The NBA’s oldest franchise, having begun life in 1923 as a Seagram distillery company team, they won a title in 1951 as the Rochester Royals but have stumbled through later stints in Cincinnati, Kansas City, Omaha, and Sacramento.
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Hardwood ceiling: 25 memorable team eras that didn’t include an NBA Finals appearance
Proving that titles aren’t necessarily everything for basketball fans, these are the most talented, successful, beloved, and otherwise notable team eras of all time that never reached the NBA Finals.
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- Bob Cousy tenure as coach
- Conference Finals upset over Lakers (as Rochester Royals, 1951)
- Drafting and trading Billy Owens
- George Mikan injury playing part in 1951 NBA title (as Rochester Royals)
- In the 1949 Western Conference Finals (“Virtual NBA Finals”) (as Rochester Royals)
- In the 2002 Western Conference Finals (“Virtual NBA Finals”)
- Lengthy playoff drought
- Name change from Royals to Kings
- Playing games in Kemper Arena (as Kansas City Kings)
- Re-alignment from Eastern Conference to Western Conference
- Re-location from Rochester to Cincinnati
- Re-location from Cincinnati to Kansas City
- Re-location from Kansas to Sacramento
- Retiring a jersey for the “Sixth Man”
- Rivalry with Lakers
- Rivalry with Syracuse Nationals (as Rochester Royals)
- Upsetting the Trail Blazers in the 1981 playoffs first round
- Vlade Divac tenure as general manager