How to Collect | The Sacramento Kings

From Royals to Kings

The Kings’ journey began in 1949 as the Rochester Royals, before relocating to Cincinnati and then Kansas City, finally landing in Sacramento in 1985. Early Topps Basketball issues capture that heritage, spotlighting stars like Arnie Risen and Red Holzman, both of whom were featured in vintage Bowman and Topps releases.

The story includes an old champion celebrated on early Topps Basketball cards, one of the sport’s true legends, and a fast and fun contender that came a game away from taking down a dynasty.

The Sacramento Kings’ collecting story spans over seven decades, from Bowman’s 1948 debut to modern Topps Chrome refractors. Featuring stars like Oscar Robertson, Chris Webber, and Domantas Sabonis, this guide helps fans celebrate every era of Kings basketball through iconic trading cards.

Jump to Section:

• Kings Mount Rushmore
• Royals to Kings
• Big and Tiny
• Sacramento’s Finest
• Light the Beam
• Collecting History Your Way
• FAQs
• Key Facts

Kings Mount Rushmore

Every franchise has legends that define its identity. For the Kings, Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas, Nate Archibald, and Chris Webber headline the team’s Hobby Mount Rushmore, spanning eras of dominance and artistry.

1969 Topps Basketball #50 Oscar Robertson

1969 Topps Basketball #45 Jerry Lucas RC

1972 Topps Basketball #176 Assist Leaders Jerry West / Nate Archibald / Lenny Wilkens

1999 Topps Gold Label #81 Chris Webber Class 1 Red Label 1/1

From Royals to Kings

The Kings franchise joined the NBA in 1949 as the Rochester Royals, winning 51 of 68 games in their first season. The following season, they were champions, defeating their big-city rival, New York, in a seven-game series.

Arnie Risen led the team in scoring and rebounding in the Finals, and his card appears in Bowman’s historic 1948 Basketball set. This PSA 5.5 sold for $384 in March 2025.

Red Holzman is another noteworthy Royal in the set. He played for the team starting in 1945, when the franchise was in the NBL, and went on to coach in the NBA for almost a decade and a half, including 10 years with the Knicks, where he guided New York to two NBA championships.

The franchise moved to Cincinnati in 1957, the year that Topps issued its first full basketball release. The team featured three All-Stars, Clyde Lovellette, Jack Twyman, and Maurice Stokes, all of whom appear in the iconic set.

Big and Tiny

The franchise’s greatest player on the floor and in The Hobby is The Big O. Oscar Robertson was averaging triple-doubles by the time he was 23 years old, and he remains the franchise leader in points, assists, and minutes played.

In his first eight seasons in Cincinnati? Eight All-NBA First-Team nods, and eight top-five MVP finishes, with one win. Oscar’s cards can be found in the 1969 Topps ‘Tall Boys’ set and in releases from the ’70s, as well as in later commemorative offerings.

Then there’s Tiny. Nate Archibald’s ridiculous speed, vision, and skill helped him achieve legendary status with the franchise. Today, he remains the only player to lead the league in scoring and assists in the same season. His 1971 Topps RC has sold for over $30,000 but remains accessible at lower grade ranges.

Sacramento’s Finest

In 1998, the Washington Wizards sent Chris Webber to the Kings in exchange for Mitch Richmond, a six-time all-star in Sacramento, in a blockbuster trade. 

Richmond himself was a fantastic guard who remains beloved in Sacramento for carrying the team with his scoring exploits. Third in all-time franchise scoring, his number has been raised to the rafters in Sacramento. Richmond’s cards can be found throughout Topps releases of the ’90s and 2000s.

Richmond was great, but the franchise wanted to get bigger and younger. In stepped the incredibly athletic and skilled big Chris Webber. The 1994 Rookie of the Year was said to be displeased at the trade. But, his relationship with head coach Rick Adelman, as well as some deft moves that brought the team Jason Williams, Vlade Divac, and Peja Stojaković, turned Webber and the franchise around. 

In addition to becoming a playoff team, the Kings, with Webber and Jason Williams, played an up-tempo, wildly entertaining brand of basketball that completely re-energized the franchise and sent an endless stream of highlights across the country, as the diminutive and flair-laden point guard and his all-star running mate were at times turning NBA courts into their own personal playground. Williams is well-remembered for his style of play, and his 1998 Chrome Refractor RC sold for over $2,000 in 2024.

Williams was traded for Mike Bibby, who provided excellent point guard play himself, elevating the Kings to true contender status as Webber and his teammates continued to gel. The Kings peaked in 2001/02, winning a league-leading 61 games, before marching to a matchup with the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

Los Angeles had easily beaten the Kings the last two seasons in the playoffs, but Sacramento leveled up. What unfolded was one of the great playoff series of the era. Sacramento would lose in heartbreaking fashion, but no one came closer to ending the Lakers’ dynasty. Outside of that series, the Lakers went 12-1 on the way to their third straight title.

Webber, Vlade, and Peja have all had their numbers retired by the Kings. This team truly captured the heart of a city, and it provides a great foundation on which to build a Kings team collection.

Light the Beam

After 16 seasons outside of the playoffs, 2022/23 was a year to remember in Sacramento. Buoyed by a phenomenal inside-out duo in De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings were one of the most entertaining teams in the league and a true feel-good story that re-energized the fanbase.

The new tradition of lighting the beam, in which a purple laser is lit at the Golden 1 Center after every Kings win, began with this 48-win campaign, the franchise’s best total since 2004/2005. Sabonis is featured in this fun dual card with his father, basketball legend Arvydas Sabonis. Other fan favorites from this group include Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, and Malik Monk.

Collecting History Your Way

Today, Sabonis remains as Sacramento’s franchise player, now joined by veterans Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.

For collectors, the franchise’s important place in historic 1948 and 1957 basketball card sets, legends both Big and Tiny, and Webber’s Kings are all great places to start or supplement a collection of Royals and Kings.

Sacramento Kings Collecting FAQs

• What’s the earliest Sacramento Kings card that collectors can find?
  • The 1948 Bowman Arnie Risen rookie card is the earliest featuring a player from the franchise’s Rochester Royals era.
• Who are the key players to collect in Kings history?
  • Top names include Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas, Nate Archibald, Chris Webber, and modern stars De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
• What’s the most valuable Kings card?
  • Oscar Robertson’s Topps rookie cards from the 1960s and Nate Archibald’s 1973 Topps RC remain among the most valuable vintage pieces.
• Which modern sets highlight the Kings?
  • Topps Chrome and Gold Label feature current and past Kings, especially Chrome parallels from the 2020s.
• What is “Light the Beam”?
  • It’s a modern Sacramento Kings tradition that celebrates home wins with a purple beam over the arena—featured in current Topps Chrome cards.

Key Facts

• Franchise founded in 1949 as the Rochester Royals.
• First NBA title in 1951.
• Relocated to Sacramento in 1985.
• Modern stars: De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray.

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