After seven and a half seasons and 514 career games, the Sacramento Kings traded De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs. While the ramifications of the trade are wide-ranging, the trade also had an impact on the legacy leaderboards of the franchise. Fox was traded just as he was about to pass the Sacramento-era leaders in franchise games played. Jason Thompson’s record of 541 games with the Sacramento Kings stands, and it will be a long time before anyone threatens it again.
Fox also falls just short of Mitch Richmond (517 games) and Peja Stojakovic (518 games).
The all-time franchise leader in games played is Sam Lacey, with an incredible 888 games played. Lacey played for the Cincinnati Royals, the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, and the Kansas City Kings.
While we all expected Fox to take his spot at the top of the Sacramento-era leaders, it’s a reminder of how amazing JT’s run in Sacramento was. In a truly destitute era full of front office, coaching, and roster changes, Jason Thompson endured. Fox came close, but couldn’t survive Sacramento’s unpredictability quite as long as Thompson did.
Cold world.
Jason Thompson when reached for comment:


Only 319 games to go for Domas! 338 for Keegan!
To be fair, it does seem very fitting for this franchise to have Jason Thompson as the record-holder.
Hey now. JT is a better player than 50% of Monte’s first round draft picks!
JT is probably better than a good chunk of all the players we’ve drafted since taking him. Not spectacular but a solid player for us, could have possibly done more for a better franchise
Kings veterans prank Jason Thompson
He earned it after having to eat all that popcorn.
Amazing due to its longevity, not really for anything else…
Just took a look at his Wikipedia page and apparently after leaving the NBA in 2016, he played for 6 different foreign teams in 6 years. Uncomfortable optics that Sacramento’s all-time games played leader couldn’t stick with a single foreign team for more than a single season.
What’s really wild is that he went from starting for the Kings and averaging over 24 minutes a game to playing in just 47 more NBA games over two years with two different teams. It’s just so telling at how bad the Kings were.
Just glanced at his stats for the first time in awhile, its kind of wild that he basically had one season where he was a legitimate rotation player.
His age 25 season, he was actually -0.9 BPM, that would actually qualify a someone you would play, especially back then. Otherwise, next best season is -2.2.
Have to imagine some of it is the Kings not adapting to the new NBA quick enough. Feels like JT would have had more of a role in the 1990s, but by the 2010, the pace and space era was thriving and his 6 career three pointers and 0.7 blocks per game just didn’t really qualify him for any modern role.
Bros. Maloofs turned into Ranadivé.
Kings fans have endured for 40 seasons. Sacramento may have the most loyal fans in all of professional sports. Being a fan for this franchise isn’t for the weak.
Looking at Kings stats from that entire era is just incredibly depressing.
I hate to say this, but having 20 to 30 win teams every year at least gives the team a shot at real improvement via high draft picks. And that actually happened! The Kings had a #2 pick with a generational player sitting in front of them, and because they had the dumbest GM in the history of professional sports, they blew it.
This Kings team, locked into 39 to 45 wins, has almost no chance of improving while LaVine is on the books. They’ll miss the play-in some years and get smoked in the first round others. For this team to actually improve, the Tyrese Haliburton lighting strike has to happen AGAIN. It’s exceedingly unlikely. More likely, we’re looking at Davion Mitchells and Devin Carters and Justin Jacksons and Jason Thompsons at 12 every year until 2028.
At least there was some hope that those Kings teams would land the right player. This team, with this passive front office, looks locked into borderline sub-mediocrity for years.
I think the mavs gm may have actually secured that title from vlade. Passing on him is one thing, trading him while he’s not even in his prime yet is a completely different thing to me
BUT WERE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?
Yeah, really happy we have had the former site and TKH, because I don’t know how we would have made it through the days of Hawes, JT, Jimmer, etc. having to watch the games on TV without all of the self deprecating community humor.
How bad they still are…. especially ownership
In his seven years with Kings, he never seemed to miss a lot of time. Certainly was durable.
It’s telling that JT started for the Kangz for so many years and then, as soon as he tried playing elsewhere, was out of the league almost immediately.
Embarrassingly, I remember thinking we had our new Webber and Vlade with Thompson and Hawes. Shock and Hawes baby!
The legacy of this franchise speaks for itself.
The first draft pick: Joe Klein. Great guy, but not a great talent.
The games played leader: Jason Thompson. On the positive – JT played hard and with intent.
The longest playoff drought in NBA history: 16 seasons
However – this franchise has also had a 497 game sold out streak.
You must be one of those people who think Chris Mullin or Karl Malone would’ve been a better selection for the Kings than Joe Klein.
Granted, the Sacramento version of The Dream Team, would be slightly different.
Hey now, Joe Klein was at my UC Davis basketball camp in 7th grade. Someone asked him to dunk and I am not exaggerating when I say he could barley throw down a one hand dunk. Now, I get he’s not a high flyer but he is 7 feet.
On another JT-related note, I am glad he was here in Sac to experience Game 1 of the 2023 playoffs.
Fake Hustle!
Love ya JT
OT, but I’m getting SERIOUSLY freakin’ nervous with each passing hour and there’s no new news on the trade front.
Don’t be nervous, it’s being reported the Mavs want to trade for Durant. Isn’t that something?
The Caleb Martin trade to Dallas with Quentin Grimes and a 2nd rounder to Philly.
This brings each team under the 1st Apron by slightest of margins
Give me some of Sam Lacey’s effort and hustle in whoever backs up Domas.
You know I would come out of the woodwork for a JT article like this..He may not have been a great player, but damned if he didn’t try and was durable. At least you can’t call him the whiniest of kings (DMC took that crown)
Nice!
Nove, even!
I’d kill for a young JT off the bench for the current Kings.
Wouldn’t that be Isaac Jones?
Could very well be that. Given Issac a chance and some playing time I think you all might be surprised.
JT the legend
JT is a top ten King of all time for me. I love that guy. Historically, he is likely a top ten PF to ever suit up for the Kings. My personal rankings, which weighed both how many games they played as a King (sorry Drew Gooden), as well as their effectiveness and productivity, and fan impact. Had to leave a few treasures off, apologies to Ike Diogu, Skal, Rambis, Alaa Abdelnaby, and the legendary Evers Burns.
Chris Webber
Otis Thorpe
Wayman Tisdale
Brian Grant
Corliss Williamson
Antoine Carr
Zach Randolph
Marvin Bagley
Jason Thompson
Nemanja Bjelica
Trey Lyles
Lawrence Funderburke
Michael Smith
Anthony Bonner
Derrick Williams
Carl Landry
Kenny Thomas
Shareef Abdul-Rahim
Donte Greene
Brian Skinner
Mark Olberding
Pete Chilcutt
Jon Brockman
Quincy Acy
Jack Cooley
Think about where that gift Sasha Vezenkov could have ended up. That bright light was out before it was ever truly lit.
I like your list, its pretty good. I must point out 1 huge glaring mistake/omission. I would remove Derrick Williams from list and put in his place…….CHUCK HAYES!!!
Any list with Jack Cooley is a good list
And 1 glaring admission. Bagley?
You know, I had Chuck on my list, then decided he was more of a center, even though he was shaped like a fire hydrant.
No Beno, no Omri?
No bueno!
I’m not angry, just disappointed.
Upon further reflection…. no Omri, no JWill, no Gerald Wallace Aaaaaand Noooo Chuck Hayes? Im not disappointed, im disheartend
I think that was a list of PFs.
As always, Kfan coming into the chat with some common sense.
I appreciate the Dunking Dutchman giving some shout outs to two of my favorites, but the stop & pop Slovenian was a guard, and I felt Omri (another top ten King of all time for me) was a wing.
I want some Olden “OP Sucks” Polynice!
Only realized after I posted that you were listing PFs specifically.
Just with the loss tonight, Dallas falls from 8th to 11th and the Kings move to 8th. The 7-10 spots are gonna be a dog fight.
The next 10 games could very well dictate where this team go, and it’s quite softer than this road trip. If they can’t do 7-3 or better in that, they will be there in the 7-10 dogfight for the entire season and with a good chance of even not making it.
Pouring one out for JWow
JT i feel was a very solid player. He brought his lunchbox and hard hat to every game. He was tasked with going up against some of the best bigs night in and night out. People who say he didnt stick with teams after the Kings so that means he sucked, well i say he gave the Kings everything he had and had nothing left
Met JT in person at my son’s first Kings game in Portland ca. 2014 and have a wonderful keepsake photo with him and us. Great guy, true professional, epitomized Kings culture.
I got to meet him a few times as well. Very solid dude. I always seem to run into him at that car wash on 16th. Shoot what was that place? I haven’t been there in over a decade so not ever sure it’s still there. Harv’s?
19th, I think, but Harv’s is sadly gone, taken over by Quick Quack, or something like that.
Someone told me years ago that there a bar/card room at that location back in the day
Harvs was a great place.
Met him at a bar in Roseville during a Redskins (my team) vs eagles (his team) game way back in the rg3 year. Was a cool dude having some wings and a beer solo at the table next to me.
Am i bananas for thinking all we REALLY need by deadline is a backup big and Jonas V fits perfectly on so many levels.
1) should be very gettable with some 2nds
2) we don’t need to send a player out and def not a rotational piece like lyles
3) roster becomes balanced and 9 player rotations
guards: monk/keon/carter(weakest link but have to play/develop)
wings: demar/lavine/murray
bigs: sabonis/JVal/lyles
then we roll into the summer under the apron but the restriction is lifted and we have full mle/biannual/and huerter tpe
only player from that rotation not under contract next season is Lyles.
seems like a pretty solid spot to be in if they can get jval.
Jonas V would be a good get. The other one I would love to get is Olynyk
Agreed on Valanciunis.
Olynyk was good 2-3 years ago. I think he’s too much past his prime now.
I think Olynyk’s prime was during college.
I think we’re getting KJ Martin. Not saying it’s good or bad. KJ sat yesterday due to a pending trade. Read that no players are going to Philly in return. And we have financial flexibility.
Whelp
We have been saved from a Kyle Kuzma experience!
Woohoo!
I feel bad for Middleton. Lingering injuries have been hampering him severely.
That the gods!
Now go get Bobby Portis!
Yes, that goodness.
Portis would be nove.
Wew!
Cold Brew!
A very nove piece indeed.
The Kings seriously could have done this. They have their MLE and TPEs to use. A wing and 2 seconds???? Wake up, Monte! Kings are at 13 players. They have to get to 14 by league rules!
They’re going to pick up somebody (probably). It just might not be somebody you want. Could Issac Jones get a Keon Ellis type deal? Wouldn’t shock me.
If that’s the end game here and the Kings cut all that salary for nothing, then I’ll have no other opinion that this truly is a poverty franchise and Vivek has no intention of competing. Sell the team.
Hey, they’ve been underwhelming us for 40 years so why stop now? They could trade for Kevin Durant today and I’d still want Vivek to sell the team.
Can you expand on what type of player KJ Martin is? Other than size and I think athleticism, what does he bring? I have watched zero KJ Martin, except against the Kings.
when he was at Houston, he started showing potential as a scorer. haven’t followed him much since.
Cissoko is available to play tonight. he might compete for minutes as a backup wing / point forward.
I like KJ, but I am not sure he would be a huge help, other than another athlete off the bench. Not big enough to really help Domas & Trey. He is sort of what Donte Greene could have been if he paid attention to coaches.
Isn’t the bigger need is another frontcourt player?
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