The 2000–01 NBA season was the Kings' 52nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 16th season in Sacramento. The Kings received the sixteenth overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft, and selected Turkish basketball star Hedo Türkoğlu. During the off-season, the team acquired shooting guard Doug Christie from the Toronto Raptors, and signed free agent Bobby Jackson.
After two straight playoff seasons, the Kings enjoyed another successful season by winning 14 of their first 18 games, on their way to a 27–10 start as of January 20, and held a 31–15 record at the All-Star break. The Kings would make it into the NBA's elite status by challenging the Pacific Division all season, falling just one game short with a solid 55–27 record. The team also posted three five-game winning streaks, which was their longest winning streak during the season.
Chris Webber averaged 27.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while Peja Stojaković showed improvement becoming the team's starting small forward, averaging 20.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, and Christie averaged 12.3 points and 2.3 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. In addition, Vlade Divac provided the team with 12.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, and Jason Williams contributed 9.4 points and 5.4 assists per game. Off the bench, Jackson contributed 7.2 points per game, while Scot Pollard averaged 6.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and Türkoğlu contributed 5.3 points per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Webber and Divac were both selected for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game in Washington, D.C., with head coach Rick Adelman coaching the Western Conference. Webber also finished in fourth place in Most Valuable Player voting with five first-place votes, while Stojaković finished in second place in Most Improved Player voting, Christie finished in fourth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, Jackson finished in fourth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and Adelman finished in second place in Coach of the Year voting.
In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Kings faced the Phoenix Suns. After losing Game 1 to the Suns at home, 86–83, the Kings would win the next three games, and advance to the second round for the first time since moving to Sacramento. However, they were swept by the defending and eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semi-finals in four straight games. The Lakers would reach the NBA Finals to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers in five games, winning their second consecutive championship.
Following the season, the controversial guard Williams was traded along with Nick Anderson to the Memphis Grizzlies, while three-point specialist Jon Barry was traded to the Detroit Pistons, and Darrick Martin signed as a free agent with the Dallas Mavericks.
Offseason
In the NBA draft, the Kings drafted Hedo Türkoğlu and Jabari Smith. Türkoğlu's tenure with the Kings lasted three seasons, while Smith's stint lasted 21 games. Smith would return to Sacramento in the 2003–04 season.
During the offseason, the Kings did not make many transactions. On August 1, the Kings signed guard Bobby Jackson. Jackson would be a reliable bench player during his tenure in Sacramento, and he would win the Sixth Man of the Year Award for the 2002–03 season.
On September 30, the Kings traded combo forward Corliss Williamson to the Toronto Raptors for Doug Christie. Christie would be the starting shooting guard for the Kings for his entire tenure with the team.
On October 20, the Kings waived center Jerome James. James had missed all of the previous season due to a knee injury.
Draft picks
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
Game log
Playoffs
Player statistics
Regular season
Playoffs
Awards and records
- Doug Christie, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- Vlade Divac, 2001 NBA All-Star Game
- Hedo Türkoğlu, NBA All-Rookie Second Team
- Chris Webber, 2001 NBA All-Star Game
- Chris Webber, Player of the Week (Dec. 10)
- Chris Webber, Player of the Week (Jan. 21)
- Chris Webber, All-NBA First Team
- Geoff Petrie, NBA Executive of the Year
- Rick Adelman, Western Conference All-Stars Head Coach
Transactions
Trades
Free agents
Player Transactions Citation:
References
See also
- 2000–01 NBA season
