Kings May Have Clinched A Playoff Spot But They Still Have Bigger Aspirations

Clinching a playoff spot for the first time since the 2005-06 season on Wednesday night, the Sacramento Kings still have their eyes set on achieving more.

For the first time since 2006, the Sacramento Kings are going to the NBA Playoffs! 

It may have taken longer than the organization and their fans wanted, but the Kings will be playing postseason basketball and most likely to be the 3-seed in the Western Conference, they will be hosting a first-round playoff series.

Not enough good things can be said about the job Mike Brown has done in his first season as the head coach of the Kings and GM Monte McNair deserves a ton of credit as well. 

General managers and front-office personnel are always the people taking the most criticism when things are not going well and many questioned the moves McNair made a season ago, especially trading away 2020 first-round pick Tyrese Haliburton. 

By moving Haliburton, the Kings were able to land All-Star center Domantas Sabonis, who has fit in perfectly alongside first-time All-Star De'Aaron Fox, and then McNair spearheaded the team drafted Keegan Murray fourth overall this past offseason.

In the team's 120-80 victory on Wednesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento not only clinched their playoff berth, but Murray made his 188th three-pointer this season, a new NBA rookie record. 

Showing glimpses of their potential early on this season, the Kings are now heading to the playoffs with one thing on their minds and that is to continue playing at a high-level in order to make a deep postseason run.

Ending their 16-year playoff drought is great and everyone within the organization is happy about this, but they also know that this group is capable of achieving much more and it may sound crazy to everyone else, but to the Kings, they truly believe that they can contend for a title. 

"I guess this would be like relief. People can't keep saying it. It's over and done with," De'Aaron Fox said following Wednesday's game. "We want to do bigger things. But 16 years, that's a long time. It feels great to get it off of us."

Veteran Harrison Barnes also gave his input on the Kings ending their playoff drought, stating that while he wishes they were able to do so in front of their home fans since they have stuck with the team through everything.

At home this season, the Kings have gone 23-16 and they have one of the most passionate group of fans in the entire league. 

Hosting a playoff series for the first time since 2006 will be a dream come true for everyone in that arena, but for head coach Mike Brown, competing for a championship and playing in the postseason is nothing new. 

Brown recently helped the Golden State Warriors win the 2022 NBA Finals last season and with championship experience under his belt from his days with the Warriors, Sacramento's head coach is ready for the challenge that is ahead.

"Our guys are excited about it," Brown said of the team ending the organization's playoff drought. They're excited about the way that they played tonight and the accomplishments that they've had so far. They were excited for Keegan. But in the same breath, and not to downplay anything, they expect more."

If the season was to end today, the Kings would face the Warriors in the first-round of the playoffs, which is poetic for a few reasons.

Not only did Brown leave Golden State for Sacramento in the offseason, but the Kings have always been viewed as a lesser organization compared to the Warriors.

Perhaps this is the challenge that the Kings need though, as taking down the defending NBA champions would surely send a message to the rest of the Western Conference. 

"I know, not only myself, but we want to give them a lot more than we’ve given them so far already because they’re more than deserving of it," Brown said. "When you have a fanbase that’s as intelligent, rabid and passionate about not only their team, but their city, too, you can feel that it’s a prideful thing. You just want the world for them and you’re excited about it. 

"We want them to celebrate, but we also know they expect more from us and we expect to hopefully give them more."

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