The Sacramento Kings have officially clinched a playoff spot, ending their 16-season playoff drought. The Kings will play in the playoffs for the first time since May 5, 2005.
The drought is finally over.
The Kings clinched by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 120-80 Wednesday evening. After a couple days filled with multiple clinching scenarios, the Kings punched their own ticket to the postseason.
The Kings currently hold the third seed in the West, so it isn’t exactly a nail-biter surprise that the Kings have ended the drought, but it still feels like such a relief. After so many years of false hopes, many Kings fans (myself included) were still hesitant to count on the playoffs until it was official. Well we can all breath a sigh of relief and shed a tear of happiness. The Kings are in the playoffs.
Congratulations to the players on this roster for accomplishing what so many others before them couldn’t.
Congratulations to Monte McNair for threading such a difficult win-now needle and succeeding in spectacular fashion.
Congratulations to Mike Brown for being the first Kings coach since Rick Adelman to lead the Kings to the playoffs.
Congratulations to Vivek Ranadivé for living up to his promise to give Sacramento a winning team again.
But more than any of them, congratulations to us, the fans, who have endured the misery longer than anyone else ever has. Our patience and loyalty have endured far longer than the tenures of any current Kings leadership or players. We’ve been through so, so much as fan of this franchise. We made it through Basketball Hell and came out the other side.
WE DID IT! LET’S CELEBRATE! LIGHT THE BEAM!
We need a banner!
Light the Beam!!
💜 🔦
Let’s Gooooooo!!!!!! Light that MF Beam!!
I suggest the most joyous of dance parties!!!!!
OK… maybe just one
Goodbye to that Scandalous playoff drought!
Woohoo!
https://kingsherald.com/8f04b3c4-d265-4e6f-83ab-579786c8abfb
https://kingsherald.com/451f73d7-a5b7-42d9-ad60-0e2827be99c5
Oops. The gifs aren’t working.
We made it guys. We really made it.
16 consecutive losing seasons, two relocation attempts, whiffed draft picks, ownership stupidity, bad GM’s, coaching carousels, locker room drama…..all of it has come to an end.
There were many times I felt that this team would never get to this point, and I felt like giving up. There was a point where I wasn’t even actively following the team because everytime it seemed like the corner was turning, the rug was pulled from underneath our feet.
But we made it. We stuck through 17 years of misery, AND WE’RE GOING TO THE MOTHER FUCKING PLAYOFFS WITH GUARENTEED HOME COURT ADVANTAGE!!!!!
I’m so proud of the players, coaches, and GM this season. I came into this season with low expectations, maybe at best thinking we could compete for a play-in spot. The complete 180 of not only winning basketball, but a season drama free was such a great thing to see, and we fans deserve everything.
Enjoy this moment Kings fans, and LIGHT THE MOTHER FUCKING BEAM! THAT FIRST PLAYOFF GAME AT GOLDEN 1 CENTER IS GOING TO BE CRAZY!
(Excuse the swearing, but this is the one good thing that has happened today since I’ve been in bed recuperating from my sickness!)
Fucking beautiful man. Let the profanity fly tonight! Fuck it, we deserve this!
When all else fails blame it on the COVID. You expressed most fans feelings so well, I don’t really have much to add to your post.
I started taking my son to Kings games when he was 6 so 2000 and the Kings were still good. But he hung in there with me and the team even when all his relatives in the Bay Area were rubbing his face in the Dubs success. He lives in Portland and was at the game tonight and will be there again on Friday. He was so stressed, not able the process that the King’s success was actually real. The depth of his feelings with the win tonight are beyond my ability to express.
So KLAM you are one good brother, if anyone has the right to unleash a few swear words it’s you. I hope the COVID comes and goes. In your feverish dreams celebrate and get better. And thank you for hanging in and never being a dick about it.
Chicken Soup Klam. Get better for the playoffs. Going to take all of us pulling together to get to 71 wins or so to take the Crown.
I second the chicken soup motion.
LETS GOOOOOOOO
WE MADE IT LADIES AND GENTS, WE MADE IT
TBH, I felt like this team has been headed to the playoffs for the last month after they started the post ASB with 5 W’s. But…it’s good to get this officially in the books and stop seeing the NBA Communications tweets (agree with Damian Barling on this one) about how the Kings just need to win 1 more game or this team or that team needs to lose.
Now we can get on with the real business and order at hand: Where the Kings finish in the seedings (they are 2 back of Memphis after their loss to the Clippers tonight) and who they match up with.
Me, personally, I don’t really care where they finish as long as they finish out healthy and get everybody charged up and ready to go for what could be a long, long grind. Especially in a season where these guys have played a ton of minutes (Domas, HB & De’Aaron especially).
LIGHT. THE. FUCKING. BEAM. We’re in the playoffs again. WOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
Well you should be embarrassed because you were thinking 43-45 wins preseason.. and we are going be above that..sheesh..
I gotta give you credit. From the get go, you said this team could win 45 games. I was skeptical of that because of all the fool’s gold over the years. I did think the team had talent, but I underestimated how quickly and well the pieces would fit together. Tip of the cap to you, sir!
Hey playoffs! How you doin’?
Thank you Kings community. Ring the bell. Light the beam. Hoist a glass to a new era of Sacramento basketball. Let’s go Kings!!!
It was many years ago that I was turned to the other site we won’t mention, when a post about Donte Green playing for the Reno Bighorns made me laugh.
I don’t post much anymore, but I can say this community is what has kept me watching. How many times has a contributor, commenter or content creator, said that.
I thank each and everyone one of you for being the best fans, period. Except you. And also you. And maybe you.
Light that fucking beam.
The Good The Bad and the Peaches
Carl Landry in a top hat.
Countless nickname threads
Dance threads
Getting in trouble for posting those gifs
The ban hammer
The time out tinker
Threadiquette!
Jerryisms
Jerry Fucking Reynolds!
Can he play SF
Pookie making fun of me for calling myself Seattle Royalty, which honestly had nothing to do with the Kings moving to Seattle!
Trading for Cash Considerations
The relocation saga
The saving of the team
The building of G1 Center
Getting to meet so many of you at the first STR night.
We’re going to the playoffs. Man, it feels good to write that. I love you all.
This
Well, of all the memories I have from that night, meeting you was certainly one! I probably made fun of you for living in West Seattle (if I remember right). Which is ironic since I lived down the street from Northgate Mall for like a year…but whatever. Or the shithole room I rented down the way from UW for another almost 2 years.
Yeah. Different times then.
Don’t forget breakfast!
Evers Burns! Evers Burns!
(For some reason that part of the article made me laugh so hard)
I was on the old site as luckthefakers.
In 2006 I had just moved away from Sac and 3 moves later im in SoCal listening to Laker fans whine about maybe not making the playoffs. Feels good.
Thanks to all of you for being my fandom family through all of the lean times and sharing the burden. Let’s enjoy the playoffs. We’ve paid our mental dues and we’ve earned it.
RAISE THE HOT HAND!!!!!
PLEASE BOO (THE OPPOSING TEAM WE FACE)!
Yeah! The end of an error.
But this is also just the beginning.
17 MF years! We made it!
I turned 40 last week. I was in high school when the Kings were finally contenders. I go married the last year they were in the playoffs. Feels like forever ago…
Half a lifetime ago for quite a few of us. Hard to believe.
I was 16 old in 2006, now I’m almost 33 so techincally for me it’s literally a little bit more than half of my lifetime.
When the Kings were last in the playoffs I still lived in CA (had my whole life). I’ve lived in WA since December 2006 and followed the Kings all the way through (I guess I like to suffer). When they were last in the playoffs I was a relatively young man just married. Now I have 3 kids, one driving. I’m not young. But I’m still a Kings fan!
Light The BEAM!
My daughter was 1 the last time the Kings made the playoffs. She’s startng college this fall!
My daughter wasn’t even born, and we just bought her a car as she is turning 16 in May.
Early birthday present from the Kings to her. My 12 year old son will be seeing the Kings in the playoffs for the first time, too.
Same!! My daughter is going to Chico State this fall. We had season tickets up until Covid, so she has been a semi-fan all along, but this year we get to watch playoff BBall.
The last time the Kings were in the playoffs (2006):
The iPhone had yet to be released.
George Bush was president.
If You Don’t Like That with Grant Napear
Ya that really puts it in perspective for me a bit. That is a long ass time.
I just beamed in my pants to the general direction of the Bay and LA.
Yeah but you’ve been drinking. I think it might be urine
I seriously cried when the buzzer ended. I’m so happy and proud of our team, coaches, and staff. Way to prove everyone wrong. Fuck it, we deserve it!
I can’t wait to get tickets to the first home playoff game. GC1 is going to be packed and roaring. I need to get some cowbells…
They proved everyone wrong and we all got to experience one of the most magical sports seasons ever, whatever happens in the playoffs.
One of the most memorable sports seasons for me to witness, and we’re not even done!
Basketball Hell has frozen over!
Woohoo!
Basketball hell just moved to Dallas and Portland. We Beamin’ on the playoffs baby!!!
We can play basketball in the winter in Sacramento!
https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/1641293396554964992
FEEL THE ROAR IS BACK!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
We moved to West Sac in 2007. Never saw a Kings playoff game here. So two more wins to clinch the 3?
Perhaps to seize the 2d seed.
it’s doable.
Need Memphis to stumble a little. Possible.
Some of the players on our last playoff team:
Bibby
Brad Miller
Peja
Bonzi
Shareef
K Mart
Artest
Corliss
Seems like ages ago.
It hasn’t been 84 years! We’re finally back in the playoffs!
LIGHT THE BEAM: KINGS CLINCH 1ST PLAYOFF BERTH SINCE 2006
Shit, we can’t use that meme any more 🥲. Happy to see her go.
Turn this Purple. Fucking A Kosta. Best ever!
Man, this game…
♫ OUR SEASON WILL GO ON
AND ON… ♫
https://twitter.com/JandersonSacBee/status/1641299397752541185
I would’ve thought Davion = DPOG, but I’m hella happy for Alex Len. 🙂
Spreading the love.
good stuff.
Davion could win it pretty much every game by default lol. He was a menace out there, but I’m happy for Len
He is going to have a D running mate in Kessler next year. Yet another success story in a year full of great Kings stories.
Glad to see he got some playing time. Maybe warming him up in case we play Minnesota?
I was thinking Philly in the Finals, but I don’t want to read too much into it.
He can backup Lyles in a fracas with Brook versus the Bucks.
♫ IF I CAN BEAM ♫
I can’t fucking believe it. Y’all are a bunch of masochists for even being here. Light the Beam!
It’s crazy how much misery this community of sadistic Kings nerds has suffered through. I’m proud of those of us who have stuck around through it, and I’m proud of the folks who decided for their mental health that they needed a break from the Kangz. Fuck it, we all deserve this.
THE FUTURE IS PURPLE. LTB!
I love all of you.
What a wild 17 years. Here we stayed, and here we come!
Man, I wish JLV was here. He’s probably shooting out rainbows from his body right now.
I just made comment about JLV..he was mr positivity during some dark times
purple rainbows
Never a doubt!!
Is this Ed_m from back in the StR days? Wow.
Yessir!! So happy for this community. Playoffs, baby!!
Congrats and please hang around.
We have thick creamy shakes here, too!
That’s the Ed I know and like!
Godspeed Kings and the whole of the Kings Organization.
You are all Winners.
Where is JLV.. I hope is is celebrating.
Too many threads. Can’t gif fast enough
I love all of you. Light the Beam forever.
Very happy to say many of my comments and takes on this team were way off, especially about the Sabonis trade. This season has been completely surreal and unimaginable to me but we finally got what we deserved so I can see how it is possible. Super thankful to have the most fun and exciting squad in the league, great group of players and coaches.
This blog is dope and y’all kept me laughing through the misery. I ordered a Beam Team jersey can’t wait to rock it. I been down since the days of going to Arco in the 90s with my Mom so you know this shit feels good!
Last time the Sacramento Kings made the playoffs I was 16 and without a driver’s license. Since then I’ve graduated H.S, undergrad and earned an MFA and taught public school 3 years. I’ve served a 2 year LDS mission, gotten married and had 4 kids. About time.
Light. The. Beam.
Sacramento Kings to upgrade the over court video screen at G1C for the playoffs. It will be lit after game wins.
The Maloofs had something similar, but there was water instead of fire.
So happy to share this with all of you 16 year losers! Ain’t losers no more. Finish the season healthy and wreak havoc in the playoffs. All of our games should be on national TV. Hang a Pacific division banner a Western conference banner, and F it, an NBA banner. Keegan all rookie team, Coach Brown COTY, Fox and Sabonis All NBA, Fox Clutch player of the year, Monk 6th Man, hell, Huerter for most improved. Throw in Monte for exec of the year while we’re at it. I’m claiming partial credit for cancelling my 9 year run of being a STH. Joined back right as the season started.
Dudes…. Holy moly…. it’s actually real.
I can remember watching playoff games against Utah and Dallas and those yellow and purple shirts back in 03 with my mom and how much fun that was. My mom and I shared our love for the Kings for many years, and after my dad passed in 2000 we started to fan together as a way of just keeping something fun to talk about daily. We loved that team so much back then.
Then the dark days came, and we found it just too discouraging and we lost our enjoyment of rooting for the team. So I sulked around here and the previous site with you fellas for many years, each year hoping “this is the year” only to be let down over and over, until I actually finally flat out gave up all hope 2 or 3 (or 4?) years ago.
Now my mom is 88, and we finally are having fun watching the Kings again. We had a mini celebration tonight as the beam team sealed the deal. I never thought any players could ever replace CWeb, Doug, Bibby, Bobby, Peja, Hedo, Vlade and samurai Scotty… but we are loving this lineup. This is a fun team to root for, and for that I am thrilled and grateful.
So congrats Sacramento! To all of you who I have suffered along with all this time, I am happy for you all tonight. Most of all, I am so happy my mom got to see this win tonight. It was special.
Light
The
Beam
Long time lurker here (and on that previous site). Fan since 1988. Man, this feels amazing. Cheers to everyone! I can’t wait to scream my head off when I attend a playoff game!
Congrats everyone! Thanks for running this site, before that, STR, and even going back to when the place for comments was the SacBee forum. (the SacBee forum is why I kept this username even though Eddie is just a food-ordering name for me because it’s easier to pronounce)
Obligatory…congratulations everyone!!!!
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