Sacramento Kings guard Mike Bibby and coach Rick Adelman discuss strategy against the San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on May 5, 2006, in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the team’s last appearance in a playoff game.
Randy Pench
Sacramento Bee file
It’s been a long time.
As NBA play resumes after the All-Star break, the Sacramento Kings have their best chance at making the playoffs in years.
The first-round games of the playoffs start on April 15, after the play-in tournament concludes. On that Saturday, it will have been 6,189 days since the Kings lost to the San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on May 5, 2006, in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
A lot has changed in that time. Here’s a look back at the excitement and agony of home-team NBA playoff basketball as captured by The Bee’s photography staff.
Mike Bibby dribbles around Nick Van Exel during the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the first round of Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. The Kings were the eighth seed. Randy Pench Sacramento Bee file
Kings center Brad Miller loses the ball while being defended by Spurs Robert Horry and Manu Ginobili, left, in Game 6 of the first round of Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. José Luis Villegas Sacramento Bee file
Spurs guard Tony Parker drives past three flat-footed Kings in the quarter of Game 6 of the first round of Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. Paul Kitagaki Jr. Sacramento Bee file
A dejected Bonzi Wells walks up court in the third quarter of Game 6 of the first round of Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. Randy Pench Sacramento Bee file
Ron Artest is fouled by Robert Horry during the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the first round of Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. Randy Pench Sacramento Bee file
Robert Horry and Tony Parker enjoy the third quarter of Game 6 of the first round of Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. Paul Kitagaki Jr. Sacramento Bee file
Looking tired early, Bonzi Well, Kenny Thomas, Mike Biddy, Brad Miller and Kevin Martin in the second quarter of Game 6 of the first round of Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. Paul Kitagaki Jr. Sacramento Bee file
Kings center Brad Miller looks to the scoreboard in the third quarter of Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. Randy Pench Sacramento Bee file
Kings forward Ron Artest can’t believe a call in the third quarter of Game 6 of the first round of Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. Paul Kitagaki Jr. Sacramento Bee file
Kenny Thomas, Bonzi Wells, Ron Artest and Kevin Martin sit on the bench in the closing minutes of Game 6 of the first round of Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. Randy Pench Sacramento Bee file
Kings head coach Rick Adelman walks off the court after the team’s 105-83 loss in Game 6 of the Western Conference playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. It was his final game as coach, as the team opted not to renew his contract. Paul Kitagaki Jr. Sacramento Bee file
Sacramento Kings coach Rick Adelman speaks to the media in his last postgame press conference with the Kings after Game 6 of the first round of Western Conference playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs at Arco Arena on Friday, May 5, 2006. In his final season, the team finished with a 44-38 record – the last time the Kings had a winning season. Paul Kitagaki Jr. Sacramento Bee Staff Photo
Bee visuals editor Nathaniel Levine joined the staff in 2003. His work has received awards from the Society of News Design, the Best of the West journalism competition and the California News Publishers Association, among others. A native Californian, Levine grew up in Grass Valley and attended UC Davis.
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