How the Sacramento Kings history timeline works

Kings history gets told here through franchise milestones, and you order them by the year each happened. Each card has its headline and a brief description beneath. One card is on the line from the start, its year visible. Drop every new card into the gap you think is right; you'll see the year if you are, and if you're not, you lose one of three lives as the card moves to its true place.

This franchise has packed its bags more often than most, and the deck follows it through several cities before it settled in Sacramento. The city named in a description is a strong hint, so use it. The hardest stretch is the long wait for playoff success, with draft picks, trades and arena changes that blur together. A star from one of the earlier cities also gets several cards close together.

Want a longer game? On the deck tree you can tick this deck alongside any other one measured in release years and dates, and they shuffle into a single timeline together.

What's in the deck

Here are 25 of the 25 cards you might be dealt. Their values stay hidden until you place them.

Won the title as the Rochester Royals Bob Davies led an early-NBA championship over the Knicks
Relocated to Cincinnati Franchise moved and became the Cincinnati Royals
Drafted Oscar Robertson Took the hometown college star with a territorial pick
Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double The 'Big O' posted a season-long triple-double average
Reached the Eastern Division Finals Oscar's Royals pushed deep into the playoffs
Oscar Robertson named MVP The 'Big O' won the league's top honor
Traded Oscar Robertson Dealt the star guard to Milwaukee
Relocated to Kansas City Franchise moved and was renamed the Kings
Nate Archibald led in scoring and assists 'Tiny' topped the league in both points and assists
Settled fully in Kansas City Dropped Omaha from the name to become the Kansas City Kings
Drafted Otis Birdsong Second overall pick became a Kansas City All-Star
Reached the West finals as Kansas City Kansas City surprised with a deep playoff run
Relocated to Sacramento Franchise found a permanent California home
Acquired Mitch Richmond Traded for the star guard from Golden State
Made the first Sacramento playoffs Reached the postseason for the first time since the California move
Traded for Chris Webber Acquired the star forward and hired Rick Adelman
Signed Vlade Divac Added the passing center in free agency
Traded for Mike Bibby Swapped Jason Williams for the steadier point guard
Reached the West finals against the Lakers A 61-win team lost a seven-game series to the Lakers
Drafted DeMarcus Cousins Kentucky center taken fifth overall
Golden 1 Center opened Moved into a new downtown Sacramento arena
Drafted De'Aaron Fox Took the Kentucky guard fifth overall
Drafted Tyrese Haliburton Iowa State guard taken twelfth overall
Traded for Domantas Sabonis Acquired the All-Star big man from Indiana
Ended the NBA's longest playoff drought 'Light the Beam' team returned after sixteen years away