The Sacramento Kings have qualified for the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2006. What has altered?

May 2006 was a long time ago, and it must have felt even longer for everyone involved with the Kings.

Sacramento hasn’t participated in an NBA postseason game in nearly 17 years, but this season’s progress has given Golden 1 Center supporters something to cheer about. after the regular season’s 82 games conclude.

With a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday of 120-80, the Kings secured a playoff berth. They now have a 46-30 record and are the third team in the Western Conference playoffs, joining the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies.

They get along well, and according to Fox, Sabonis is the best screenwriter he’s ever worked with. It seems that all Fox required, after receiving criticism for its performance for years, was a better running mate and supporting cast. A change of scenery has also benefited Sabonis, propelling him into contention for All-NBA honours. It has also landed him on a team that, for the first time in his career, will finish in the top three of their conference.

Brown, who has been in the NBA coaching ranks since the 1990s, learned many of his offensive tricks on Steve Kerr’s Golden State Warriors staff (a team who are no stranger to record-setting offensive prowess themselves). Many questioned why a coach with Brown’s resume would want to lead a team with so much institutional baggage when he took the Sacramento job last year. However, he clearly saw significant potential that many others did not. Brown is currently the overwhelming favourite to win Coach of the Year as a result, and he merits it.

Basketball is a team sport, and the Kings have demonstrated that they have a sneakily strong supporting cast in addition to the electrifying Sabonis-Fox combination. Kevin Huerter, who was a perimeter threat but wasn’t necessarily a foundational piece for the Atlanta Hawks, has been on fire since joining the Sacramento Kings this season. Malik Monk made waves with a struggling Los Angeles Lakers team last season, but they were unable to pay him, and he has found a perfect home on these exuberant, fast-paced Kings. Last year’s draught saw the front office take a lot of heat for passing on Purdue’s Jaden Ivey in favour of Iowa’s Keegan Murray, and while the long-term results have yet to be seen,

Unlike many others, we are not owned by a billionaire, which allows us to pursue the truth fearlessly and with integrity. In 2023, we’ll continue to put forth our trademark tenacity and fervour to bring you journalism that is never influenced by business or politics. Nobody interferes with what’s most crucial to us or edits our editor.

With your help, we will keep Guardian journalism open and free for all to read. When access to information is made equal, a greater number of people will be able to comprehend global events and their implications for individuals and communities. If we work together, we can demand more from the powerful while also fighting for democracy.

Regardless of how much or how little you donate, your help will ensure that we can keep reporting for years to come.