Sacramento Kings Review and Information

After the 2000 season, the Sacramento Kings traded preliminary small forward Corliss Williamson to the Toronto Raptors for a shooting guard Doug Christie, breach a starting spot for sharpshooter Stojakovic. Stojakovic and his dead-eye long variety shot served as the ideal complement to Webber's smooth inside game, captivating the Kings' already-potent offense to new heights. With their sustained success on courtyard came their continued rise in popularity, culminate in their grace the cover of Sports Illustrated in February 2001, with the name "The Greatest Show On Court". In 2001, the Kings won their primary playoff series in the Webber era, defeat the Phoenix Suns 3-1, before being swept in four playoffs by the Lakers, who went on to win the NBA championship.

In July 2001, Petrie traded preliminary top guard Jason Williams to the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies for end guard Mike Bibby. The trade solved wants on both sides: the Grizzlies, in the procedure of moving to Memphis , wanted an thrilling, well-liked player to sell tickets in their new home, while the Kings, an up-and-coming team, sought more constancy and manage at the point guard position. Although question by some Kings fans at the time, NBA official and experts proclaimed Bibby as the better (if less exciting) player in the deal, as well as a improved leader, having led the Arizona Wildcats to an NCAA championship in 1997. This move was complement by the vital re-signing of Webber to a maximum-salary agreement, securing the star power forward for years to approach.

With the adding of Bibby, the Kings had their best period to date in 2001-02. The Kings team finished with a group best 61-21 record and storm through the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Kings finally lost to the rival Lakers in the meeting finals, falling in eventually of Game 7 at home in Arco Arena. Despite dubious calls by officials during Game 6, the series is widely careful to be one of the best playoff series in NBA history.

Following winning one more division championship in 2003, the Kings lost Webber to a knee wound in the playoffs, in the end losing to the Dallas Mavericks in a seven game series. Webber's knee necessary major surgery, and his dubious mid-season return in 2004, in which he visibly lost a great deal of his explosiveness and nimbleness, led to a playoff beat at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in seven games.