Depending on the week, the Kings are either an upstart or the same fledgling franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since Barack Obama was still a senator.
After an Inauguration Day loss to the Clippers, Sacramento was a disheartening 5–10. Then the team quickly reeled off seven wins in eight games, including victories over the Nuggets and Celtics. And now, headed into the last 10 days of February, the Kings are losers of four in a row, stuck at 12–16 and three games back of the No. 8 seed in the West.
The one constant during this time has been the play of fourth-year point guard De’Aaron Fox, who has made an All-Star case in a loaded conference by continuing his year-over-year improvement since being selected with the No.