How Kings’ playoff drought compares to longest streaks in NBA history: Active & all-time lists for most consecutive seasons missing playoffs

It’s been a while since the Kings were in the playoffs.

A whopping 16 seasons, to be exact.

In 2005-06, Sacramento entered the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and saw its season come to an end at the hands of San Antonio in six games. That’s the last time the Kings experienced postseason basketball, making for the longest active drought in the NBA.

The Hornets have the second-longest active drought, followed by the Cavaliers, Pistons and Spurs.

Longest active playoff droughts in the NBA

The Kings own the longest active playoff drought in the NBA, having not made the postseason in 16 straight seasons.

The next-longest active drought is six seasons, owned by the Hornets.

Seven other teams enter 2022-23 with a postseason drought lasting two or more seasons, including the Cavaliers, Pistons, Spurs and Rockets.

Longest all-time playoff droughts in NBA history

Not only do the Kings own the longest active playoff drought, but they now own the longest of all time.

In not making the playoffs in 16 consecutive seasons, the Kings surpassed the Clippers, who went 15 seasons not making the playoffs, for the longest ever drought. LA’s drought started in 1977 and ended in 1992.

Only four other franchises have ever had a playoff drought that lasted a decade: Minnesota, Golden State, Dallas and Phoenix.

The Suns were the most recent of those franchises, ending their drought with a run to the Finals in 2021.