The Best Sacramento Kings of All Time, Ranked by Fans

Ask a Sacramento Kings fan who belongs on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore and you’ll
probably get a five-minute pause, a deep sigh, and a passionate 20-minute TED Talk.
Between the Rochester Royals championships, the Cincinnati years, and the early-2000s
Arco Arena chaos of cowbells and purple, the Kings have packed a lot of history into
one franchise. This all-time list pulls from fan rankings, community debates, and
franchise lore to spotlight the players Kings fans consistently push to the top.

This isn’t just a box-score list. It’s about impact, memories, and how loudly fans still
cheer when a classic highlight pops up on the jumbotron. From Oscar Robertson’s
all-around brilliance to Chris Webber’s high-octane prime and De’Aaron Fox’s modern
star power, here are the best Sacramento Kings of all time, ranked by fans.

How Fans Usually Rank the Greatest Sacramento Kings

When you look across fan polls, message boards, and “vote for your GOAT King” lists,
a pattern emerges. Older fans fight hard for Oscar Robertson and Nate “Tiny”
Archibald from the Royals era, while Sacramento-era fans lean toward the
early-2000s squad (Webber, Peja, Bibby, Divac) and modern stars like Fox and
DeMarcus Cousins. Blend it all together and you get a fan-driven hierarchy that
respects both championships in the 1950s and broken hearts in the 2002 Western
Conference Finals.

The ranking below balances fan voting, longevity with the franchise, peak
performance, team success, and how deeply each player is woven into Kings
culture. Is it perfect? Of course not. But if you yelled this list out in the Arco
parking lot, you’d probably start a friendly argumentwhich means it’s doing its job.

1. Oscar Robertson – The Original Franchise Cornerstone

Before he was a legend of NBA history, Oscar Robertson was the face of the
Cincinnati Royals, the franchise that would eventually become the Sacramento Kings.
A triple-double threat long before that was a headline stat, Robertson was the kind of
guard who could control an entire game: scoring, rebounding, and creating for
teammates at a level that still looks absurd today.

Why fans rank him so high

Fans who respect the full history of the franchise usually start with Robertson. He
piled up eye-popping numbers, racked up All-Star and All-NBA nods, and set the tone
for what a superstar guard could look like. Even if Sacramento-era fans never saw him
play live, they know the Kings’ all-time record books are covered in his name.

Signature franchise legacy

Robertson represents the championship-chasing, small-market grit that has followed
this franchise from city to city. Without his era of dominance, the Kings wouldn’t have
the same claim to deep historical rootsand fans love that their team’s story includes
one of the greatest guards to ever play the game.

2. Chris Webber – The Heart of the Greatest Show in Sacramento

Say “Chris Webber” in Sacramento and people’s eyes light up. Webber was the engine
of the early-2000s Kings, a skilled power forward who could score inside and out,
rebound, pass like a guard, and anchor a contender. When the Kings were the most
entertaining team in the league, Webber was the star in the middle of it all.

Why fans rank him among the best

For Sacramento-era fans, Webber is often the King. He turned the franchise
from a lottery regular into a legitimate title threat, led deep playoff runs, and helped
create a style of playfast, unselfish, and funthat still defines how many fans think
basketball should look. His combination of elite production and team success makes
him a top-tier fan favorite.

Lasting fan memories

Webber’s mid-range jumpers, no-look passes, and fearless drives are burned into
the minds of anyone who watched the Kings during the early 2000s. Even the painful
memorieslike the infamous 2002 series against the Lakershave turned into a
kind of badge of honor for Kings fans, and Webber is at the center of that mythology.

3. Mitch Richmond – The Lone Bright Star of the ’90s

Before the high-flying, pass-happy Kings of the 2000s, there was Mitch Richmond
quietly getting buckets on teams that didn’t win much but would’ve been lost without
him. A smooth shooting guard with a strong frame and textbook jumper, Richmond
was one of the league’s most reliable scorers throughout the 1990s.

Why fans still respect his legacy

Fans who lived through the lean Sacramento years remember Richmond as the
reason to keep watching. He was an All-Star, an elite scorer, and a pro’s pro on
rosters that often lacked depth. In many fan polls, Richmond ranks just behind
Robertson and Webber because he carried the Kings during an era when wins were
hard to come by but effort never slipped.

Underrated Kings legend

Richmond doesn’t always get the national spotlight that other franchise greats do,
but Kings die-hards know he was the bridge between erasa star who kept the
franchise relevant long enough for the next wave of talent to arrive.

4. Nate “Tiny” Archibald – The Scoring-and-Playmaking Wizard

Nate “Tiny” Archibald might have had a small frame, but his game was anything but.
During his time with the Royals/Kings franchise, he did the impossible: leading the
league in both scoring and assists in the same season. That “small guard doing big
things” identity still resonates with fans who love crafty, fearless point guards.

Why fans push him into the top tier

Archibald’s statistical feats and jaw-dropping highlights have aged beautifully in the
YouTube era. Fans appreciate that he was ahead of his time, playing the game with
the tempo and creativity that modern guards are praised for today.

5. Peja Stojaković – The Sniper Who Stretched the Floor

Long before the NBA fully embraced three-point madness, Peja Stojaković was out
there casually dropping threes like it was a warm-up drill. As the Kings’ sharpshooting
small forward, he torched defenses coming off screens, spotting up in the corner, and
punishing anyone who forgot to switch on the perimeter.

Why fans adore Peja

For many Sacramento fans, Peja is the player they imitated in their driveway
catching, rising, and flicking that smooth jumper. He was a multi-time All-Star and a
key scoring option on one of the most balanced and dangerous offenses in the league.
When fans debate the best pure shooters in Kings history, Peja starts and usually
finishes the conversation.

6. De’Aaron Fox – The Modern Franchise Star

De’Aaron Fox represents hope. His blazing speed, clutch scoring, and improved
playmaking helped drag the Kings out of their long playoff drought and back into the
national conversation. For a new generation of fans, Fox is their Webbera home
grown star who made Sacramento basketball feel important again.

Why fans already rank him this high

Fox isn’t just putting up numbers; he’s winning big games, closing out tight contests,
and setting a new standard for what Kings basketball should look like. His playoff
performances and late-game heroics have quickly earned him a place in fan debates
about the greatest Kings ever, even while his story is still being written.

7. Vlade Divac – The Passing Big Man and Culture Glue

Vlade Divac’s stat line might not scream “all-time great,” but anyone who watched
the early-2000s Kings knows how essential he was. A gifted passing center who could
operate from the high post, he turned routine possessions into highlight-reel
backdoor cuts and open threes.

Why fans keep him on their all-time lists

Fans loved Divac’s personality, toughness, and flair. He took charges, set hard
screens, and made his teammates better. On a team full of weapons, his unselfish
play and veteran presence helped tie everything together. Many fans also credit his
arrival as one of the key turning points in the franchise’s rise.

8. DeMarcus Cousins – Dominant Talent in a Tough Era

DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins might be the most polarizing name on this list, but in
terms of raw talent, he’s near the top. A powerful center with guard-level skills,
Cousins could score inside, hit from outside, handle the ball, and rack up huge box
scores even on off nights.

Why fans are splitbut still impressed

Cousins played in one of the most chaotic stretches in Kings history, with frequent
coaching changes and roster overhauls. Team success never matched his numbers,
and that frustrates fans. Still, when people talk about sheer dominance in a Kings
uniform, Boogie’s name always comes up. Many fans think that with a more stable
organization around him, he could’ve climbed even higher on this list.

9. Mike Bibby – The Clutch Floor General

Mike Bibby wasn’t the flashiest point guard in the league, but when the game slowed
down in the fourth quarter, Kings fans trusted him completely. As the starting point
guard during the team’s best Sacramento years, he ran the offense, hit big shots, and
brought a calm, confident presence to the floor.

Why fans still talk about him

Bibby’s pull-up jumpers and dagger threes during the 2002 playoffs are permanently
burned into Kings lore. Whenever fans bring up “clutch Kings moments,” there’s a
very good chance Bibby’s in the clip. He may not have Webber’s highlight reel, but he
absolutely has the trust and affection of the fanbase.

10. Jerry Lucas – The Rebounding Machine

Jerry Lucas made his mark in the franchise’s earlier days, but Kings fans who know
their history still hold him in high regard. A relentless rebounder and efficient scorer,
Lucas was the kind of player who controlled the glass and punished defenses around
the basket.

Why he rounds out the top ten

Fans who value numbers, accolades, and old-school toughness appreciate what
Lucas brought to the Royals. Including him in the top ten is a nod to the franchise’s
long timeline and a reminder that Kings greatness didn’t start in Sacramentoit
simply moved there.

Honorable Mentions Kings Fans Love to Bring Up

Narrowing this list to ten always sparks arguments. Here are a few names that often
get loud support in fan discussions:

• Doug Christie – Defensive stopper and emotional backbone of the 2000s Kings.
• Jason Williams – “White Chocolate” brought playground handles and unforgettable flair.
• Reggie Theus – A smooth scoring guard who helped put Sacramento on the map in the ’80s.
• Wayman Tisdale – Beloved scorer and personality on and off the court.
• Domantas Sabonis – A modern triple-double machine whose all-around impact has quickly won over fans.

Depending on which generation you ask, one of these players might crack their
personal top tenand that’s part of what makes Kings fandom so fun. Every era has
its heroes.

What This All-Time Kings List Says About the Franchise

Look back over this list and you can see the franchise’s entire personality. It’s a mix
of underdog energy, small-market pride, and genuine star power. The Kings have had
some of the greatest guards in NBA history, some of the smartest passing big men,
and a fanbase that remembers everythingfrom Rochester banners to Sacramento
cowbells.

Fans are the reason this ranking exists at all. They’re the ones filling out polls,
arguing in comment sections, and teaching their kids who Chris Webber or Oscar
Robertson was. Whether your personal list starts with the Big O, C-Webb, or De’Aaron
Fox, one thing is clear: this franchise has produced more greatness than casual fans
might realize.

Fan Experiences: Living Through the Kings’ Greatest Eras

To really understand why these players rank so highly with fans, you have to feel what
it was like to live through their eras. Ask a longtime supporter, and you’ll hear stories
that don’t show up in the box score.

Older fans talk about listening to Royals games on the radio, imagining Oscar
Robertson carving up defenses they couldn’t see but could practically hear in the
announcer’s voice. They remember box scores in the newspaper where his numbers
looked like typos: huge points, rebounds, and assists all stacked in one line.

Then there are the fans who grew up with Mitch Richmond in the ’90s. For them, the
Kings weren’t winning titles, but Richmond made them feel like they had a legitimate
star. Kids in Sacramento would stay up late just to see if he could drop 30 on some
powerhouse team. Even if the Kings lost, they went to bed knowing their guy could
hang with anyone.

The early-2000s era is where things get emotional. Fans who went to Arco Arena
describe the atmosphere like a college game turned up to 11cowbells shaking the
building, everyone in purple, and an energy that made it hard to sit down. Webber
would grab a rebound, outlet to Bibby, who’d hit Peja trailing for three while Divac
directed traffic from the top of the key. It felt less like a set play and more like a jazz
band improvising at full speed. Even people watching at home could sense that the
building might levitate if a big run happened.

That 2002 playoff run, especially the battles against the Lakers, turned ordinary fans
into lifelong die-hards. People still remember exactly where they were for Bibby’s
clutch jumper, for the overtime heartbreaks, and for the sense that the Kings might
actually be the best team in the worldeven if the trophy never made it to
Sacramento. Those memories are why Webber, Bibby, Peja, Divac, and Christie get
treated like royalty whenever they come back to town.

More recent fans have their own stories, built around DeMarcus Cousins’ emotional
dominance and De’Aaron Fox’s fearless drives. Some remember Cousins putting up
video-game numbers on random Tuesday nights, dragging the Kings into games they
had no business staying in. Others remember watching Fox race coast-to-coast in a
blur, thinking, “Okay, this feels like the start of something again.”

And then there are the shared moments that cross generations: parents bringing kids
to Golden 1 Center for their first game, pointing at the retired jerseys, retelling old
stories about the Big O or Tiny Archibald, explaining why everyone still boos when a
certain rival team comes to town. Those little ritualscheering, arguing, ranking
their top fives on the way homeare what keep the franchise’s history alive.

In the end, “The Best Sacramento Kings of All Time, Ranked by Fans” isn’t just a list.
It’s a living, evolving conversation that stretches from Rochester to Cincinnati to
Kansas City to Sacramento, from black-and-white photos to full-color highlight reels.
New players will rise, stats will change, and playoff runs will rewrite the story, but one
thing will stay the same: Kings fans will always be ready to debate who belongs at the
topand they’ll enjoy every second of the argument.