{"id":30261,"date":"2020-04-19T12:00:43","date_gmt":"2020-04-19T16:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/?p=30261"},"modified":"2020-04-18T09:55:34","modified_gmt":"2020-04-18T13:55:34","slug":"sacramento-kings-2010s-all-decade-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2020\/04\/19\/sacramento-kings-2010s-all-decade-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Sacramento Kings 2010s All-Decade Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Sacramento Kings<\/a> had a rough decade in the 2010s. The Kings failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs for the entire decade. However, there were some bright spots with the Sacramento Kings. In 2010, Tyreke Evans<\/a><\/strong>, a fourth-round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, got the Rookie of the Year award. He beat fellow rookies who would become perennial NBA All-Stars like James Harden<\/a><\/strong>, Stephen Curry<\/a><\/strong>, and DeMar DeRozan<\/a><\/strong> for the award.<\/p>\n

Sacramento Kings Best Players in the 2010s<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Starting Roster
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

DeMarcus Cousins \u2013 Center (2010-17)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

DeMarcus Cousins<\/a><\/strong> was probably the best player to play in a Sacramento Kings uniform in this decade. Cousins was drafted fifth overall in the 2010 NBA Draft. He averaged 14.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, one steal, and 0.8 blocks per game in his rookie season. In the 2013-14 NBA season and subsequent seasons with the Sacramento Kings, he averaged more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.<\/p>\n

However, his tenure with the Kings’ organization was unstable. Cousins played for six head coaches in seven seasons for the Sacramento Kings. According to Scott Polacek of Bleacher Report<\/a>, he fought with a Sacramento Kings head coach. Then in 2017, Cousins was unexpectedly traded to the New Orleans Pelicans<\/a>. This is what he said about the Sacramento Kings and the city of Sacramento:<\/p>\n

“My love for this city will never change,” Cousins said. “Even though I’m gone, it will still be the same. I’m still looking out for these kids. Every family in this city matters to me.”<\/p>\n

He was by far the greatest Kings player in this decade. He appeared in four straight NBA All-Star Games, three of them with the Sacramento Kings. This includes scoring 56 points against the Charlotte Hornets.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=L9sfC1FI5Q0<\/p>\n

Rudy Gay \u2013 Power Forward (2013-17)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Rudy Gay<\/a><\/strong> came to the Sacramento Kings via trade with the Toronto Raptors<\/a> in 2013. According to Brian Windhorst and Chris Broussard of ESPN<\/a>, Gay was in a seven way-trade that sent him to Sacramento. The Kings traded John Salmons<\/a><\/strong>, Greivis Vasquez<\/a><\/strong>, Patrick Patterson<\/a><\/strong>, and Chuck Hayes<\/a><\/strong> to Toronto and in exchange got Quincy Acy<\/a><\/strong>, Aaron Gray<\/a><\/strong>, and Gay.<\/p>\n

For the Toronto Raptors, this trade changed the fortunes of the franchise forever as they have not missed the NBA playoffs since 2013.<\/p>\n

However, regarding the Kings in 2013, they now had Gay and Cousins. Two possible NBA All-Stars that can average more than 20 points per game.<\/p>\n

In the 2013-14 season after being traded from Toronto for example, he would average 20.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steal, and 0.6 blocks per game. The following 2014-15 season, he averaged 21.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1 steal, and 0.6 blocks per game.<\/p>\n

It was a shame that the Kings were unable to qualify for the NBA playoffs with the presence of both Gay and Cousins. The best record the Kings had while Gay was with a team was 33 wins and 49 losses in the 2015-16 season and finishing tenth in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n

Rudy Gay Enjoyed his Time as a Sacramento King<\/strong><\/h5>\n

However, saying that Gay enjoyed his time as a Sacramento King, in James Ham of NBC Sports<\/a> article:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a learning experience,\u201d Gay said of his time in Sacramento. \u201cI met a lot of great people. Some of the best fans I\u2019ve ever played for. A lot of learning. I\u2019ve been through a lot here and it\u2019s going to mold and shape the rest of my career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gay is now a player for the San Antonio Spurs<\/a>. However, he is a shadow of his former self as he is averaging just 10 points per game this 2019-20 NBA season. His contribution though should not be forgotten by Kings fans. He was after all one of the few players to make an impression in California\u2019s capital city. This includes scoring 41 points against the New Orleans Pelicans<\/a> in 2014.<\/p>\n