Kings end historic playoff drought and break longest active streak in major US sports: “It’s a long time”

The Sacramento Kings are on the way NBA playoffs for the first time since the 2005/06 season.

With their 120-80 win over the Portland Trail Blazer As of Wednesday night, Sacramento experienced the longest playoff drought in NBA history and ended what is currently the longest postseason drought in America’s big four sports.

“We want to do bigger things, but 16 years – that’s a long time,” Kings guard De’Aaron Fox said.

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The last time the Kings made the playoffs – and ended the season with a winning record – Fox was just 8 years old.

“Definitely with this team, I think you’re just playing for a higher purpose,” Fox said. “And I think we have a team that’s capable and we know we can keep improving.”

The once proud franchise has sat in the The basement of the NBA a shell of his previous teams, which made the playoffs every year from 1998 to 2005, for nearly two decades.

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Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings performs the national anthem on March 29, 2023 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. (Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

But the offseason hiring of head coach Mike Brown reinvigorated the organization, leading a core of Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter into the NBA’s best attacking team.

And while making the playoffs is a good place to start, it’s certainly not the goal for the small market franchise.

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Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk reacts after firing a shot against the Trail Blazers Wednesday, March 29, 2023 in Portland. The Kings won 120-80. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

“We want to give [the fans] a lot more than we’ve given them so far because they more than deserve it,” Brown said of her team, but also her city, you could feel it’s a proud cause, according to ESPN. You want the world for her, and you’re happy about it. We want them to celebrate, but we, we also expect more from ourselves and we expect to hopefully give them more.”

The Kings are 46-30 and will host a first-round playoff series in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report