The Sacramento Kings ended their historic 2022-23 season abruptly, as the Golden State Warriors took them down in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The electric matchup between these two high-powered offenses was the exact reason playoff basketball needed to return to Sacramento.
The intense series between these two California teams might have sparked a rivalry to look out for in the future.
Warriors’ four-time NBA Champion, Draymond Green, was asked about the brewing rivalry with the Kings in an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area:
“The reason I’m cool with [rivalry] being used is because there is a NorCal thing there… The Bay and Sacramento being so close, being so different, yet so similar. I think taking all of those things into account, then you add in Vivek [Ranadivé], who was a minority owner here before he outright bought the Kings. Mike [Brown]. Mike B has won championships with us… So that one I would not say what I would say about most people when they say ‘rivals.’ That’s actually a thing that’s bigger than basketball.”
Green typically refrains from using the term “rivalry” but is open to putting the label on Warriors-Kings. Despite this new rivalry, Green also had positive things to say about the up-and-coming Kings squad:
“[The Kings] gained my respect. There’s a lot of teams we’ve played over the course of this run, and they ain’t gain no respect… But that team gained my respect. They’ve got a bunch of young, hungry guys led by De’Aaron Fox, who I think is a superstar, and will be a superstar in this league. They’re hungry and they’re going after it, and I respect that. I think I can look at them and I remember that part of the journey. And the reality is, that’s the sweetest part of the journey, when nobody thinks you can do it… And I love and appreciate that.”
Usually, an intense playoff series will result in hatred between teams, but a respectful rivalry between the two teams is a great thing to come from it.
While fans of each team might not agree with the respect aspect of the rivalry, an accomplished veteran like Green giving his props to a young Kings squad should push the team to want to accomplish more.
The Kings take on the Warriors in their next two preseason games and two of their first four regular season games. These two teams will be getting used to each other in the next few weeks, which will only add fuel to the fire.