The Sacramento Kings is one of the oldest NBA franchises as they trace their original roots back to the Rochester Seagrams in 1923. The modern origins of the franchise were formally established in 1945, and the franchise underwent numerous relocations and name changes over the decades.
From the Rochester Royals to the Cincinnati Royals, and later the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, each iteration was equally popular. The dawn of a new era came in 1986 when the franchise made its way to the capital of California — Sacramento. Since the 1985-86 NBA season, a plethora of stars have donned the Kings' purple jersey, including Chris Webber, Peja Stojaković, Mike Bibby, and DeMarcus Cousins, all of whom charmed basketball fans with their basketball skills.
Despite facing adversity in the last 15 years or so, the Kings fans remain loyal to the franchise. Currently, the Sacramento Kings franchise is owned by Indian-American businessman Vivek Ranadivé, who is widely recognized as one of the most prominent owners in the NBA. Ranadivé introduced the innovative concept of using purple lights at the Golden 1 Center, which evolved into the iconic purple beam that shoots into the sky after each Kings win.
This unique idea has become synonymous with the Kings victories and has added a distinctive touch to their home games. During the 2022-2023 NBA season, chants of "light the beam" became popular wherever the Sacramento Kings played. This tradition has made the team affectionately known as the "Beam Team" in Sacramento and NBA fans in general. Currently, The Kings are led by stars like Domantas Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox, and the home games are played at the state-of-the-art Golden 1 Center, which opened in 2016.
How many NBA championships have the Sacramento Kings won?
The Sacramento Kings have won one NBA championship in their franchise history. However, this title was not won during their time in Sacramento. The franchise has a storied history, initially established as the Rochester Royals in 1945. This Royals franchise won the NBA championship in 1951.
Over the years, the franchise relocated to different cities, including Cincinnati and Kansas City, before settling in Sacramento in 1985. The championship won by the Rochester Royals team in 1951 is officially recognized as part of the Sacramento Kings' history by the NBA. Therefore, the 1951 NBA title remains the only championship won by the Kings franchise.
| TeamName | Against | HeadCoach | FinalsDate/Year | Venue | Finals Score |
| Rochester Royals | New York Knciks | Les Harrison | April 21, 1951 | Edgerton Park Arena (Rochester, New York) | Royals won 4-3 |
Sacramento Kings NBA Finals Appearance History
The Sacramento Kings have made it to the NBA Finals only once in their franchise history. This occurred in 1951 when they were known as the Rochester Royals. Since then, the Kings have not returned to the NBA Finals.
In 2002, the Kings had a strong team that reached the Western Conference Finals and were on the brink of making the NBA finals but ultimately lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in a closely contested series with a 4-3 defeat.
| Year | Head Coach | Against | Venue | Result |
| 1951 | Les Harrison | New York Knicks | Edgerton Park Arena (Rochester, New York) | Royals won 4-3 |
What teams did the Sacramento Kings lose the NBA Finals against?
The Sacramento Kings have never lost the NBA Finals. The Sacramento Kings were formerly known as the Rochester Royals from 1948 to 1957, and during this time, they won the NBA Finals in 1951 by defeating the New York Knicks in a seven-game series. Since then, the Kings franchise has not made another appearance in the NBA Finals. Therefore, they have not lost any NBA Finals as the Sacramento Kings.
Sacramento Kings Last NBA Finals Appearance
The Sacramento Kings last NBA finals appearance occurred in 1951. This was the Kings franchise’s first and last NBA finals appearance.
So, the Rochester Royals (Today known as Sacramento Kings) started the 1951 NBA finals series strong, taking a commanding 3-0 lead over the NY Knicks. It appeared as though the Royals might sweep the Knicks and claim the NBA Finals title. However, the Knicks fought back, winning Game 4 and narrowing the series to 3-1. In Game 5, the Knicks continued their momentum, securing another victory to bring the series to 3-2.
In a surprising turn of events, the Knicks managed to even the series at 3-3 by winning Game 6. However, in the decisive Game 7, the Kings again played a strong game, ultimately defeating the Knicks and clinching the 1951 NBA Finals title. This victory marked the franchise's first and only NBA championship.
FAQ's On Sacramento Kings Finals Appearances
A. The Sacramento Kings, formerly known as the Rochester Royals, played in the NBA Finals in 1951.
A. The Sacramento Kings, formerly known as the Rochester Royals, won the NBA Finals once in 1951.
A. The Sacramento Kings have one NBA championship. The Kings won the NBA title in 1951 as the Rochester Royals.
A. The key players on the Sacramento Kings in 1951 NBA finals, back then known as the Rochester Royals, included Bob Davies, Arnie Risen, and Bobby Wanzer.
A. There are five NBA franchises that have never made it to the NBA Finals: LA Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans.
