August 18, 2026
August 18, 2026
2001-2002 Sacramento Kings: Winning Aplenty
The Sacramento Kings were an NBA franchise that had previously called Rochester, Cincinnati, Kansas City, and Omaha home before finally settling down. Having called Sacramento, California, home since the 1985-1986 NBA season, the Kings found themselves in position to win in the playoffs, making more postseason appearances than the franchise had been accustomed to in Kansas City. In the early 2000s, aside from their bitter rivals the Los Angeles Lakers, the Kings were considered one of the best teams in the Western Conference.
In the 2001-02 NBA season, the Sacramento Kings went 61-21, finishing three games ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers in the Pacific Division. The Kings went 15-9 in divisional play. They went 36-5 at their home arena, the ARCO Arena, and 25-16 on the road. The Kings remained consistently good through each month of the regular season, going 12-4 in November, 10-5 in December, 11-1 in January, 7-5 in February, 12-4 in March, and 8-2 in April.
Small forward Peja Stojakovic had 1,506 points with 373 rebounds, 171 assists, and 81 steals, making 547 of 1,130 field goal shots, 129 of 310 3-point shots, and 283 of 323 free throws. Stojakovic averaged 21.2 points per game. Power forward Chris Webber was the heartbeat of the Kings for most of his playing career, constantly driving the rest of the team into position to win. Webber had 1,322 points with 546 rebounds, 258 assists, 90 steals, and 76 blocks, making 532 of 1,075 field goal shots and 253 of 338 free throws. Webber averaged 24.5 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game and would be named to the All-NBA Second Team.
Point guard Mike Bibby had 1,098 points with 403 assists and 87 steals, making 446 of 985 field goal shots and 155 of 193 free throws. Shooting guard Doug Christie had 972 points with 340 assists and 160 steals, making 338 of 735 field goal shots, 90 of 256 3-point shots, and 206 of 242 free throws. Christie would be named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Point guard Bobby Jackson had 896 points, making 334 of 754 field goal shots, 79 of 219 3-point shots, and 149 of 184 free throws. Center Vlade Divac had 888 points with 671 rebounds, 297 assists, and 94 blocks, making 338 of 716 field goal shots and 209 of 340 free throws.
Small forward Hedo Turkoglu had 810 points, making 290 of 687 field goal shots, 63 of 171 3-point shots, and 167 of 230 free throws. Center Scott Pollard had 509 points with 70 steals and 76 blocks, making 197 of 358 field goal shots and 115 of 166 free throws.
While the Lakers were the toast of the town in the Western Conference, the Sacramento Kings were quietly making a name for themselves by comparison. The Kings went on two long winning streaks that would have drawn far more admiration from basketball fans had they been achieved by a team in a larger market. The Kings went on a 12-game winning streak that began on December 23 with a 133-101 win over the Phoenix Suns and ended on January 21 with a 112-98 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Towards the end of the regular season, the Kings went on another impressive winning streak, this time an 11-game run that began on March 26 with a 107-90 win over the Los Angeles Clippers and ended on April 12 with a 125-106 win over the same Clippers.
The first test for the Kings in the playoffs was the Utah Jazz, a formidable team that had been to the NBA Finals just a few years prior. In the First Round of the Western Conference Playoffs, the Kings eliminated the Jazz three games to one. In Game 1 on April 20 at the ARCO Arena, the Kings beat the Jazz 89-86. Chris Webber had 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. Mike Bibby had 20 points with 4 rebounds and 6 assists.
In Game 2 on April 23, the Jazz won 93-86, but the Kings quickly regrouped and took care of business. In Game 3 on April 27, the Kings beat the Jazz 90-87 at the Delta Center. Bibby had 26 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Stojakovic had 21 points and 11 rebounds. Webber had 18 points and 13 rebounds. The Kings put away the Jazz in Game 4 on April 29 with a 91-86 victory. Stojakovic had 30 points and made 4 of 6 3-point shots. Webber had 23 points with 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks.
The next test for the Kings was the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Kings eliminated the Mavericks four games to one. In Game 1 on May 4 at the ARCO Arena, the Kings won 108-91. Stojakovic had 26 points and 10 rebounds. Webber had 20 points and 10 rebounds. Vlade Divac had 18 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assists.
In Game 2 on May 6, the Mavericks won 110-102, but just like in the last series, the Kings would take control from here on out. In Game 3 on May 9 at the American Airlines Center, the Kings beat the Mavericks 125-119. Webber had 31 points with 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. Bibby had 29 points with 4 rebounds and 9 assists while making 5 of 5 3-point shots. Doug Christie had 20 points with 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
In Game 4 on May 11, the Kings beat the Mavericks 115-113 in overtime. Webber had 30 points and 1 rebound. Bobby Jackson had 26 points with 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Bibby had 24 points with 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
The Kings put away the Mavericks with a 114-101 victory in Game 5 on May 13 at the ARCO Arena. Bibby had 23 points with 3 rebounds and 6 assists. Webber had 23 points with 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Hedo Turkoglu had 20 points with 13 rebounds and 2 assists.
The Western Conference Finals will forever be remembered by basketball fans and critics alike as a series tainted by questionable officiating, so much so that Game 6 on May 31 has been called “rigged.” At the Staples Center, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Kings in this controversial game, 106-102. The Lakers went on to win the series four games to three and later captured the NBA Championship.
In Game 2 on May 20 at the ARCO Arena, the Kings beat the Lakers 96-90. Chris Webber had 21 points with 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 blocks. Mike Bibby had 20 points and 8 assists. In Game 3 on May 26 at the Staples Center, the Kings won 103-90. Webber had 26 points with 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Bibby had 24 points with 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Doug Christie had 17 points with 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals.
The Kings took a 3 games to 2 lead in the series by narrowly beating the Lakers 92-91 in Game 5 on May 28 at the ARCO Arena. Webber had 29 points with 13 rebounds and 3 assists. Bibby had 23 points with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals.
The Sacramento Kings continued to be competitive in the Western Conference for the next few years before the postseason quality of play started to fade. While they were winning aplenty, the 2001-02 Sacramento Kings are statistically regarded as one of the best NBA teams never to win a championship.
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