when I was 10 watching this... then a couple years later I got obsessed with Jamal Crawford... greatest era of basketball ever

[@ryankirkpatrick8489]

Kings finally breaking the playoff drought this year 🔥

[@luischavez1260]

You guys should do the 2010’s Phoenix Suns and how they collapse and hadn’t made the playoffs in a decade

[@joelplatt3396]

That stupid trade for Shaq in ‘08!

[@thomassankara1391]

Chris Paul had them right back in the WCF now!

[@luischavez1260]

@@thomassankara1391 I was wrong about Chris Paul

[@splashnskillz37]

@@thomassankara1391 Finals, series tied 2-2

[@justinman114]

@@splashnskillz37 They blew it

[@BWalker9313]

The Kings were the reason I became a basketball fan. I’m still a fan, J-Will and Webber were the most exciting duo in the NBA. Trading for Bibby sucked for a minute but Bibby was perfect for that team. They were so fast, fun, exciting. Webber was a great leader and it was his time to win, even though they got screwed in 02 they would’ve been right back there if he didn’t get hurt. Such a cruel twist of fate. Always loved Peja but it always looked like he wanted to move on once he started getting better. Hated that Vlade went to LA after the battles he had with Shaq. The drafting really hurt, even though you can’t really blame them in the 09 draft. They drafted the ROTY, Evans looked special man, he was going to be amazing but they mismanaged him so badly. Cousins was not a great fit at all in Sac even if he was putting up big numbers at times. The other drafts were tough, but that can be said about almost any team in the league. They’re getting better now. I have a lot of faith in Fox and Hield. I hope Bagley stays healthy because he could be special too. Go Kings Go!

[@CCROGGY]

Lakers Fan but here seeing their resurgence in the postseason!

[@joesakic91]

Who knows? If the Lakers get past the Grizzlies, the winner of the Kings-Warriors series take on the Lakeshow in Round 2.

[@bobbobsin3202]

Sacramento Kings 2002 NBA champs.💯 Mike Bibby finals mvp

[@joesakic91]

Unfortunately, I don't see that banner in the Golden 1 Center.

[@jdapaul1351]

And now, the Kings clinched a playoff spot.

[@johnnguyen270]

The 2002 Game 6 WCF deserves it's own video, and history!!!!

[@ghostofury9755]

u know its bad for the kings when the line doesn't go up at the start

[@razkable]

if peja is healthy they sweep that series...that kings team was loaded

[@ericsigersmith6067]

That damn airball in game 7 I'm a celtics fan but this my favorite non celtics team ever and they got screwed in game 6 even though game 4 choke killed them with the robert horry shot

[@noahbrecker8453]

its 2023 and the kings have clinched a playoff spot

[@joesakic91]

The Kings might not be done. They're either two wins or a win and a Phoenix Suns loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday to win their first Pacific Division crown since 2003.

[@Miller2h41]

Seeing the Kings win total after 01-02 went to 59 in 02-03 down to 55 in 03-04 down to 50 in 04-05 down to 44 in 05-06 was a symbol of a decline in the Kings that we knew under Rick Adelman's tenure and when the Kings didn't re-new Adelman's contract the Kings came undone.

[@ohcalledme]

ITS 2022!!!! LIGHT THE BEEEAMMMMMMM

[@johnturner7952]

Who’s here after the Sacramento Kings ended their 16 year playoff drought?

[@AirRusher1992]

Me

[@ChiefBlue4298]

Hello 👋

[@ash80510]

Long time kings fan here. Stings hard still and always will

[@kwan643]

Makes you appreciate the accomplishment of MJ’s 6 friggin championships that much more. It’s so difficult and everything has to go right just to win one!

[@Bytesthedust]

Who’s here after the Tyrese-sabonis trade 🥶🥶🥶

[@joesakic91]

Me. I think the Pacers fleeced the Kings.

[@joeyalvis6507]

Growing up in Sacramento and living here still this stings that was my team as a kid loved to go see games or listen to them on the radio on my way home from school

[@albimft]

Next: Collapse of 2010-2011 Bulls

[@nealingitup2996]

Awesome vid! Once again I beseech thee: PLEASE do a collapse on the 1989 Flames or the 2005 White Sox.

[@zacharythomason7359]

I'm still waiting 4 them to do a collapse on the DC football team & the Wizards.

[@shadowguy20004]

Paul Konerko! Loved that team because they beat Clemens Astros

[@djtrankilo231]

ORR the Edmonton Oilers after Mark Messier left

[@sherryhannah498]

N please is unnecessary it’s very annoying like Trump remember that

[@no1uknugamingchannel]

I've been a fan of the Kings since they moved from KC ....it has been a hard long lonely road but I do appreciate those years ...thank you for this Collapse look back...love this channel

[@Nebraska-CatFanDanOzzy]

Why? I see things like this and I am glad they left KC! The franchise hasn’t won a championship since 1951 in Rochester! I loved them in KC too and they broke my heart when they left! I didn’t see another NBA game in person for years because of it. When I came back I went to a Bulls game. I will be happy for the long suffering fans if they do manage to put together a championship winning team in the future but until that happens the Kings are losers and I am glad they left!!!! Also in KC for 13 years - they won one divisional title, went to the conference championship series once and went to the playoffs 5 years . They haven’t done any better in Sacramento in over 30 years going to the playoffs 10 years, 2 divisional titles and one conference championship series and now the longest playoff drought in North American professional sports! This is a terrible franchise!

[@marcusmelidor6952]

Now look at them. Light the beam 🔦🟣

[@joesakic91]

The Kings still have to exorcise two more long droughts in their history: NBA Finals appearance and NBA title.

[@kalluey]

Can you do a rewinder on game 5 of the 2017 World Series, I’m ready to be hurt again and watch it, and it was one of the greatest games of all time

[@drygnfyre]

55 wins only being good enough for the #4 seed in the West should give a sense how tough that conference was in the early/mid 00s.

[@richhrite88]

As a die hard King's fan, and It being almost 20 years. Its still too soon!