When karma catches up with you, it can be violent, depending on how you fall. The Kings' 2029-2030 season represents precisely that. A new coach is on the bench with the promotion of Dalvin Albert with the team's support, but he is out of luck.
You can't win the title without De'Aaron Fox, as powerful as Hector and Keegan Murray, especially when most of the soldiers have gone elsewhere.
Sasha Vezenkov returned to Europe, Malik Monk also went to Charlotte to get his money, and only Jonathan Isaac stayed. The loss was too significant and not enough to retain the title. But the Kings always qualified for the playoffs and were beaten by the NBA finalists, the Spurs, in the second round in 6 games.
The Spurs defeated MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his Thunder and moved to New York.
The Knicks of R.J. Barrett and Zion Williamson defeated Wembanyama in the NBA Finals and brought the title back to New York! The Knicks have dethroned the Kings!!
With 28.9 points, 14.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 3.5 steals, and 3 blocks, Hector is still one of the best players in the league and still DPOY, but the absence of Fox forced him to be more creative, but it posed a problem for the Kings.
With only him as the offensive initiator and Keegan Murray, the team's balance of play was destroyed. Dalvin was unlucky. He inherited a team that, without Hector, is average. You have to say the words that hurt.
And the 2030-2031 season is worse than the previous one. With 32.6 points, 15.7 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 3.1 steals, and 3.2 blocks, it must be said that Hector had one of his best seasons. It usually is MVP without possible dispute.
But here's the problem: the season has started, and the first news is that De'Aaron had to skip this season and make his second season blank in a row. This time, it was the patellar tendon that let Fox down.
Hector? He was "stolen" by the CBA. After 64 games, he injured his quadriceps and could not pass the 65-game mark. Usually, he would have had a second chance, but a ruthless Anthony Edwards won the MVP award and ended the reign of international MVPs that lasted ten years. (Giannis x2, Jokic x2, Embiid, Doncic x2, Herrera x2, Barrett).
The Americans are proud to be back in the trophy; the famine has hit a sore point, and their pride has taken a hit during this period.
He didn't steal it, mainly since the title stayed in New York, but it's the other team. Anthony Edwards and Mikal Bridges beat the Thunder in the Finals, and the Nets won the first NBA championship in their history!!
But he could not be eligible for the DPOY either, and the DPOY series also had to stop simultaneously.
But everything is not to be thrown away, and Hector enters a little more in the history of the Sacramento Kings. He surpassed Oscar Robertson and became the best scorer in the history of the Sacramento Kings!!
This feat is not easy. He doesn't have many teams with a top scorer above 20,000 points. Hector surpassed the 22,009 points of "Big O," and the limit stopped at 22,286 points at the end of this season.
And the bar is rising every year...
His injury did not affect his participation in the Basketball World Cup held in Germany. But he arrived in recovery and was below his standards, although they are very high.
With 20.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3.4 steals, and 2.3 blocks, no one would think he was injured, which is scary. But the Mexicans are strong; with the rise of Alejandro Forte, Jacob Jurado, and Santiago Bellabas, who play significant roles in the NBA, Mexico is starting to become a powerful team with or without Hector.
The 2031-32 season is one of reconquest. It's not the NBA title but the MVP. Hector won his third MVP!! And the reconquest of the DPOY, too, and he broke his record.
27.7 points, 16.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 4.9 steals, and 1.7 blocks!
4.9 STEALS!! I don't think a player can ever reach that bar. He became the only player in history to surpass 400 steals in an NBA regular season.
De'Aaron Fox has returned from his injuries but is no longer the same player, losing his explosiveness. It was a season of recovery for him, but karma chases the Kings. This time, it is Keegan Murray who is injured before the playoffs.
The Kings couldn't beat the Clippers without him, but Hector made them sweat until Game 7. For the first time since 2023, the Sacramento Kings did not pass the first round of the playoffs!
After this season, the Kings sacrificed future picks to be able to pick No. 7 and drafted Puerto Rican point guard Roger Ayala to ensure a smooth transition.
[RESUME OF WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN VOLUME 4 "THE KINGS BETWEEN THE TITLES"]