It’s been a long time. As NBA play resumes after the All-Star break, the Sacramento Kings have their best chance to make the playoffs in years.
After the play-in tournament ends, the first round of playoff games will begin on 15 April. That Saturday, May 5, 2006, would have been 6,189 days since the Kings lost to the San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs.
A lot has changed in that time. Here’s a look at the excitement and agony of home-team NBA playoff basketball as captured by The Bee’s photography staff.
Mike Bibby dribbles around Nick Van Exel during the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the first-round Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. The Kings were the eighth seed.
Kings center Brad Miller loses the ball while being defended by Spurs Robert Horry and Manu Ginobili during Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. ,
Spurs guard Tony Parker makes three flat-footed Kings tackles in the quarter of Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006.
A dejected Bonzie Wells walks onto the court in the third quarter of Game 6 of the first-round Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs on Friday, May 5, 2006, at Arco Arena.
Ron Artest is fouled by Robert Horry during the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the first-round Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006.
Robert Horry and Tony Parker enjoy the third quarter of Game 6 of the first-round Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006.
Bonzie Wells, Kenny Thomas, Mike Biddy, Brad Miller, and Kevin Martin look to fatigue early in the second quarter of Game 6 of the first-round Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5. . , 2006.
Kings center Brad Miller looks at the scoreboard in the third quarter of Game 6 of the Western Conference Playoffs first round between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006.
Kings forward Ron Artest can’t believe a call in the third quarter of Game 6 of the first-round Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006.
Kenny Thomas, Bonzie Wells, Ron Artest, and Kevin Martin sit on the bench during the final minutes of Game 6 of the first round Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006.
Kings head coach Rick Edelman walks off the court following the team’s 105-83 loss in Game 6 of the Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. coach, as the team, opted not to renew his contract.
Sacramento Kings coach Rick Edelman speaks to the media in his last postgame press conference with the Kings after Game 6 of the Western Conference Playoff Series first round against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, May 5, 2006, at Arco Arena. In his final season, the team finished with a 44–38 record – the last time the Kings had a winning season.