Fansided

5 great teams that were ruined by the Kobe-Shaq Lakers

By Rich Kraetsch

Photo by LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty Images /
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25 Jan 2001: Chis Webber #4 of the Sacramento Kings waits on the court with an eye injury during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. The Spurs defeated the Kings 97-91. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
25 Jan 2001: Chis Webber #4 of the Sacramento Kings waits on the court with an eye injury during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. The Spurs defeated the Kings 97-91. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport /

1. Sacramento Kings

The franchise once known as the Rochester/Cincinnati Royals were years past their glory as the new millenium approached. The team had bounced from Rochester, Cincinnati, Omaha and Kansas City before finally finding a semi-permanent home in Sacramento. Unfortunately, success didn’t follow the Kings franchise. After winning a title in 1951, the franchise had yet to make an NBA Finals appearance since. The Kings became the laughing-stock of the NBA with eight straight sub-30 win seasons in the 1980s and 1090s with only one playoff appearance in the last 12 seasons.

That all changed when former Trail Blazers head coach Rick Adelman joined the team. Quickly, Sacramento began building a core that would become known as “The Greatest Show on Court.”

Prior to the 1998-99 lockout-shortened season, the Kings finally got serious. They traded for disgruntled Washington Wizards forward Chris Webber, signed veteran center Vlade Divac, drafted Jason “White Chocolate” Williams out of Florida and welcomed 1996 draft pick Peja Stojakovic from Serbia. While not an overnight success, Sacramento made the playoffs in 1999 aided by the fasted pace in the NBA (96) and the highest team points per game (100.2).

Sacramento stayed the course in 2000 bringing back much of the team en route to a 44-37 record, the franchise’s best mark since 1983 (no, seriously). The Kings once again wowed the NBA with their highlight fast breaks and slick passing, quickly becoming the most fun team in the NBA. Still, the success hadn’t fully come. They made their second straight playoff appearance but unfortunately bowed out in the opening round, this time to the O’Neal and Bryant-led Los Angeles Lakers. This would sadly become a trend.

In the offseason, Sacramento made two huge moves, acquiring former Lakers and Toronto Raptors guard Doug Christie to tighten of Sacramento’s lacking defense. The Kings also added sharp-shooting forward Hedo Turkoglu from Turkey.

Sacramento went 55-27, their first 50-win season since 1962 (again, seriously). “The Greatest Show on Court” defeated the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs and were set for the second round against…yep, the Kobe and Shaq Lakers. Sacramento was swept as the Lakers went on to win the NBA Championship.

In preparation for the 2001-02 season, Sacramento made a move that angered many at the time but proved to be exactly what the team needed to take the next step. Gone was dynamic, show-stopping point guard Williams — sent to Vancouver for the stability and poise that came from Mike Bibby. Bibby, the son of former NBA player Henry Bibby, was exactly what the Kings needed to make the leap into the upper echelon of the NBA.

And that they did.

In 2002, the Kings finished a franchise-best 61-21. Sacramento made quick work of both the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks and entered the Conference Finals for the first time since 1981. Where in past years a  matchup with the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers would’ve scared the Kings, they were a better team and a more ready team. This wasn’t going to happen again.

The Kings and Lakers battled back and forth in one of the NBA’s best playoff series of all-time. Sacramento was minutes, hell, seconds away from winning Game 6 and entering the NBA Finals until an errant rebound ended up in the hands of Robert Horry.

Sacramento fought hard in Game 7 but the cat was out of the bag. Aided by O’Neal’s 35 points the Lakers defeated the Kings and moved onto the NBA Finals where they would win their third straight championship.

It wasn’t immediate — Sacramento would make the playoffs for several straight years — but they never fully recovered. Injuries and a slow deterioration of the team’s core resulted in years of rebuilding for Sacramento. The team even floated the idea of moving out of town until the brand-new Golden1 Center was built to keep them in town.

Since 2006, the Sacramento Kings have made zero playoff appearances and have not won more than 39 games in a single season.

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