It’s OK to breathe a sigh of relief now.
The Sacramento Kings have knocked the monkey off their back. The Kings are playoff bound!
The longest postseason drought in U.S. major sports history is finally over after 16 seasons as the Kings beat Portland Wednesday night!
LIGHT THE BEAM 🔦
THE @SacramentoKings ARE BACK IN THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2006 👑 pic.twitter.com/2SCWBDRyjJ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 30, 2023
You can’t blame Kings fans for having all kinds of emotions after not tasting playoff basketball for what seems like an eternity..
I’ve been a @SacramentoKings fan since the beginning.
I’ve rung cowbells, cheered until my voice gave out, bought jerseys and shirts for every new logo.
I’ve cried.
Oh, how I’ve cried.
But after 16 long years, the drought is over.
Tonight, we celebrate. #LightTheBeam
— Melissa Triebwasser (@TheCoachMelissa) March 30, 2023
A number of Kings fans flew to Portland for the game. They could be heard shouting “Light The Beam” as the game neared an end.
LIGHT THE BEAM CHANTS AS THE CLINCH NEARS 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/0gZAy7HTWQ
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) March 30, 2023
Meanwhile, other Kings fans gathered outside Golden One Center in Sacramento to celebrate..
It’s a party out here pic.twitter.com/NR44BXXmGo
— Cameron Salerno (@cameronsalerno1) March 30, 2023
It was also a very emotional night. Kings TV analyst Kayte Christensen has been with the team during all the losing years..
"I’m so happy for this fan base. You deserve it."@kayte_c speaks from the heart 💜 pic.twitter.com/3zGo3gswNA
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) March 30, 2023
Sacramento Morning Show Host Carmichael Dave on the Kings flagship station was at the game..
Just got to the room. Gotta wake up in 3 hours, will do the show and then record all kinds of players/coaches for Friday.
Can’t sleep. Haven’t slept. And I’m so emotionally exhausted right now.
I just want to remember this night forever.
— X- Clinchmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) March 30, 2023
Radio voice Gary Gerould has called Kings game since the team arrived in Sacramento in 1985. The G-Man has perhaps seen more losing than anybody during his 38 years at the mike. His call of the final seconds of the playoff clincher is one for the ages..
What a moment.
The Kings are headed back to the playoffs and the LEGEND @ggerould gets to call a playoff series for the first time in 17 years.
Enjoy his final call of this Kings win. pic.twitter.com/qPrWoonhAg
— Deuce Mason (@DeuceMason) March 30, 2023
And to think this story is not possible without a very controversial trade where the Kings sent Tyrese Haliburton to Indiana for Domantas Sabonis.
The Kings were ridiculed, but that deal now looks like gold.
Kings minority owner David Stauffer put together a fantastic video clip..
CLINCHED. For the first time in 17 years, the @SacramentoKings are headed to the playoffs…ending the longest active playoff drought in American professional sports.
I’ve been compiling clips for this video all season. This is my tribute to THE BEAM SEASON. #SacramentoProud… pic.twitter.com/Z3X8G9CD1x
— David Stauffer (@TheDstauff) March 30, 2023
WHAT’S AHEAD
The Kings have six more games before the playoffs. They will be no worse than the fourth seed in the West and one more win clinches the third seed. They still have an outside chance of catching Memphis for the second seed, too. The Grizzlies have a two-game lead on the Kings, but Sacramento owns the tie-breaker.
The Kings will conclude the season with a game at Portland Friday night, a home game Sunday against San Antonio, and four games next week with road bouts against New Orleans, Dallas and Denver and a home game against Golden State.
Assuming the Kings end up the third seed, they will open the playoffs at home against the sixth seed. That could be the Warriors, Timberwolves, Lakers or Clippers.
How far will the Kings go? Only time will tell, but this has been a magical season. Enjoy this great video…
Your 2023 Sacramento Kings. The team that broke the drought. pic.twitter.com/shNSG4jq9J
— Kings Film Room (@SacFilmRoom) March 30, 2023
SATISFACTION
No matter what happens in the postseason, the Kings reached their goal this year— to make the playoffs.
Monte McNair and Mike Brown should be Executive and Coach of the Year. They have brought winning basketball to Sacramento and Kings fans hopefully won’t have to suffer another long famine without playoff basketball.
Light. That. Beam. Hold court with a mighty King by giving this De’Aaron Fox Sacramento Kings 2023 City Jersey Bobblehead its rightful throne in your collection. Shop here today!
