While LeBron James made history with the Lakers, another California team took the opportunity to grab an all-time record. Except that this one is to be placed under the sign of absolute mediocrity… Clearly, the players concerned would have preferred that it not be associated with them.
In theory, the NBA is made of cycles and each team is supposed to be able to regain form following a period of dearth. We can think of the Knicks in particular, who reached the playoffs last year following several very complicated years. Regarding 2021-22, the Timberwolves are an example, the companions of Karl-Anthony Towns being 7ᵉ in the West a stone’s throw from direct qualification. But the theory is not always joined by the practice…
Indeed, one team continues to squat the league’s slums, season following season: Sacramento. With only 24 wins for 42 losses, the Californians are once once more disappointing with their particularly mediocre level of play. The post-season is already far away for Alvin Gentry’s men, who are only in 13ᵉ position in the West. On top of that, their most recent loss to the Mavs saw them sign an all-time record they might have done without:
Seasonless Kings with positive record for 16 years
The Kings have clinched their 16th (!!!) consecutive losing season following today’s loss, the most in a row in NBA history.
???????? pic.twitter.com/WGWbMqnLoi
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 6, 2022
The Kings are now in their 16th straight season with a negative record, the longest streak in NBA history.
Note that Sac-Town already held the previous “record” in this area, with 15 years in a row under 50% of victories between 1983 and 1998. This says a lot regarding the practically historic nullity of this franchise, which has only rarely able to get their heads above water. The early 200s with Chris Webber, Mike Bibby and Vlade Divac was one of the few rays of sunshine for the franchise, which hasn’t played in the playoffs since then. And so it’s not this season that that’s going to change…
2021-22 has once once more demonstrated the catastrophic management of the Kings, led by an owner next to the plate (Vivek Ranadive) and a front office playing musical chairs. The latter have indeed decided to separate from Tyrese Haliburton, a nugget with a promising future who is now found in Indiana. Enough to infuriate the supporters, who no longer know how to hope for this team. It now remains to try to put on a good face, unlike the match once morest Dallas:
So it’s been over 15 years since Sacramento last had a positive season and something tells us that’s not regarding to change. Given the way the franchise is run, the series might get a little longer…
