Head coach Garry St. Jean Record 39–43 (.476) | Arena ARCO Arena | |
Place Division: 5th (Pacific)
Conference: 8th (Western) Playoff finish West first round
(eliminated 1–3) | ||
The 1995–96 NBA season was the Kings' 47th season in the National Basketball Association, and 11th season in Sacramento. During the offseason, the Kings acquired Šarūnas Marčiulionis from the Seattle SuperSonics and Tyrone Corbin from the Atlanta Hawks. The Kings would play their best basketball winning their first five games of the season. However, things turned ugly as a brawl occurred in a 119–95 win over the Indiana Pacers on November 10, with a total of 16 players suspended, eight from each team. After a 24–17 start, the Kings struggled and went on an 11-game losing streak in February, as they traded Corbin and Walt Williams to the Miami Heat for Billy Owens and Kevin Gamble.
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The Kings would finally end their nine-year playoff drought by winning 14 of their final 24 games to rally, and capture the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 39–43 record. Fifth in the Pacific Division with Mitch Richmond being selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game. In the first round of the playoffs, they lost to the Seattle SuperSonics in four games. It was their only playoff appearance with Richmond on the team. Following the season, Marčiulionis was traded to the Denver Nuggets.
West First Round
(1) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (8) Sacramento Kings Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the SuperSonics and Kings.