1987–88 Sacramento Kings season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Sacramento Kings 1988 24 58 Midwest 6 10 Bill Russell Jerry Reynolds Joseph Benvenuti Gregg Lukenbill ARCO Arena I KOVR KFBK Did not qualify SAC The 1987–88 Sacramento Kings season was the 39th season for the Sacramento Kings in the National Basketball Association, and their third season in Sacramento, California. Sacramento Kings Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAC/ August 9, 2026 Season summary Off-season The Kings received the sixth overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft, and selected point guard Kenny Smith from the University of North Carolina. Goldaper Sam Guards Dominate Draft, But Robinson Goes First The New York Times June 23, 1987 https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/23/sports/guards-dominate-draft-but-robinson-goes-first.html April 2, 2026 Edes Gordon Only Surprise in the NBA Draft Is the Big Demand for Guards Los Angeles Times June 23, 1987 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-06-23-sp-10130-story.html April 2, 2026 1987 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1987.html April 2, 2026 During the off-season, the team acquired Ed Pinckney from the Phoenix Suns, United Press International  Suns Trade Bedford, Pinckney  The Washington Post  June 22, 1987  https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/06/22/suns-trade-bedford-pinckney/f7d95407-789a-43a9-bea2-4b001c66a8eb/ April 2, 2026 Suns Deal Bedford and Ed Pinckney  The New York Times  June 22, 1987  https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/22/sports/suns-deal-bedford-and-ed-pinckney.html April 2, 2026 The Phoenix Suns Traded Their Top Draft Picks of...  United Press International  June 22, 1987  https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/06/22/The-Phoenix-Suns-traded-their-top-draft-picks-of/1140551332800/ April 2, 2026 acquired Jawann Oldham from the New York Knicks, Goldaper Sam  Knicks Trade Oldham for a Kings' Pick  The New York Times  October 16, 1987  https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/16/sports/knicks-trade-oldham-for-a-kings-pick.html April 2, 2026 The New York Knicks Traded Reserve Center...  Los Angeles Times  October 16, 1987  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-10-16-sp-9526-story.html April 2, 2026 and later on acquired Mike McGee from the Atlanta Hawks in December. Sports People: Kings Get McGee The New York Times December 15, 1987 https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/15/sports/sports-people-kings-get-mcgee.html April 2, 2026 Associated Press Hawks Send McGee to Kings for Two Draft Picks Los Angeles Times December 15, 1987 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-15-sp-29099-story.html April 2, 2026 Kings Obtain McGee The Ledger December 15, 1987 5D https://books.google.com/books?id=Ir9OAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA22&dq=1987+traded+Hawks+Kings+mike+mcgee&article_id=3693,10653982&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQ-ZKS7N-NAxVPn4QIHVdiKv8Q6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=1987%20traded%20Hawks%20Kings%20mike%20mcgee&f=false April 2, 2026 The Kings also hired retired All-Star center, and Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell as their new head coach. Goldaper Sam  Kings Hire Russell as Coach  The New York Times  April 28, 1987  https://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/28/sports/kings-hire-russell-as-coach.html April 2, 2026 Crabbe Robert  Bill Russell Named Coach of Sacramento Kings  United Press International  April 28, 1987  https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/04/28/Bill-Russell-named-coach-of-Sacramento-Kings/7128546580800/ April 2, 2026 Edes Gordon  He's Game Again for the NBA: A Decade After Leaving, Russell's Back, with Kings  Los Angeles Times  October 6, 1987  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-10-06-sp-12297-story.html April 2, 2026 Regular season Under Russell, and with the addition of Kenny Smith and Pinckney, the Kings lost seven of their first nine games of the regular season, which included a six-game losing streak in November. The team posted an eight-game losing streak in December, and later on held a 14–29 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 4, 1988 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.cgi?month=2&day=4&year=1988 April 2, 2026 The Kings continued to struggle posting another eight-game losing streak between February and March; after holding a 17–41 record as of March 5, 1988, Russell was removed as head coach and became the team's General Manager, and was replaced with assistant coach Jerry Reynolds, who coached the Kings during the second half of the previous season as an interim coach. The Sacramento Kings Moved Coach Bill Russell Into the...  United Press International  March 7, 1988  https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/03/07/The-Sacramento-Kings-moved-coach-Bill-Russell-into-the/5206573714000/ April 2, 2026 Associated Press  Russell Is Removed as Coach of Kings  The New York Times  March 8, 1988  https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/08/sports/russell-is-removed-as-coach-of-kings.html April 2, 2026 The Kings finished in last place in the Midwest Division with a 24–58 record. 1987–88 Sacramento Kings Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAC/1988_games.html April 2, 2026 Reggie Theus averaged 21.6 points and 6.3 assists per game, while Otis Thorpe averaged 20.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, and Kenny Smith provided the team with 13.8 points, 7.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. In addition, McGee provided with 14.2 points and 1.3 steals per game in 37 games after the trade, while Derek Smith contributed 12.7 points per game, but only played just 35 games due to knee injuries, United Press International  Bucks Topple Kings, 117-113 in Overtime  Lodi News-Sentinel  November 20, 1987  21  https://books.google.com/books?id=Xq8zAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA25&dq=Sacramento+Kings+derek+smith+knee+injury&article_id=7335,2558604&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiUiY7i8OiTAxV7z_ACHa32MHkQ6AF6BAgPEAM#v=onepage&q=Sacramento%20Kings%20derek%20smith%20knee%20injury&f=false April 12, 2026 Unseld Starts Out Like Coach of Year  Spokane Chronicle  January 28, 1988  27  https://books.google.com/books?id=R3ZMAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA14&dq=Sacramento+Kings+derek+smith+knee+injury&article_id=5916,1377478&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiUiY7i8OiTAxV7z_ACHa32MHkQ6AF6BAgHEAM#v=onepage&q=Sacramento%20Kings%20derek%20smith%20knee%20injury&f=false April 12, 2026 Joe Kleine averaged 9.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, and second-year forward Harold Pressley averaged 9.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Franklin Edwards contributed 8.3 points and 5.8 assists per game, but only appeared in just 16 games, LaSalle Thompson provided with 8.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, Pinckney averaged 6.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, Terry Tyler contributed 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, and Oldham provided with 5.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. 1987–88 Sacramento Kings Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAC/1988.html April 2, 2026 Kenny Smith finished tied in second place in Rookie of the Year voting, behind Mark Jackson of the New York Knicks. Goldaper Sam Jackson Is Top Rookie The New York Times May 11, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/11/sports/jackson-is-top-rookie.html April 2, 2026 1987–88 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1988.html April 2, 2026 The Kings finished 21st in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 423,653 at the ARCO Arena during the regular season, which was the third-lowest in the league. 1987–88 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1988.html April 2, 2026 Aftermath This was also the Kings' final season in which they played their home games at the original ARCO Arena. Following the season, Theus was traded to the Atlanta Hawks before draft day, Associated Press Bulls Swap Oakley for Knicks' Cartwright; Theus Joins Hawks Deseret News June 28, 1988 https://www.deseret.com/1988/6/28/18769997/bulls-swap-oakley-for-knicks-cartwright-theus-joins-hawks April 2, 2026 Goldaper Sam N.B.A. Draft: Manning, Then 3-Way Trade Give Hope to Lowly Clippers The New York Times June 29, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/29/sports/nba-draft-manning-then-3-way-trade-give-hope-to-lowly-clippers.html April 2, 2026 Baker Chris 1988 NBA Draft: Clippers Choose Manning, Then Play for Position: They Trade Cage, End Up with Smith and Grant Los Angeles Times June 29, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-29-sp-4949-story.html April 2, 2026 while Thorpe was traded to the Houston Rockets, Sports People: Signed, Then Traded The New York Times October 12, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/12/sports/sports-people-signed-then-traded.html April 2, 2026 Rockets Trade 2 for Sacramento's Otis Thorpe Los Angeles Times October 12, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-10-12-sp-3343-story.html April 2, 2026 Associated Press Rockets Trade Petersen, McCray for Otis Thorpe Deseret News October 12, 1988 https://www.deseret.com/1988/10/12/18781307/rockets-trade-petersen-mccray-for-otis-thorpe April 2, 2026 and McGee was dealt to the New Jersey Nets. Nets Acquire Kings' McGee The New York Times November 1, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/01/sports/nets-acquire-kings-mcgee.html April 2, 2026 The Sacramento Kings Traded Guard Mike McGee... Los Angeles Times November 1, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-01-sp-707-story.html April 2, 2026 Mike McGee Scored a Game-High 29 Points Against His... United Press International November 27, 1988 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/11/27/Mike-McGee-scored-a-game-high-29-points-against-his/3417596610000/ April 2, 2026 Meanwhile, Tyler signed as a free agent with the Dallas Mavericks, Rabun Mike  The Dallas Mavericks, Who Came Within One Victory of...  United Press International  November 3, 1988  https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/11/03/The-Dallas-Mavericks-who-came-within-one-victory-of/1989594536400/ April 2, 2026 and Oldham and Edwards were both released to free agency. Draft picks 1987 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 6 Kenny Smith PG North Carolina 3 51 Sven Myer Oregon 4 74 Joe Arlauckas PF Niagara 5 97 Vernon Carr Michigan State 6 120 Daryl Thomas Indiana 7 143 Scott Adubato Upsala College Roster Sacramento Kings 1987–88 #1C4BA0 #FFFFFF #CC2D5C #FFFFFF 31 Conner Henry G 6 7 195 UC Santa Barbara 2 Michael Jackson basketball G 6 2 183 Georgetown 35 Joe Kleine C 6 11 255 Arkansas 25 Mike McGee basketball G/F 6 5 190 Michigan 51 Martin Nessley C 7 2 260 Duke 32 Jawann Oldham C 7 0 215 Seattle 54 Ed Pinckney F 6 9 195 Villanova 21 Harold Pressley F 6 7 210 Villanova 18 Derek Smith basketball F/G 6 6 205 Louisville 30 Kenny Smith G 6 3 170 North Carolina 24 Reggie Theus G 6 7 190 UNLV 41 LaSalle Thompson C 6 10 245 Texas 33 Otis Thorpe C/F 6 9 225 Providence 40 Terry Tyler F 6 7 215 Detroit Jerry Reynolds Phil Johnson Regular season Season standings SAC SAC z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Game log Regular season Sacramento Kings #0000FF #FFFFFF 1988 Total: 24–58 (Home: 19–22; Road: 5–36) Sacramento Kings November yes #FFFFFF #0000FF 0 0 0 0 Sacramento Kings December #FFFFFF #0000FF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 12 | December 1, 19877:30 pm PST | L.A. Lakers | L 120–125 (OT) | | | | ARCO Arena10,333 | 4–8 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 24 | December 23, 19877:30 pm PST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 103–117 | | | | The Forum17,505 | 6–18 Sacramento Kings January #FFFFFF #0000FF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 39 | January 28, 19887:30 pm PST | L.A. Lakers | L 94–115 | | | | ARCO Arena10,333 | 11–28 Sacramento Kings February #FFFFFF #0000FF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 52 | February 23, 19887:30 pm PST | Detroit | L 105–121 | | | | ARCO Arena10,333 | 16–36 Sacramento Kings March #FFFFFF #0000FF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 62 | March 14, 19884:30 pm PST | @ Detroit | L 97–109 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome16,909 | 18–44 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 68 | March 26, 19887:30 pm PST | L.A. Lakers | W 114–92 | | | | ARCO Arena10,333 | 20–48 Sacramento Kings April #FFFFFF #0000FF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 72 | April 3, 19887:30 pm PDT | @ L.A. Lakers | L 104–108 | | | | The Forum17,505 | 20–52 SAC 1988 Player statistics Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG Awards and records Kenny Smith, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team References See also 1987-88 NBA season Category:Sacramento Kings seasons Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento