1993–94 Sacramento Kings season

1993–94 Sacramento Kings season
Head coachGarry St. Jean
OwnerJim Thomas
ArenaARCO Arena
Results
Record28–54 (.341)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Pacific)
Conference: 10th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionKRBK-TV
SportsChannel Pacific
RadioKRAK
< 1992–93 1994–95 >

The 1993–94 Sacramento Kings season was the 45th season for the Sacramento Kings in the National Basketball Association, and their ninth season in Sacramento, California.[1] The Kings received the seventh overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft, and selected point guard Bobby Hurley out of Duke University.[2][3][4] With the addition of Hurley, the Kings got off to a 4–5 start to the regular season, but then continued to struggle posting an eight-game losing streak between November and December afterwards, and losing 12 of their next 13 games, leading to an awful 5–17 start to the season.

On December 12, 1993, Hurley was seriously injured in a life-threatening car accident, following a 112–102 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at the ARCO Arena II. Hurley, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from his vehicle into a ditch after a collision with another vehicle; he suffered two collapsed lungs, multiple rib fractures, and also suffered trauma to the head, back and neck. Hurley was out for the remainder of the season after only playing just 19 games, averaging 7.1 points and 6.1 assists per game.[5][6][7]

With Hurley out, Spud Webb returned to the starting lineup after playing off the bench as backup point guard for Hurley. Also in December, the team signed free agents Trevor Wilson and LaBradford Smith, who were previously released by the Los Angeles Lakers and the Washington Bullets, respectively.[8] The Kings posted a seven-game losing streak in January, and later on held a 15–32 record at the All-Star break.[9] At mid-season, the team traded Pete Chilcutt to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Olden Polynice.[10][11][12] The Kings posted a six-game losing streak in March, and finished in sixth place in the Pacific Division with a 28–54 record, missing the NBA playoffs for the eighth consecutive year.[13]

Mitch Richmond averaged 23.4 points, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game, led the Kings with 127 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team. In addition, Wayman Tisdale averaged 16.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, while Lionel Simmons provided the team with 15.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game, Webb contributed 12.7 points and 6.7 assists per game, and Polynice averaged 9.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game in 31 games after the trade. Off the bench, second-year forward Walt Williams provided with 11.2 points per game, but only played 57 games due to a stress fracture in his left leg,[14][15][16] while Wilson averaged 8.0 points per game in 52 games, Randy Brown contributed 4.5 points per game, and Duane Causwell averaged 4.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, but only played just 41 games due to injury.[17]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Richmond was selected for the 1994 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team,[18][19][20] and also participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the second time.[21][22] Polynice finished tied in seventh place in Most Improved Player voting.[23][24] The Kings finished tenth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 710,497 at the ARCO Arena II during the regular season.[17][25]

Following the season, Tisdale signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns,[26][27][28] and Wilson and Smith were both released to free agency.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 7 Bobby Hurley PG  United States Duke
2 31 Evers Burns PF  United States Maryland
2 44 Alex Holcombe  United States Baylor
2 52 Mike Peplowski C  United States Michigan State

Roster

1993–94 Sacramento Kings roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
C 45 Randy Breuer 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1960–10–11 Minnesota
G 3 Randy Brown 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1968–05–22 New Mexico State
C 31 Duane Causwell 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968–05–31 Temple
G 7 Bobby Hurley Injured 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1971–06–28 Duke
C 54 Mike Peplowski 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1970–10–15 Michigan State
C 0 Olden Polynice 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1964–11–21 Virginia
G 2 Mitch Richmond 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1965–06–30 Kansas State
F 22 Lionel Simmons 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1968–11–14 La Salle
G 15 LaBradford Smith 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1969–04–03 Louisville
F 24 Andre Spencer 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1964–07–20 Northern Arizona
F 23 Wayman Tisdale 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1964–06–09 Oklahoma
G 4 Spud Webb 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 133 lb (60 kg) 1963–07–13 NC State
F 42 Walt Williams 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 219 lb (99 kg) 1970–04–16 Maryland
F 21 Trevor Wilson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1968–03–16 UCLA
Head coach
Assistant(s)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics 63 19 .768 37–4 26–15 25–5
x-Phoenix Suns 56 26 .683 7 36–5 20–21 19–11
x-Golden State Warriors 50 32 .610 13 29–12 21–20 19–11
x-Portland Trail Blazers 47 35 .573 16 30–11 17–24 17–13
Los Angeles Lakers 33 49 .402 30 21–20 12–29 7–23
Sacramento Kings 28 54 .341 35 20–21 8–33 9–21
Los Angeles Clippers 27 55 .329 36 17–24 10–31 9–21
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Seattle SuperSonics 63 19 .768
2 y-Houston Rockets 58 24 .707 5
3 x-Phoenix Suns 56 26 .683 7
4 x-San Antonio Spurs 55 27 .671 8
5 x-Utah Jazz 53 29 .646 10
6 x-Golden State Warriors 50 32 .610 13
7 x-Portland Trail Blazers 47 35 .573 16
8 x-Denver Nuggets 42 40 .512 21
9 Los Angeles Lakers 33 49 .402 30
10 Sacramento Kings 28 54 .341 35
11 Los Angeles Clippers 27 55 .329 36
12 Minnesota Timberwolves 20 62 .244 43
13 Dallas Mavericks 13 69 .159 50
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Wayman Tisdale 79 77 32.4 .501 .808 7.1 1.8 .5 .7 16.7
Spud Webb 79 62 32.5 .460 .335 .813 2.8 6.7 1.2 .3 12.7
Mitch Richmond 78 78 37.1 .445 .407 .834 3.7 4.0 1.3 .2 23.4
Lionel Simmons 75 74 36.0 .438 .353 .777 7.5 4.1 1.4 .7 15.1
Randy Brown 61 2 17.1 .438 .000 .609 1.8 2.2 1.0 .2 4.5
LaBradford Smith 59 2 14.1 .403 .350 .750 1.3 1.8 .6 .1 5.1
Walt Williams 57 4 23.8 .390 .288 .635 4.1 2.3 .9 .4 11.2
Mike Peplowski 55 19 12.1 .539 .000 .545 3.1 .4 .3 .5 3.2
Trevor Wilson 52 9 21.1 .481 .000 .560 4.7 1.2 .6 .2 8.0
Pete Chilcutt 46 24 21.2 .463 .000 .596 5.9 1.5 .9 .6 7.3
Duane Causwell 41 8 16.4 .518 .588 4.5 .3 .5 1.2 4.4
Olden Polynice 31 29 33.9 .484 .000 .556 11.4 .6 .6 1.0 9.8
Randy Breuer 26 3 9.5 .308 .000 .214 2.2 .3 .2 .7 .7
Andre Spencer 23 0 12.4 .430 .712 2.7 .8 .8 .2 6.0
Evers Burns 23 0 6.2 .400 .522 1.3 .4 .3 .1 2.4
Bobby Hurley 19 19 26.3 .370 .125 .800 1.8 6.1 .7 .1 7.1
Jim Les 18 0 9.4 .382 .444 .846 .7 2.2 .4 .1 2.5
  • Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.

Player statistics citation:[17]

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 1993-94 Sacramento Kings
  2. ^ Brown, Clifton (July 1, 1993). "PRO BASKETBALL; Pick and Troll: Magic Trades No. 1 Choice Webber". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  3. ^ Heisler, Mark (July 1, 1993). "THE NBA DRAFT: Big Deal for Warriors: Webber for Hardaway: Basketball: Golden State Finally Gets Someone with Size. Orlando Gets Memphis State Guard to Complement O'Neal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  4. ^ "1993 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  5. ^ Baker, Chris (December 13, 1993). "Injured in Crash, Hurley Is in Critical Condition". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  6. ^ Friend, Tom (December 14, 1993). "PRO BASKETBALL; Hurley Survives, But Basketball Future Is Unsure". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  7. ^ "12 Days After Crash, Hurley Leaves Hospital". The Washington Post. December 25, 1993. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  8. ^ Nakamura, David (December 29, 1993). "Either Way, Ellison Still in Middle". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  9. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 10, 1994". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  10. ^ "Polynice Goes to Kings for Chilcutt, Draft Pick". Deseret News. February 21, 1994. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  11. ^ "Pistons Trade Polynice to Kings for Chilcutt". Sun Journal. Associated Press. February 21, 1994. p. 19. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  12. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. February 22, 1994. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  13. ^ "1993–94 Sacramento Kings Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  14. ^ Graswich, R.E. (October 18, 1993). "Kings Luck Is Timing: All Was Well Until Williams Got Stress Fracture". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  15. ^ "Kings' Williams Sidelined". The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. October 19, 1993. p. 2B. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  16. ^ Bembry, Jerry (December 29, 1993). "2nd Leg Hard on Williams". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  17. ^ a b c "1993–94 Sacramento Kings Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  18. ^ Taylor, Phil (February 14, 1994). "The NBA". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  19. ^ "1994 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  20. ^ "1994 NBA All-Star Game: East 127, West 118". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  21. ^ "Basketball". Bangor Daily News. February 12–13, 1994. p. 14. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  22. ^ "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  23. ^ Bembry, Jerry (May 18, 1994). "Bullets' MacLean Voted NBA's Most Improved". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  24. ^ "1993–94 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  25. ^ "1993–94 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  26. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Phoenix Suns Sign Tisdale". The New York Times. September 17, 1994. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  27. ^ "Transactions". The Free Lance-Star. September 17, 1994. p. B8. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  28. ^ "Suns Traded Ceballos to Lakers". United Press International. September 23, 1994. Retrieved June 3, 2025.

See also