The Sacramento Kings are playoff-bound for the first time since 2006. A lot has happened in sports and society since the last time the Kings reached the postseason.
Sacramento Kings fans, rejoice!
With a 120-80 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento clinched a spot in the NBA playoffs.
It has been a while since Sacramento qualified for the postseason — 2006, to be exact. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Kings’ playoff berth snaps a 16-season postseason drought, the longest streak in NBA history. Before Monday, it was the longest active playoff dry spell in the four major American sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL).
Plenty has changed in sports and society during the Kings’ playoff absence. The iPhone hadn’t yet taken the world by storm, former Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade was on the verge of an NBA Finals performance for the ages, and two prominent social media platforms didn’t exist.
Here’s a look at some notable happenings in sports and society since the Kings last made the playoffs.
The last time the Kings made the playoffs, the world didn’t know that the iPhone would become one of the most sought-after phones ever. Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the smartphone in January 2007, calling the device a “revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone,” according to company’s website.
