The Sacramento Kings began in Rochester in 1948 before moving to Cincinnati, Kansas City, and eventually Sacramento. The franchise won their only championship in 1950 as the Rochester Royals but then spent much of its time in the league basement. For 40 years, the team never really challenged for a championship or even the playoffs but over the last four years, the team has averaged 58 wins a season and has won the Pacific Division twice.
The 2003 Kings were coached by Rick Adelman and led by all-star Peja Stojakavic. Stojakavic averaged 24.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and better than 2 assists a game last season but also got help from point guard Mike Bibby and big man Brad Miller. The team lost Vlade Divac after last season but signed Utah big man Greg Ostertag. Ostertag is no where near the passer Divac is but he’ll help with defense, shot blocking, and rebounding. The Kings only had one draft pick this off-season and used in Kevin Martin, a shooting guard out of Western Carolina who could be a starter for the team in a few years.
The Kings will remain in the newly realigned Pacific Division but they’ll see their chances at a division title go up dramatically. Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers will likely be happy to contend late and the Phoenix Suns might be a year or two away. The Lakers traded Shaquille O’Neal to the Heat in the off-season but they still have Kobe Bryant so you can never count them out. Mike Bibby will start at point guard with Doug Christie joining him in the backcourt. Peja Stojakavic and Chris Webber will team up at the forward spots with Brad Miller patrolling the middle as the center. Bobby Jackson won the sixth man award a few years ago and should be healed after an abdominal problem ended his season prematurely last season. Darius Songaila played well in the Olympics this off-season and could be a key factor during the season this year.
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