Where does Sacramento rank in an all-new power ranking released on the Monday after the NBA All-Star Game?
The Sacramento Kings have 26 games to figure out how they want to finish the season.
Already, fans and analysts have written off the franchise amid their dismal 12-44 record. The Kings are even projected to finish with under 20 victories.
And now, another national outlet didn't hand the Kings any post Valentine's Day love in releasing its latest power rankings Monday. By handing them a "sadness factory" label.
Law Murray of The Athletic dropped the updated NBA Power Rankings including revealing where Sacramento lands. Murray deeply explained the No. 30 ranking and why the Kings remain at the bottom of the standings here.
"The worst record in the NBA. Already more losses than all of last season. A 14-game losing streak entering the All-Star break. And zero All-Star representatives despite three starters having Los Angeles ties in DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Russell Westbrook," Murray fired off right away.
Now there's one more setback involving the Kings' already dismal campaign.
"And now LaVine is out for the season, as well," Murray said.
He later handed the franchise a new label -- while also cracking a joke amid the league's tanking problem.
"A true factory of sadness...but at least they haven’t been fined!" Murray joked.
The last part is attached to NBA commissioner Adam Silver cracking down on teams for allegedly throwing away games to improve their draft rise. The Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz got slapped with fines for what Silver called a violation of player participation policy. And both were fined a combined $600,000 (the Jazz received a $500,000 punishment).
Sacramento's name surfaced amid the tanking rumblings. Unfortunately the more the Kings lose, the thoughts of Doug Christie and general manager Scott Perry doing it on purpose rises in theory.
The Kings head to Thursday carrying a franchise-tying 14-game slide. One more loss to the Orlando Magic shatters the record for longest losing streak in Kings history. And that includes the time the team was known as the Cincinnati Royals.
Sacramento clearly doesn't have much going for itself. But names like Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud instill some hope for the future as the two rookies representing the future. Raynaud is the breakout surprise who stepped up when Domantas Sabonis was injured.
But again, Sacramento returns to action as The Athletic's No. 30 overall team.
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