Sacramento Kings

Report: Sacramento Kings source describes the organization as ‘basketball hell’

Published by
Orel Dizon

The Sacramento Kings recently made history, as they will miss the postseason for the 16th straight year, which is the longest playoff drought in league history.

A team source recently implied that part of the blame for the team’s ignominious record should fall on the “toxic” work environment the organization has.

“The source described a ‘toxic’ work environment in which ‘people don’t trust each other’ and ‘they are thirsty to get any advantage or any promotion they can,'” wrote Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee. “He borrowed a line from former Kings forward Rudy Gay, saying: ‘It’s basketball hell.’

 

“’People are not treated well,’ he said. ‘They’re not valued. It’s a toxic workplace where there are some super-talented people who either move on or get let go for different reasons. It’s unfortunate because I think people come with really pure intentions and want to turn it around.’”

The last time the Kings reached the postseason was back in the 2005-06 campaign. That season, they finished the regular season as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

Since then, the Kings have languished near the bottom of the conference almost every season. In recent years, the closest Sacramento has come to finishing with a .500 mark was when it held the No. 9 spot in the West with a 39-43 standing in the 2018-19 campaign.

This season, the Kings have had another disappointing showing, as they are set to finish in the No. 12 spot in the West. Sacramento has a record of 29-52, with its season finale being a road game against the league-leading Phoenix Suns.

Kings fans are hoping that the team will be able to fare much better in the coming seasons. After all, they have a star player and potential franchise cornerstone in Domantas Sabonis, who’s under contract until 2024.

The organization added Sabonis around this season’s deadline, giving up Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield in the deal. So far with his new team, Sabonis has averaged 18.9 points, 12.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists per contest.

The Kings also have multiple former lottery picks on their roster, including De’Aaron Fox, who leads the team in scoring this season with 23.2 points per game.

Orel Dizon

Orel's passion for sports stems from following Michael Jordan’s last title runs with the Chicago Bulls and his namesake Orel Hershiser’s Cleveland Indians tenure in the late 1990s.

Published by
Orel Dizon

Recent Posts

Report: NBA GM believed Grizzlies would have had to shop Ja Morant this summer before they fired Taylor Jenkins

Earlier on in the year, long before the Memphis Grizzlies dismissed Taylor Jenkins after he…

13 hours ago

Ja Morant opens up about Grizzlies firing Taylor Jenkins: ‘It’s tough for me’

Guard Ja Morant suited up for the first time since the Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor…

1 day ago

Tyrese Haliburton on ‘easy decision’ to name SGA MVP: ‘If you took a player poll, I’m sure he would win’

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a compelling case to win this season's MVP…

3 days ago

Report: ‘Early expectation’ is that Clint Capela will sign elsewhere this summer

Big man Clint Capela is in his fifth season playing for the Atlanta Hawks, and…

5 days ago

Stephen A. says LeBron is in his feelings: ‘Could it be because I don’t believe you’re the G.O.A.T.?’

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith claimed on Wednesday that if his confrontation with Los Angeles Lakers…

5 days ago

LeBron James reflects on 2007 Cavs roster that he took to NBA Finals: ‘How is that possible?’

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James recently reflected on the 2006-07 Cleveland Cavaliers and their…

7 days ago