Why is everyone dunking on the Sacramento Kings? Why the disrespect? What have the Kings done to you?

Nothing. They’ve done nothing.

What have the Pelicans done? Have they wasted a high draft pick in the last few years? No, they took Zion Williamson. I bet they would have taken Marvin Bagley III over Luka Doncic… That’s not the point. I’m getting ahead of myself.

Look, everyone has been disrespecting the Kings as the NBA’s return begins to take shape. With the 8th seed in the Western Conference very much up for grabs, many sports media outlets have been asking fans to weigh in on who they think will secure the final playoff spot.

WHERE ARE THE KINGS?

Look, I get it. The Kings are a mess of an organization. Yes, they passed on Luke Doncic, but that’s their thing! The Kings love doing three things: reminding everyone that California’s capital is not Los Angeles, Deadly 3-Point Shooters, and wasting high draft picks.

Seriously, the Kings draft like the MLB negotiates a CBA: poorly.

But this 2019-20 Kings team is not your average Sacramento Squad. Luke Walton‘s team is weird and strangely good, and they’re being super underrated here.

Ahead of the shutdown, of all the teams below .500, the Kings were the only team in the West with a winning record over their last 10 games. In those 10 games, the Kings were 5-1 against West Coast teams. In their last 15 Western Conference games, the Kings were 10-5, with two wins against the Clippers and Grizzlies, as well as wins against San Antonio and Portland.

How badly does the Media want the LeBron/Zion matchup they dreamed of before his injury? Enough to remove Sacramento from the conversation, and that sucks.

The Kings began the season hampered by injuries, and have struggled to find their footing. With so many guys stepping up and trying to “be the guy,” De’Aaron Fox took the reins after his injury, and never looked back. With Richaun Holmes putting up numbers that make you ask “Where did we find this guy?” and Buddy Hield returning to form by coming off the bench, the Kings are real.

The Kings are an upset machine, they are the quiet member of the Western Conference. Why does that matter? Try this one on for size.

“Beware the quiet man. For while others speak, he watched. And while others act, he plans. And when they finally rest… he strikes.”

– Anonymous

The Kings are being overlooked, and it might be time we start respecting the crown.