(Welcome back to our off-season series, “Just Wait ‘til Next Year!” in which special guest Jerry Reynolds and I bring you our 147 combined years to bring you our recollections of past Kings years.)
On June 17, 1994, O.J. Simpson and Al Cowlings led the LAPD on a low speed chase throughout the greater Los Angeles area, forever immortalizing white Ford Broncos. 16 days prior to this chase, the Kings hired Geoff Petrie as their new general manager. 12 days after the chase, Petrie drafted a trio of power forwards that collectively saw more success in Sacramento than almost the entirety of the prior nine year’s drafts, combined.
Let’s Kings basketball!
Not to get ahead of ourselves, but one thing that would be an early staple of Geoff Petrie was getting good value out of his draft picks. His inaugural draft in 1994 would net Brian Grant at 7 (“Where the hell is Xavier?!?” was the beleaguered Kings fans battle cry), Michael “The Animal” Smith at 35, and Lawrence “Those knees will never see a minute in the NBA” Funderburke at 51.
The ”same as it ever was” moment came when Grant held out (this was prior to preset rookie salaries), and did not agree to contract until just before the season was set to begin.
The Kings had really not made a lot of wholesale changes over the off season. Olden Polynice would be in his first full season with the Kings after coming over the prior trade deadline, but aside from that and the rooks, the core was pretty much the same (minus Wayman Tisdale, who moved on to Phoenix). Expectations were, to say the least, low.
And then the Kings won their first two games of the season, their home opener and a trip to Seattle. The season-opening starting five included the twin towers of Polynice and Duane Causwell, Walt Williams on the wing, and Mitch Richmond and Spud Webb in the back court.
The Kings were 5-5, and then 11-9, and then 17-13. And there was much rejoicing throughout the land. Brian Grant had supplanted Duane Causwell in the starting lineup a couple of dozen games into the season, and the team was clicking in a way that had not been seen around these parts. Richmond was on the short list of premier NBA shooting guards, Grant was more than holding his own as a rookie. Williams and Polynice were both exceeding expectations. Michael Smith was a surprise and solid bench contributor, Bobby Hurley and Randy Brown were sufficient in their limited roles, and Causwell and Lionel Simmons went from key contributors on a bad team to occasional options for a better team (albeit part of Simmons’ limited minutes were due to injuries).
Friday the 13th, 1995. I was still living in Chicago, though had already made plans to return to Sacramento. My buddy Mike gifted me floor seats for the Kings – Bulls (still sans Jordan) game. The Kings, led by Olden Polynice’s 25 points, Brian Grants 14 rebounds and Spud Webb’s 10 assists (and a 15-8-7 from Mitch Richmond), rode a 24-12 4th quarter to an 89-79 victory. Walking out of the arena, still wearing my Kings baby blue jacket, I heard from over my shoulder “The Kings still suck.” It was the first time anyone had ever taken the time and energy to hurl a Kings-related insult at me. Not pity, mind you. Anger and frustration. It was the proudest moment of my Kings fandom to that point. The Kings were now 25-18.
(Side note – I left Chicago two weeks later. Michael Jordan came out of NBA retirement and returned to the Bulls less than three weeks after I left. I guess that town just wasn’t big enough for the both of us.)
Mitch Richmond was named to his second All-Star game, but it would be his first appearance, as he had missed the prior season’s game due to a broken thumb. Richmond elevated Sacramento to new levels of civic pride when he brought home the All-Star game MVP award, scoring 23 points on 10-13 shooting, including all three from beyond the arc.
The Kings stood pat at the All-Star break and won their first three games after the break, extending their record to 28-20. They had the 7th best record in the Western Conference and 12th best in the league.
(Record scratch…)
The Kings would then lose their next five, all roadies, and ten of eleven. At 29-30, they were under .500 for the first time since they were 6-7. They were 10-13 the rest of the way, finishing 39-43. For the tenth straight season (out of ten in Sacramento), the Kings failed to finish with a winning record, and they agonizingly missed the playoffs by two games, after spending most of the season in a playoff position. The fanbase was simultaneously energized and deflated, as the entirety of the season actually meant something, but once again ended with no bonus basketball.
Reynolds’ Wrap
“A lot of memories concerning the Brian Grant draft. He was not on any mock drafts as a top 20 player early but as the process worked out he was moving up. The workout and psychological test with him were outstanding and by draft day it was a rare unanimous selection among all Kings front office, coaches and scouts. I don’t recall it ever happening before or after. It made Petrie’s first pick easier and the right one. I always remember the draft was held in Indianapolis and my youngest brother Randy (RIP) represented the Kings on the phone. He had grown up and played HS bball with Larry Bird and this was a real high point in a life that was soon ravaged by Diabetes. Soon we had the press conference with Brian, and I remember him telling the media how he would play for a Coke and chips. He then held out in contract negotiations until the end of preseason. Yep, it’s still the NBA.” – Jerry Reynolds
***
The 11-game improvement from 93-94 to 94-95 was an oasis to a parched fan base, but by this point everyone wanted to see a playoff game take place in ARCO II. Would it ever happen? For the time being, and once again, we would have to Wait ‘til Next Year.
First time first to comment! I was in Everett,WA at that time, full on fan of the Rain Man and the Glove, smarting from Dikembe’s grip on the ball at the end of the first round. It wasn’t till ‘99 that I moved to Grass Valley and switched alliances. (I grew up in Pgh, PA so had no birthright NBA alliances.)
Great write up per usual, thank you.
My question for the group is: “What Kings team was the best defensive team in the Sacramento era?” Please explain your answer, LOL.
The 95-96 team (Richmond, Sarunas, Grant, Smith) and the 05-06 team (Artest, Artest, Wells, and Artest) were the most physical, but the 02-03 team was an amazingly solid, effective, and criminally underrated defensive squad. I think they may have been the highest ranked (or close to it) defense in FG% and defensive rating ever in Sac.
Agreed on the 02-03 team. Keon Clark and Jim Jackson were absolute difference makers on defense that season.
Yup, it’s now been 20 yrs I believe since the Kings have been ranked top 10 in defense!
And counting, we have to assume.
Yep, the 02-03 team was by far one of the best defensive teams we’ve had in Sacramento. It was less talked about because the offensive firepower of that squad was still commanding all the attention at the time.
Thanks all for the responses. I agree with the three seasons mentioned.
Damn, so Rob missed out on MJ that year? I forgot if you mentioned if you got to see MJ live at a game in one of the previous articles, but if you did, that must’ve been some experience to watch him play.
Never saw MJ live, but in terms of once-in-a-generation players, I’ve seen Kobe and LeBron live at games once each when they played the Kings (in the nosebleed seats for both times); the former at the Staples Center in Kobe’s last season, and the latter at Golden 1 Center in his last year with the Cavs before signing with the Lakers. The Kings actually won both games (the more surprising one being against the Cavs).
Great writing Rob, appreciate the good read!
The NBA season had some memorable moments –
After 3 championships- Michael Jordan left the NBA to play for the Double AA Birmingham Barons, as a part of Jerry Reinsdorf’s Chi WiteSox. He hit .202. Or was this repaying a gambling debt and a deal with David Stern? The stress of being so great, the tragic murder of his Dad – who knows why. But it happened.
The Bulls opened the United Center that season, and His Airness had had his #23 retired so played the remaining few weeks wearing #45.
The NBA shortened the 3 point line to 22 ft. They restored it to 23’9” (baseline 22’) two seasons later.
This was the season the Kings changed their colors! Out with the Baby Blue and Red and IN with the Purple and Black! The logo with the jousting lances debuted.
The Kings added Alaa Abdelnaby.
The Kings signed Frank Brickowski who was injured in Pre-season and missed the entire season (and left the following season).
Rob and The Great Jerry Reynolds thank you, yet again, for another fun episode to reminisce about another season of Kings basketball as the new season approaches (less than 30 days!).
Love this series.
I guess looking back, the success of Spudd Webb was even more special in a period where the focus was mainly on bigs and post scoring, and not on perimeter oriented 3 point shooters.
Spud was special in so many ways and it was amazing how durable he was . Not many 5-6 players could dunk over 7- 5 Shawn Bradley .
This was the year I arrived in Sacramento as a 19 yr old full of piss and vinegar, a nice jump shot and some decent handles for a playground 3-4. I’d barely ever heard of the Kings but after getting a job and meeting some of the locals I began to immerse myself in Kings fandom right off the bat. At the time, I was a different type of basketball fan; I came from MI and loved Magic Johnson and the Lakers so they were my team. But the Lakers hadn’t been that team for years. Kobe hadn’t gone “Kobe” yet and they hadn’t been good for a while but I honestly just loved the hoops. The Lakers had just happened to be one of the best teams during my formative years and featured on television more than any other team back then. For a while I didn’t even know Sacramento had a team.
As a basketball player, Richmond was fascinating to watch. Like MJ, he would dissect his opponent, looking for holes and weaknesses. He could and would set a player up 2 plays in advance and make a whole team look foolish. And while he didn’t engage in a lot of shit talk, you could tell other players liked to talk to him but by the end of the game they’d be cordial, even jovial. The Rock brought class to the organization and commanded respect, that’s for sure.
I wasn’t “all-in” on the Kings by this point, but they had my attention thanks to co-workers and an obvious passion I saw in the suburbs of Sacramento for this team. Well, that And The Rock. It had slowly started seeping its way into my being and my Lakers swag started making its way out into the garage as my interest began to shift from an overall appreciation for basketball to this rabid fascination with a success-challenged squad from the town few people recognized the name of when you said it to them outside of California.
30 years later…. Not a thing has changed, really. Being a fan of this team has taught me that success looks different for everybody and you can never take today for granted because success is fleeting and life is short. Time for some waffles.
I love all of these “how I found the Kings” stories in our online community. I also love how generational we all are. There are young fans on here, and when I mean young I mean they really don’t have a recollection of the glory years. We also have some long in the tooth fans. If I’m not mistaken, El Ron has been a fan since he shot a ball through the peach basket. There are folks here who grew up playing basketball across many levels, some have coached basketball, some are out of state, and some are Sactown lifers. I just love this community!
I may be off a bit, but I thought the word on ElRon Toro was that he was around before baskets were invented.
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