When deciding whether to keep a team in Sacramento next month, NBA owners will likely take into account this question: "Can I make money when the Kings come to my town?"
The answer is yes.
So far this season, the Kings, despite their dismal win-loss record, have averaged about 17,100 fans at their road games. That ranks them in the middle - 15th out of 30 - of the league for road attendance, according to data compiled by ESPN.
About 89 percent of seats have been full at Kings' road games this season; again, near the league average.
The Kings have been in the top 20 in the NBA for average road attendance during each of the last five years, even as they have struggled on the court.
During the Kings' glory days a decade ago, they were consistently in the top five for average road attendance.
Before the SuperSonics left for Oklahoma City, the Kings averaged about as many people at road games as the Seattle team - and far more during the early years of the last decade.
The Kings are last in home attendance this year; about 3,600 more people, on average, attend their road games than their home games.
This chart shows average road attendance for all NBA teams so far this season.
Source: ESPN
• Read more articles by Phillip Reese
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