The 2018–19 Sacramento Kings season was the 74th season of the franchise, its 70th season in the National Basketball Association, and its 34th in Sacramento. The Kings entered the season with the longest NBA postseason drought appearances at 12 seasons, last qualifying in 2006. On May 15, 2018, the Kings were given the 2018 NBA draft second pick via the lottery, their highest first round pick since the 1989 NBA draft, and selected Duke University's Marvin Bagley III. The Kings improved from the previous season and held a winning record through the All-Star break, reaching the 30 win mark at the break for the first time since 2005. Despite the improved record, they again missed the playoffs for a record 13th straight season on March 30th as they lost against the Houston Rockets. This was the most wins the Kings have had since the 2005–06 NBA season where the Kings had a 44–38 record as the 8th seed in the Western Conference and lost to the San Antonio Spurs in a six games series.
Draft picks
Round
Pick
Player
Position
Nationality
College / Club
1
2
Marvin Bagley III
PF
Duke
The Kings entered draft night with two selections, the first of which had them rise up from tying the Chicago Bulls with the sixth-worst record of the draft the previous season turned into having the #2 pick of the draft and the second pick resulting in them having the higher of second-round picks after losing the first-round tiebreaker to the Bulls. With the second pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, Sacramento selected early freshman power forward Marvin Bagley III from Duke University. Marvin was one of the few top competitors entering the draft this year, and even though he was first projected to be a senior at Sierra Canyon High School earlier in the previous season, he jumped up into the collegiate rankings early to play a single season at Duke. In 33 games played for Duke, Bagley recorded spectacular averages of 21 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists,.9 blocks, and.8 steals under 33.8 minutes per game. As a result, he was named a consensus All-American First Team member, the Pete Newell Big Man Award winner as the bestlow-post player that year, the ACC Rookie of The Year, the ACC Player of the Year, and a member of the All-ACC First Team. As for their second-round selection at #37, it was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for two future second round picks and cash considerations.
