The Sacramento Kings were the laughingstock of the NBA as they continually tripped over themselves trying to get back into the playoffs.
However, the Kings changed that narrative all the way around in the 2022-23 NBA season as they burst out of the gates with a frenetic offense that was hard for defenses to keep up with.
Under head coach Mike Brown, Sacramento was one of the best teams in the Western Conference and as a result they finished with the third seed.
Not many people saw the Kings’ resurgence coming, though their exciting run was cut short when they lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs.
Despite the disappointing ending, Sacramento is optimistic they can replicate their success and be a conference powerhouse.
However, the challenge for them has only gotten more difficult as they now need to prove they are a title contender, via Sam Amick of The Athletic.
“They’ll be out to prove that breaking the franchise’s brutal playoff drought was only the beginning,” Amick wrote.
It’s never easy to make the jump from surprise team to tried-and-true contender.
That’s the challenge this season for the upstart Kings.
What to expect after their offseason moves: https://t.co/bmVSjz8B31 pic.twitter.com/ToMi8dSR3a
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) September 7, 2023
Making the playoffs is an important accomplishment for most teams and the Kings should be proud they managed to end their drought last season.
However, the ultimate goal in the league is to win a championship and right now they have a long way to go to reach those heights.
Teams like the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers stand in their way, as well as other contenders like the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors.
Sacramento has a talented roster but it remains to be seen if it can take the leap.
NEXT: De'Aaron Fox Has An Honest Admission About Kings Fans Last Season
