The 2022–23 Sacramento Kings season was the 78th season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and 39th season in the city of Sacramento. On April 11, 2022, the Sacramento Kings relieved interim head coach Alvin Gentry of his duties. Gentry was named interim head coach after the team fired Luke Walton in November 2021. On May 9, 2022, the Sacramento Kings hired Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown to become the Kings' new head coach. After the Seattle Mariners of MLB qualified for the Playoffs for the first time since 2001, the Kings entered this season with the longest active postseason drought in the four major North American sports with their last playoff appearance in 2006. Despite starting 0–4, they improved on their 30–52 record from last year by winning their 31st game on February 8, and won their first Pacific Division title since 2003, after putting an end to an NBA-record 16 season-long playoff drought. The longest active playoff drought in the four major North American Sports now belongs to the New York Jets of NFL with the team missing the playoffs 15 years straight. Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets now owned the longest playoffs drought in NBA with their last appearance in 2016.
On February 24, 2023, the Kings won the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, winning a 176–175 double-overtime match over the Los Angeles Clippers. On March 12, against the Suns, the Kings reached the 40-win mark for the first time since the 2005–06 season. Three days later, the Kings won their 41st game, ending an NBA-record of 16 consecutive losing seasons. The day after winning their 41st game, they secured their first winning season in 17 years with their win over the Brooklyn Nets. On March 29, the Kings clinched their first postseason berth since 2006 with their win over the Portland Trail Blazers, ending the longest playoff drought in NBA history and the longest active postseason drought in the four major North American sports. On April 4, the Kings secured their first Pacific Division championship since the 2002–03 NBA season with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Mike Brown was named the first ever unanimous NBA Coach of the Year for his work with the Kings this season.Kings' Mike Brown named NBA's 1st unanimous Coach of the Year, Yahoo Sports, April 19, 2023
The Kings faced the defending champions in the first round, the Golden State Warriors. Despite winning the first two games of the series, the Kings would then lose the next three games and Game 7 and were eliminated from the playoffs, becoming the first Pacific division champion to be eliminated in the first round since the 2012–13 Los Angeles Clippers.
Draft picks
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College / Club 1 4 Keegan Murray Power forward Iowa
Roster
<noinclude>
Standings
Division
Conference
Game log
Preseason
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | October 3 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Keegan Murray (16) | Monk, Murray (6) | Dellavedova, Mitchell (3) | Crypto.com Arena17,919 | 1–0 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | October 9 | Portland | | Keegan Murray (16) | Domantas Sabonis (7) | Davion Mitchell (5) | Golden 1 Center14,250 | 2–0 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | October 12 | @ Phoenix | | De'Aaron Fox (15) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | Domantas Sabonis (5) | Footprint Center16,085 | 3–0 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 4 | October 14 | L.A. Lakers | | De'Aaron Fox (21) | Domantas Sabonis (12) | Domantas Sabonis (9) | Golden 1 Center17,611 | 4–0
Regular season
|-style="background:#fcc | 1 | October 19 | Portland | | De'Aaron Fox (33) | Harrison Barnes (8) | De'Aaron Fox (7) | Golden 1 Center17,611 | 0–1 |-style="background:#fcc" | 2 | October 22 | L.A. Clippers | | De'Aaron Fox (36) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | Domantas Sabonis (7) | Golden 1 Center16,296 | 0–2 |-style="background:#fcc" | 3 | October 23 | @ Golden State | | De'Aaron Fox (26) | Domantas Sabonis (14) | De'Aaron Fox (10) | Chase Center18,064 | 0–3 |-style="background:#fcc" | 4 | October 27 | Memphis | | De'Aaron Fox (27) | Domantas Sabonis (11) | Domantas Sabonis (9) | Golden 1 Center15,511 | 0–4 |-style="background:#cfc" | 5 | October 29 | Miami | | Kevin Huerter (27) | De'Aaron Fox (13) | Kevin Huerter (7) | Golden 1 Center14,618 | 1–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 | October 31 | @ Charlotte | | Kevin Huerter (26) | Domantas Sabonis (16) | Domantas Sabonis (7) | Spectrum Center12,020 | 2–4
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 7 | November 2 | @ Miami | | Huerter, Sabonis (22) | Domantas Sabonis (12) | Domantas Sabonis (8) | FTX Arena19,600 | 2–5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | November 5 | @ Orlando | | De'Aaron Fox (37) | Domantas Sabonis (11) | Domantas Sabonis (6) | Amway Center18,846 | 3–5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 9 | November 7 | @ Golden State | | De'Aaron Fox (28) | Domantas Sabonis (14) | Fox, Sabonis (6) | Chase Center18,064 | 3–6 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 10 | November 9 | Cleveland | | Domantas Sabonis (21) | Harrison Barnes (9) | De'Aaron Fox (8) | Golden 1 Center13,816 | 4–6 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 11 | November 11 | @ L.A. Lakers | | De'Aaron Fox (32) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | De'Aaron Fox (12) | Crypto.com Arena17,849 | 5–6 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 12 | November 7 | Golden State | | Domantas Sabonis (26) | Domantas Sabonis (22) | Fox, Sabonis (8) | Golden 1 Center16,410 | 6–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 13 | November 15 | Brooklyn | | Terence Davis (31) | Terence Davis (9) | De'Aaron Fox (9) | Golden 1 Center17,611 | 7–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 | November 17 | San Antonio | | De'Aaron Fox (28) | Barnes, Sabonis (8) | De'Aaron Fox (8) | Golden 1 Center16,522 | 8–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 15 | November 20 | Detroit | | De'Aaron Fox (33) | Domantas Sabonis (13) | Fox, Sabonis (7) | Golden 1 Center17,866 | 9–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 | November 22 | @ Memphis | | De'Aaron Fox (32) | Domantas Sabonis (13) | Domantas Sabonis (8) | FedExForum16,826 | 10–6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 17 | November 23 | @ Atlanta | | Malik Monk (27) | Domantas Sabonis (13) | Domantas Sabonis (7) | State Farm Arena18,173 | 10–7 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 18 | November 25 | @ Boston | | De'Aaron Fox (20) | Murray, Sabonis (10) | Domantas Sabonis (6) | TD Garden19,156 | 10–8 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 19 | November 28 | Phoenix | | Malik Monk (30) | Domantas Sabonis (9) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | Golden 1 Center16,407 | 10–9 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 20 | November 30 | Indiana | | Harrison Barnes (22) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | Domantas Sabonis (7) | Golden 1 Center17,611 | 11–9
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 21 | December 3 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Domantas Sabonis (24) | Chimezie Metu (8) | Domantas Sabonis (6) | Crypto.com Arena16,587 | 12–9 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 22 | December 4 | Chicago | | Malik Monk (20) | Domantas Sabonis (17) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | Golden 1 Center17,611 | 13–9 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 23 | December 7 | @ Milwaukee | | Domantas Sabonis (23) | Domantas Sabonis (12) | Domantas Sabonis (7) | Fiserv Forum17,341 | 13–10 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 24 | December 9 | @ Cleveland | | Harrison Barnes (20) | Domantas Sabonis (18) | Mitchell, Sabonis (6) | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse19,432 | 14–10 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 25 | December 11 | @ New York | | Domantas Sabonis (20) | Domantas Sabonis (12) | Kevin Huerter (6) | Madison Square Garden19,812 | 14–11 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 26 | December 13 | @ Philadelphia | | Domantas Sabonis (22) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | Domantas Sabonis (5) | Wells Fargo Center19,768 | 14–12 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 27 | December 14 | @ Toronto | | De'Aaron Fox (27) | Domantas Sabonis (20) | De'Aaron Fox (10) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 15–12 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 28 | December 16 | @ Detroit | | De'Aaron Fox (24) | Domantas Sabonis (13) | De'Aaron Fox (9) | Little Caesars Arena17,892 | 16–12 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 29 | December 19 | Charlotte | | De'Aaron Fox (37) | Domantas Sabonis (23) | Domantas Sabonis (7) | Golden 1 Center17,803 | 16–13 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 30 | December 21 | L.A. Lakers | | Kevin Huerter (26) | Domantas Sabonis (21) | Domantas Sabonis (12) | Golden 1 Center17,611 | 17–13 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 31 | December 23 | Washington | | De'Aaron Fox (26) | Domantas Sabonis (15) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | Golden 1 Center17,894 | 17–14 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 32 | December 27 | Denver | | De'Aaron Fox (26) | Trey Lyles (10) | Davion Mitchell (9) | Golden 1 Center17,937 | 17–15 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 33 | December 28 | Denver | | Malik Monk (33) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | De'Aaron Fox (13) | Golden 1 Center17,985 | 18–15 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 34 | December 30 | Utah | | Kevin Huerter (30) | Domantas Sabonis (11) | De'Aaron Fox (10) | Golden 1 Center17,946 | 19–15
|-style="background:#fcc;" | 35 | January 1 | @ Memphis | | De'Aaron Fox (19) | Domantas Sabonis (14) | De'Aaron Fox (6) | FedEx Forum17,794 | 19–16 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 36 | January 3 | @ Utah | | De'Aaron Fox (37) | Domantas Sabonis (14) | Domantas Sabonis (8) | Vivint Arena18,206 | 20–16 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 37 | January 4 | Atlanta | | De'Aaron Fox (25) | Domantas Sabonis (14) | Domantas Sabonis (8) | Golden 1 Center17,611 | 20–17 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 38 | January 7 | L.A. Lakers | | De'Aaron Fox (34) | Domantas Sabonis (12) | De'Aaron Fox (9) | Golden 1 Center17,611 | 20–18 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 39 | January 9 | Orlando | | Harrison Barnes (30) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | De'Aaron Fox (9) | Golden 1 Center16,499 | 21–18 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 40 | January 11 | Houston | | Domantas Sabonis (25) | Domantas Sabonis (14) | Fox, Sabonis (9) | Golden 1 Center16,057 | 22–18 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 41 | January 13 | Houston | | Harrison Barnes (27) | Domantas Sabonis (15) | Domantas Sabonis (16) | Golden 1 Center17,894 | 23–18 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 42 | January 15 | @ San Antonio | | Harrison Barnes (29) | Domantas Sabonis (18) | Domantas Sabonis (8) | AT&T Center12,339 | 24–18 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 43 | January 18 | @ L.A. Lakers | | De'Aaron Fox (31) | Richaun Holmes (11) | Kevin Huerter (8) | Crypto.com Arena18,142 | 25–18 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 44 | January 20 | Oklahoma City | | Keegan Murray (29) | Murray, Sabonis (14) | Domantas Sabonis (14) | Golden 1 Center17,932 | 26–18 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 45 | January 21 | Philadelphia | | De'Aaron Fox (31) | Domantas Sabonis (9) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | Golden 1 Center17,861 | 26–19 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 46 | January 23 | Memphis | | Trey Lyles (24) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | Domantas Sabonis (11) | Golden 1 Center17,821 | 27–19 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 47 | January 25 | Toronto | | Kevin Huerter (21) | Domantas Sabonis (8) | De'Aaron Fox (8) | Golden 1 Center17,767 | 27–20 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 48 | January 28 | @ Minnesota | | De'Aaron Fox (29) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | De'Aaron Fox (6) | Target Center17,136 | 27–21 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 49 | January 30 | @ Minnesota | | De'Aaron Fox (32) | Murray, Sabonis (13) | Malik Monk (5) | Target Center15,342 | 28–21
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 50 | February 1 | @ San Antonio | | Domantas Sabonis (34) | Domantas Sabonis (11) | De'Aaron Fox (10) | AT&T Center13,207 | 29–21 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 51 | February 3 | @ Indiana | | Harrison Barnes (23) | Domantas Sabonis (16) | Domantas Sabonis (6) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse17,274 | 29–22 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 52 | February 5 | @ New Orleans | | Malik Monk (16) | Domantas Sabonis (11) | Matthew Dellavedova (6) | Smoothie King Center17,779 | 29–23 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 53 | February 6 | @ Houston | | Keegan Murray (30) | Domantas Sabonis (7) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | Toyota Center15,405 | 30–23 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 54 | February 8 | @ Houston | | De'Aaron Fox (31) | Domantas Sabonis (9)