Only 86 miles apart, Sacramento and San Francisco are home to the Kings and Warriors, two teams whose rivalry in the NBA’s Western Conference is becoming more intense and captivating.
Nearly 40 years ago in 1985, the Kings moved from Kansas City to Sacramento.
In April 2023, the teams clashed in the playoffs, with the Warriors claiming victory after a thrilling seven-game series. Steph Curry, a ten-time All-Star, led with an impressive 50-point performance in the decisive Game 7, which saw record-breaking TV ratings for a first-round NBA playoff matchup in the 21st century.
The following April, Sacramento eliminated Golden State in the play-in tournament.
Matchups between the teams have been marked by intense moments and physical clashes, most notably when Draymond Green was ejected for stomping on Domantas Sabonis during their seven-game playoff series.
The rivalry’s animosity extends beyond the players, as fans from both teams have been caught brawling in videos widely shared on social media by Shaquille O’Neal.
The Kings and Warriors are set to face each other four times in the 2024-25 regular season:
– January 5, 2025, in San Francisco
– January 22, 2025, in Sacramento
– February 21, 2025, in Sacramento
– March 13, 2025, in San Francisco
This season promises a mix of both old and new narratives. The Kings added six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan during the offseason to enhance their dynamic offense.
The Kings and Warriors are set to face each other four times in the 2024-25 regular season:
– January 5, 2025, in San Francisco
– January 22, 2025, in Sacramento
– February 21, 2025, in Sacramento
– March 13, 2025, in San Francisco
This season promises a mix of both old and new narratives. The Kings added six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan during the offseason to enhance their dynamic offense.
To offset the loss of Klay Thompson, the Warriors signed Buddy Hield on July 6. Standing 6 feet 4 inches, Hield is a prolific yet inconsistent scorer who played for the Kings from 2017 to 2022. His time in Sacramento was marked by turmoil, including an incident where he publicly criticized coaches and teammates after being benched, claiming they had “trust issues.”
Kings coach Mike Brown has recently agreed to a three-year contract extension.
Before leading the Kings, Brown served as an assistant coach for the Warriors under Steve Kerr from 2016 to 2022.
Will this season see a third consecutive postseason matchup between the Northern California rivals?
