The Early Years: From Rochester to Kansas City

The Sacramento Kings’ NBA draft history is a story of bold gambles, painful misses, and unforgettable characters. To fully understand the franchise’s draft legacy, we must start before the team ever set foot in California. The Kings began as the Rochester Royals in 1945, joining the NBA in 1948. In those early decades, the draft was a far different animal — territorial picks and backroom deals shaped rosters. The Royals made their first major draft splash in 1951 by selecting Bob Davies, a future Hall of Famer, but it was the 1960 selection of Oscar Robertson that set the stage for a remarkable run. Robertson, taken with the first overall pick, averaged a triple-double in his rookie season. Yet the Royals traded him to the Cincinnati Royals after just a few seasons — a deal that remains one of the great draft-day what-ifs in franchise history.

The Royals later moved to Kansas City and became the Kings in 1972. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Kings endured a stretch of mediocrity, with only a few bright spots from the draft. They selected Phil Ford in 1978 — a rookie of the year winner — and later Reggie Theus in 1983, but neither could push the team to sustained contention. The franchise’s draft fortunes began to shift after moving to Sacramento in 1985. The early Sacramento years were rocky, but the team gradually built a foundation through scouting and luck.

The 1989 Draft: Vlade Divac and the European Pipeline

One of the most pivotal draft moments in Kings history occurred in 1989 when the team selected Vlade Divac with the 26th overall pick. Divac was part of the first wave of European players to make a significant impact in the NBA. His passing, basketball IQ, and charisma made him an instant fan favorite in Sacramento. More than that, Divac’s selection signaled that the Kings were willing to look beyond traditional scouting pools. This pick not only brought a productive 6-foot-10 center but also laid the groundwork for future European imports. According to Basketball Reference, Divac averaged 11.5 points and 8.2 rebounds over 16 seasons, but his real value was in his leadership and basketball diplomacy — he later helped recruit other European stars and would return to the franchise as a front-office executive.

The 1993 Draft: A Miss That Shaped Philosophy

While the Kings’ 1993 draft class is often overlooked, the results were underwhelming. They selected Bobby Hurley with the seventh overall pick, a dynamic college point guard from Duke whose NBA career was derailed by a serious car accident. Hurley never became the player the Kings hoped for, and the team also missed on later picks. The lesson from 1993 — that college success doesn’t always translate to the pros — influenced the Kings’ future scouting philosophy, making them more open to international talent and players with unique skill sets.

The Golden Era: 1996, 1998, and the Chris Webber Trade

The Kings’ modern draft history is defined by the late 1990s. In 1996, they selected Peja Stojaković with the 14th overall pick. Stojaković, a sharpshooter from Serbia, was a gamble that paid off spectacularly. He developed into a two-time All-Star and one of the greatest three-point shooters of his generation. His selection was part of a broader international strategy that also included Hedo Türkoğlu (drafted in 2000) and the earlier acquisition of Divac. But the true masterstroke came in 1998.

In the 1998 NBA Draft, the Kings held the seventh overall pick. They selected Jason Williams, the flashy point guard from Florida, who became an immediate sensation. However, the team also executed a trade that same draft night: they sent their first-round pick (which they had acquired from the Vancouver Grizzlies) to the Washington Wizards for Chris Webber. Webber had already been traded from the Warriors to the Wizards, but his arrival in Sacramento transformed the franchise. According to an ESPN retrospective, the Webber trade instantly made the Kings a contender. Webber, paired with Divac, Stojaković, and Williams, created the “Greatest Show on Court” offense that led the Kings to the Western Conference Finals in 2002. That series against the Los Angeles Lakers remains one of the most controversial in NBA history, but the draft-night trade that brought Webber was the linchpin of the entire era.

The 2002 Draft: A Moment of Infamy

The 2002 NBA Draft is memorable for all the wrong reasons for Kings fans. The team selected Gerald Wallace with the 25th pick, a solid athlete who later became an All-Star in Charlotte. But the bigger story was what Sacramento didn’t do. With the draft approaching, many believed the Kings would trade up for Amar’e Stoudemire or Caron Butler. Instead, they stood pat. Wallace was eventually traded as part of the package to acquire Shareef Abdur-Rahim — a move that didn’t yield the hoped-for results. The missed opportunity to grab a franchise cornerstone haunted the Kings as their window closed.

The Post-Webber Rebuild: Mixed Results

After Webber’s departure in 2005, the Kings entered a long rebuild. Their drafts from 2006 to 2010 were a roller coaster of hits and misses. In 2006, they selected Quincy Douby with the 19th pick — a bust. In 2007, they took Spencer Hawes at 10th, a serviceable big man but not a star. 2008 brought Jason Thompson at 12th, a solid rotation player. Then came 2009, one of the most debated picks in franchise history.

The Tyreke Evans Decision (2009)

With the fourth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Kings selected Tyreke Evans out of Memphis. Evans had a phenomenal rookie season, averaging 20.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, winning Rookie of the Year. But the pick was controversial because the team passed on Stephen Curry, who went seventh to the Golden State Warriors. Curry became a two-time MVP and revolutionized the game. In the years that followed, Evans’ game plateaued, and he was eventually traded. The what-if of Curry in Sacramento haunts the fan base to this day. According to Sports Illustrated, the Kings’ front office believed Evans had superstar potential, but the rise of Curry proved them wrong. The pick remains a cautionary tale about projecting college production to the NBA.

The DeMarcus Cousins Era (2010)

In 2010, the Kings struck gold with the fifth overall pick, selecting DeMarcus Cousins from Kentucky. Cousins was a force of nature — a dominant center with elite scoring and rebounding ability, but also a volatile personality. He made multiple All-Star teams and appeared to be the cornerstone of a new era. However, the Kings’ inability to build a competent roster around him, combined with coaching instability and Cousins’ own issues, led to his trade to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017. The return — Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans (again), and draft picks — was underwhelming. Cousins’ tenure highlighted the Kings’ struggle to maximize top draft talent, as they consistently failed to surround him with complementary pieces.

The 2020 Draft and the Rise of Tyrese Haliburton

After years of lottery purgatory, the Kings finally had a stroke of luck in 2020. With the 12th overall pick, they selected Tyrese Haliburton from Iowa State. Haliburton was an unorthodox guard with a funky shooting form but elite vision and basketball IQ. He quickly became the face of the franchise, averaging 13.0 points and 5.3 assists as a rookie. In his second season, he improved to 14.3 points and 7.4 assists. But in a move that stunned fans, the Kings traded Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers in February 2022 as part of a deal to acquire Domantas Sabonis. The trade was polarizing: Haliburton has since blossomed into an All-Star and near All-NBA performer, while Sabonis has anchored the Kings’ return to the playoffs in 2023. Whether the trade was wise remains a subject of intense debate. For a deep dive, see The Ringer’s analysis.

Other Notable Draft Picks: Hits, Misses, and International Flavor

Throughout the 2010s and 2020s, the Kings have had a mixed bag of draft results. Here are some notable selections that shaped the franchise:

  • Isaiah Thomas (2011, 60th overall): The ultimate late-round steal. Thomas became a two-time All-Star and MVP candidate in Boston, but the Kings let him walk. A painful reminder of evaluation failure and the importance of player development systems.
  • Ben McLemore (2013, 7th overall): A lottery pick who never lived up to expectations. McLemore had a decent career as a role player but was not the franchise savior the Kings hoped for. The pick highlighted the danger of relying on athleticism over skill.
  • Willie Cauley-Stein (2015, 6th overall): A talented center whose inconsistent motor and refusal to play through contact limited his impact. He eventually played overseas. Another example of a top pick failing to reach potential.
  • De’Aaron Fox (2017, 5th overall): The Kings finally got it right. Fox is an All-Star point guard and the heart of the current roster. His speed and scoring ability have made him the franchise cornerstone. The pick was a rare clear win for the front office.
  • Marvin Bagley III (2018, 2nd overall): Perhaps the most controversial recent pick. The Kings bypassed Luka Dončić and Trae Young to select Bagley, who struggled with injuries and never meshed with the team. The pick set the franchise back years and remains a cautionary tale about drafting for fit over talent.

Draft Day Trades and Strategic Moves

The Kings have not been shy about trading draft picks. Some trades worked, others backfired. In 2001, they traded the 25th pick (eventually used to select Samuel Dalembert) to acquire Mike Bibby — a deal that propelled the team to the Western Conference Finals. In 2011, they traded a future first-round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers for J.J. Hickson, which didn’t move the needle. More recently, in 2023, the Kings used a draft-day trade to acquire Chris Duarte from Indiana, but that experiment was short-lived. The lesson: Sacramento’s willingness to deal picks has often reflected desperation or a desire to accelerate the rebuild, with mixed results. However, the Bibby trade stands as a model of turning draft capital into a proven star.

The Impact of International Scouting

The Kings have been pioneers in European talent evaluation. From Vlade Divac to Peja Stojaković to Bogdan Bogdanović (drafted in 2014 but acquired later), Sacramento has consistently mined overseas markets. In 2021, they selected Neemias Queta with the 39th pick, making him the first Portuguese player drafted into the NBA. Queta has since become a two-way contributor. The international pipeline has been a relative strength for the Kings, even during their lean years. According to ESPN, the Kings rank among the top teams in drafting and developing international players. This global approach has helped them find value in the second round and late first round where other teams overlook prospects.

What the Future Holds

As of the 2024 NBA Draft, the Kings are in a vastly different position than they were a decade ago. With De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis leading the charge, the team is no longer a perennial lottery participant. However, they must continue to hit on late-first-round and second-round picks to build depth and cost-controlled talent around their stars. The 2024 draft saw the Kings select Keon Ellis and Colby Jones in the second round — both projects with upside. The front office, led by general manager Monte McNair, has shown a preference for versatile defenders and high-IQ players. If they can maintain their recent draft success, the Kings might finally shed their reputation as a franchise that wastes its draft capital. The 2025 draft could be pivotal, as the Kings look to add a young wing or frontcourt player to complement their core.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Highs and Lows

The Sacramento Kings’ NBA draft history is a story of bold gambles, painful misses, and unforgettable characters. From the selection of Oscar Robertson to the trade for Chris Webber, from the Curry oversight to the Haliburton trade, each decision has shaped the team’s identity. The Kings have often been on the wrong end of draft luck, but they’ve also produced some of the league’s most electrifying talents. As the franchise continues to compete in a loaded Western Conference, the importance of drafting well has never been higher. For fans, the draft remains a source of hope and heartache — and that’s precisely what makes the Kings’ story so compelling. With a smarter front office and a clearer vision, the next chapter could finally tip the scales toward sustained success.