Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings endured a 16-year playoff drought that tested the limits of human loyalty, and the fact that their fanbase survived that ordeal without collectively losing their minds is one of the most impressive acts of devotion in professional sport. One of the NBA’s oldest franchises, tracing back to 1923 as the Rochester Seagrams, the Kings won their sole championship in 1951 and have called Sacramento home since 1985. Golden 1 Center, a technologically stunning 17,608-seat arena, is the crown jewel of a franchise that has suffered more than most but celebrated harder than any.

Under Doug Christie, the Kings finished 40-42 in 2024-25 and secured the ninth seed in the West. De’Aaron Fox remains the centrepiece — a point guard whose blazing speed and scoring ability make him one of the most electrifying players in the league. The 2023 playoff return was cathartic for a city that had been waiting since 2006, and the goal now is to build sustained postseason relevance rather than one-off appearances.

Sacramento’s fanbase creates one of the loudest home-court atmospheres in the NBA, and the “Beam” light show after victories has become an iconic celebration. The Kings are a beloved franchise because they earned their supporters’ devotion the hardest way possible — by asking them to wait, and wait, and wait some more.

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The Kings enter 2025-26 with Fox leading the charge and a fanbase that will accept nothing less than playoff basketball. The exciting offensive style and passionate home support make Sacramento one of the NBA’s most entertaining teams, and their games regularly produce highlight-reel moments that reach Australian fans via ESPN and Kayo Sports. The drought is over. Now the Kings need to prove it was not a mirage.

VS — Chief sports columnist, australiafootball.com