Defying Expectations: The Sacramento Kings’ Unexpected Rise to Competitiveness

New coach, potent offense, and beam lighting. The Kings have set a foundation for the future while also raising questions about what comes next.

Giannis Antetokounmpo recently had a quote following his team’s early exit from the NBA Playoffs where he was asked if the top-seeded Bucks losing in the first round meant that the season was a failure. Giannis went on to say that every season that doesn’t result in a championship is not a failure. That there are lessons learned and growth is acquired through every experience. It was a polarizing answer, but one that had some truth to it. In some cases, losing in the first round of the playoffs is not a failure but instead a resounding success. One such example of this is the Sacramento Kings, a team that was the 3-seed in the West but ultimately bowed out in 7 games to the Golden State Warriors.

Defying Expectations

If I’m being honest, I did not think that the Sacramento Kings would be good this year. A ritual that I have with a good friend of mine is that every year before the start of the NBA season we predict the season standings. I…