1998–99 Sacramento Kings season

The 1998–99 NBA season was the Kings' Golden Jubileu in the National Basketball Association, and 14th season in Sacramento. On March 23, 1998, the owners of all 29 NBA teams voted 27–2 to reopen the league's collective bargaining agreement, seeking changes to the league's salary cap system, and a ceiling on individual player salaries. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) opposed to the owners' plan, and wanted raises for players who earned the league's minimum salary. After both sides failed to reach an agreement, the owners called for a lockout, which began on July 1, 1998, putting a hold on all team trades, free agent signings and training camp workouts, and cancelling many NBA regular season and preseason games. Due to the lockout, the NBA All-Star Game, which was scheduled to be played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 14, 1999, was also cancelled. However, on January 6, 1999, NBA commissioner David Stern, and NBPA director Billy Hunter finally reached an agreement to end the lockout. The deal was approved by both the players and owners, and was signed on January 20, ending the lockout after 204 days. The regular season began on February 5, and was cut short to just 50 games instead of the regular 82-game schedule.

In the 1998 NBA draft, the Kings selected Jason Williams from the University of Florida with the seventh overall pick;    Williams would earn the nickname "White Chocolate", and would also be known for his flashy passes and crossovers. During the off-season, the team acquired All-Star forward Chris Webber from the Washington Wizards,    and signed free agents Vlade Divac,    Vernon Maxwell, three-point specialist Jon Barry, and second-year center Scot Pollard, who was signed midway through the season while Terry Dehere was released to free agency. After playing in Europe, Serbian forward Peja Stojaković, who was drafted 14th overall by the Kings in the 1996 NBA draft, would finally make his debut in the NBA. Under new head coach Rick Adelman, the Kings struggled playing below .500 with a 17–22 start, but then improved winning ten of their final eleven games, finishing third in the Pacific Division with a 27–23 record, their first winning season in 16 years.

Webber averaged 20.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, while Divac averaged 14.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, and Williams provided the team with 12.8 points, 6.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, Corliss Williamson provided with 13.2 points per game, and second-year guard Tariq Abdul-Wahad contributed 9.3 points per game. Off the bench, Maxwell contributed 10.7 points per game, while second-year forward Lawrence Funderburke averaged 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, and Stojaković provided with 8.4 points per game. Webber also finished in seventh place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Williams finished in second place in Rookie of the Year voting behind Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors.

In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Kings got off to a good start, taking a 2–1 series lead over the 3rd–seeded Utah Jazz. However, the Jazz won Game 4 on the road by one point to even the series, 90–89, and force a decisive fifth game. The Kings would lose Game 5 on the road in overtime, 99–92. Following the season, Abdul-Wahad was traded to the Orlando Magic, and Maxwell signed as a free agent with the Seattle SuperSonics.

For the season, the Kings added new purple alternate road uniforms with black side panels to their shorts, which would remain in use until 2002.

Roster Notes

 * Shooting guard Chris Robinson was placed on the inactive list, and did not play for the Kings this season.

Season standings

 * z – clinched division title
 * y – clinched division title
 * x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 1
 * February 5
 * @ San Antonio
 * Jason Williams (21)
 * Chris Webber (12)
 * Williams, Webber, Abdul-Wahad (3)
 * Alamodome 19,002
 * 0–1
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2
 * February 7
 * Vancouver
 * Chris Webber (25)
 * Vlade Divac (16)
 * Vlade Divac (10)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 1–1
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 3
 * February 9
 * @ Phoenix
 * Chris Webber (28)
 * Chris Webber (20)
 * Vlade Divac (7)
 * America West Arena 18,217
 * 2–1
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 4
 * February 10
 * @ Houston
 * Chris Webber (21)
 * Chris Webber (19)
 * Tariq Abdul-Wahad (5)
 * Compaq Center 16,285
 * 2–2
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 5
 * February 15
 * @ Utah
 * Chris Webber (26)
 * Chris Webber (11)
 * Jason Williams (7)
 * Delta Center 19,911
 * 2–3
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 6
 * February 16
 * Boston
 * Webber, Williamson (22)
 * Chris Webber (15)
 * Vlade Divac (8)
 * ARCO Arena 16,576
 * 3–3
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 7
 * February 17
 * @ Seattle
 * Chris Webber (23)
 * Webber, Divac (14)
 * Jason Williams (5)
 * KeyArena 17,072
 * 4–3
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 8
 * February 19
 * Charlotte
 * Jason Williams (25)
 * Chris Webber (14)
 * Jon Barry (5)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 5–3
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 9
 * February 21
 * @ Minnesota
 * Chris Webber (20)
 * Lawrence Funderburke (12)
 * Jason Williams (8)
 * Target Center 16,848
 * 5–4
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 10
 * February 22
 * @ Orlando
 * Chris Webber (22)
 * Chris Webber (13)
 * Jason Williams (7)
 * Orlando Arena 16,542
 * 5–5
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 11
 * February 24
 * @ Philadelphia
 * Chris Webber (21)
 * Chris Webber (11)
 * Jason Williams (7)
 * First Union Center 14,437
 * 5–6
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 12
 * February 25
 * @ Washington
 * Vlade Divac (22)
 * Vlade Divac (17)
 * Chris Webber (10)
 * MCI Center 16,813
 * 6–6
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 13
 * February 27
 * @ Dallas
 * Vlade Divac (20)
 * Chris Webber (14)
 * Jason Williams (7)
 * Reunion Arena 15,009
 * 6–7
 * Chris Webber (10)
 * MCI Center 16,813
 * 6–6
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 13
 * February 27
 * @ Dallas
 * Vlade Divac (20)
 * Chris Webber (14)
 * Jason Williams (7)
 * Reunion Arena 15,009
 * 6–7
 * 6–7


 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 14
 * March 1
 * Seattle
 * Chris Webber (20)
 * Chris Webber (14)
 * Jason Williams (10)
 * ARCO Arena 16,786
 * 6–8
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 15
 * March 2
 * @ Vancouver
 * Chris Webber (36)
 * Chris Webber (17)
 * Jason Williams (9)
 * General Motors Place 13,252
 * 7–8
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 16
 * March 3
 * Portland
 * Chris Webber (20)
 * Chris Webber (14)
 * Chris Webber (6)
 * ARCO Arena 15,160
 * 7–9
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 17
 * March 6
 * @ Phoenix
 * Jason Williams (24)
 * Chris Webber (14)
 * Webber, Williams (6)
 * America West Arena 19,023
 * 8–9
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 18
 * March 7
 * Dallas
 * Chris Webber (18)
 * Chris Webber (13)
 * Chris Webber (7)
 * ARCO Arena 14,715
 * 9–9
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 19
 * March 9
 * @ Portland
 * Lawrence Funderburke (18)
 * Vlade Divac (16)
 * Webber, Maxwell (5)
 * Rose Garden 18,147
 * 9–10
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 20
 * March 11
 * @ L.A. Clippers
 * Vlade Divac (19)
 * Chris Webber (9)
 * Jason Williams (4)
 * Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 7,884
 * 9–11
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 21
 * March 12
 * Minnesota
 * Jason Williams (17)
 * Chris Webber (10)
 * Jason Williams (5)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 9–12
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 22
 * March 14
 * L.A. Lakers
 * Jason Williams (21)
 * Chris Webber (11)
 * Williams, Divac (5)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 10–12
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 23
 * March 15
 * @ Golden State
 * Chris Webber (20)
 * Vlade Divac (8)
 * Webber, Divac (6)
 * The Arena in Oakland 17,317
 * 11–12
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 24
 * March 16
 * San Antonio
 * Vlade Divac (18)
 * Chris Webber (14)
 * Jason Williams (10)
 * ARCO Arena 14,570
 * 11–13
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 25
 * March 18
 * Portland
 * Chris Webber (16)
 * Chris Webber (20)
 * Jason Williams (5)
 * ARCO Arena 14,397
 * 11–14
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 26
 * March 20
 * @ Dallas
 * Tariq Abdul-Wahad (16)
 * Chris Webber (16)
 * Vlade Divac (6)
 * Reunion Arena 16,161
 * 11–15
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 27
 * March 22
 * @ Houston
 * Chris Webber (29)
 * Chris Webber (11)
 * Chris Webber (6)
 * Compaq Center 16,285
 * 11–16
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 28
 * March 24
 * New York
 * Vernon Maxwell (19)
 * Chris Webber (9)
 * Vlade Divac (10)
 * ARCO Arena 17,023
 * 12–16
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 29
 * March 26
 * @ L.A. Lakers
 * Chris Webber (29)
 * Webber, Divac (10)
 * Jason Williams (12)
 * Great Western Forum 17,505
 * 13–16
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 30
 * March 28
 * Houston
 * Jason Williams (21)
 * Lawrence Funderburke (15)
 * Vlade Divac (5)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 13–17
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 31
 * March 30
 * Utah
 * Vernon Maxwell (33)
 * Vlade Divac (13)
 * Michael Hawkins (7)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 14–17
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 32
 * March 31
 * @ Portland
 * Vlade Divac (20)
 * Vlade Divac (12)
 * Vlade Divac (7)
 * Rose Garden 18,468
 * 14–18
 * 31
 * March 30
 * Utah
 * Vernon Maxwell (33)
 * Vlade Divac (13)
 * Michael Hawkins (7)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 14–17
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 32
 * March 31
 * @ Portland
 * Vlade Divac (20)
 * Vlade Divac (12)
 * Vlade Divac (7)
 * Rose Garden 18,468
 * 14–18
 * Rose Garden 18,468
 * 14–18


 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 33
 * April 3
 * @ Minnesota
 * Vlade Divac (19)
 * Chris Webber (10)
 * Vlade Divac (9)
 * Target Center 17,011
 * 14–19
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 34
 * April 6
 * @ Seattle
 * Jason Williams (21)
 * Vlade Divac (14)
 * Vlade Divac (10)
 * KeyArena 17,072
 * 15–19
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 35
 * April 7
 * L.A. Lakers
 * Corliss Williamson (22)
 * Chris Webber (16)
 * Webber, Stojaković (6)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 15–20
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 36
 * April 10
 * Denver
 * Chris Webber (23)
 * Vlade Divac (15)
 * Jason Williams (9)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 16–20
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 37
 * April 11
 * @ Vancouver
 * Chris Webber (24)
 * Chris Webber (10)
 * Jason Williams (7)
 * General Motors Place 17,167
 * 17–20
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 38
 * April 13
 * Utah
 * Corliss Williamson (22)
 * Chris Webber (16)
 * Chris Webber (8)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 17–21
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 39
 * April 15
 * Seattle
 * Chris Webber (26)
 * Chris Webber (21)
 * Jason Williams (13)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 17–22
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 40
 * April 17
 * Denver
 * Corliss Williamson (29)
 * Vlade Divac (14)
 * Jason Williams (11)
 * ARCO Arena 16,285
 * 18–22
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 41
 * April 19
 * @ L.A. Clippers
 * Corliss Williamson (23)
 * Tariq Abdul-Wahad (9)
 * Jason Williams (14)
 * Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim 10,878
 * 19–22
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 42
 * April 21
 * Golden State
 * Chris Webber (25)
 * Chris Webber (16)
 * Webber, Williams (5)
 * ARCO Arena 17,087
 * 20–22
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 43
 * April 23
 * Minnesota
 * Jason Williams (27)
 * Chris Webber (19)
 * Webber, Williams, Stojaković (4)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 21–22
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 44
 * April 24
 * Dallas
 * Vlade Divac (28)
 * Vlade Divac (9)
 * Jason Williams (7)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 22–22
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 45
 * April 26
 * @ Golden State
 * Stojaković, Funderburke (17)
 * Vlade Divac (10)
 * Vlade Divac (5)
 * The Arena in Oakland 16,111
 * 22–23
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 46
 * April 27
 * San Antonio
 * Vlade Divac (27)
 * Vlade Divac (15)
 * Jason Williams (7)
 * ARCO Arena 16,776
 * 23–23
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 47
 * April 29
 * L.A. Clippers
 * Tariq Abdul-Wahad (19)
 * Divac, Pollard (11)
 * Jon Barry (9)
 * ARCO Arena 16,938
 * 24–23
 * Vlade Divac (27)
 * Vlade Divac (15)
 * Jason Williams (7)
 * ARCO Arena 16,776
 * 23–23
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 47
 * April 29
 * L.A. Clippers
 * Tariq Abdul-Wahad (19)
 * Divac, Pollard (11)
 * Jon Barry (9)
 * ARCO Arena 16,938
 * 24–23
 * 24–23


 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 48
 * May 2
 * Phoenix
 * Jason Williams (24)
 * Chris Webber (13)
 * Jason Williams (5)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 25–23
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 49
 * May 3
 * @ Denver
 * Vlade Divac (25)
 * Scot Pollard (10)
 * Jason Williams (9)
 * McNichols Sports Arena 14,653
 * 26–23
 * -style="background:#cfc;"
 * 50
 * May 5
 * Vancouver
 * Vlade Divac (29)
 * Vlade Divac (17)
 * Jon Barry (5)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 27–23
 * Jon Barry (5)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 27–23

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * May 8
 * @ Utah
 * L 87–117
 * Chris Webber (14)
 * Chris Webber (9)
 * Chris Webber (3)
 * Delta Center 19,911
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * May 10
 * @ Utah
 * W 101–90
 * Chris Webber (20)
 * Vlade Divac (7)
 * Vlade Divac (8)
 * Delta Center 19,911
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * May 12
 * Utah
 * W 84–81 (OT)
 * Vlade Divac (22)
 * Vlade Divac (14)
 * Jason Williams (6)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * May 14
 * Utah
 * L 89–90
 * Chris Webber (18)
 * Vlade Divac (14)
 * Jason Williams (6)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 2–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * May 16
 * @ Utah
 * L 92–99 (OT)
 * Vernon Maxwell (22)
 * Chris Webber (14)
 * Vlade Divac (5)
 * Delta Center 19,911
 * 2–3

Season
‡Waived during the season

Awards and records

 * Geoff Petrie, NBA Executive of the Year Award
 * Chris Webber, All-NBA Second Team
 * Jason Williams, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

Subtractions
Player Transactions Citation: