Last Updated on June 3, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The Sacramento Kings are one of the oldest franchises in NBA history, with roots dating back to the 1920s. Despite a long and storied journey through multiple cities and eras, the franchise’s championship success came before it arrived in Sacramento. This article examines the Sacramento Kings’ championship history, including their titles, notable teams, and place in NBA history.
The Sacramento Kings have won one NBA championship in franchise history, but it came when they were known as the Rochester Royals before relocating to Sacramento.
Sacramento Kings NBA Championship
🏆 1950-51 (as Rochester Royals) – Defeated the New York Knicks (4-3)
Championship Details
1950-51 – The Royals’ Only Title
- Finished the regular season 41-27 (2nd seed in the West).
- Led by Arnie Risen, Bob Davies, Bobby Wanzer, and Jack Coleman.
- Coached by Les Harrison.
- Faced the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
- Game 7: The Royals won 79-75, with Arnie Risen scoring 24 points.
- Risen dominated the series, averaging 21.7 points per game.
Franchise Relocations
- 1957 – Moved from Rochester to Cincinnati (became the Cincinnati Royals).
- 1972 – Moved to Kansas City-Omaha, rebranded as the Kansas City Kings.
- 1985 – Moved to Sacramento, becoming the Sacramento Kings.
Modern Kings & Near Championship Runs
- 2002 Western Conference Finals – The Kings (led by Chris Webber, Peja Stojaković, and Mike Bibby) nearly made the Finals but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in a controversial 7-game series.
- Since then, they have struggled to return to championship contention but have been rebuilding with stars like De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.