Earlier than changing into basic supervisor of the Kings, Vlade Divac performed six seasons for the franchise and took part in one of the controversial playoff sequence in NBA historical past.
It was the 2002 Western Convention Finals towards the Lakers – who had gained the chip the earlier two years and have been trying to three-peat.
The sequence remains to be talked about in basketball circles right now, as a result of controversial nature of the officiating – significantly in Sport 6 on Sacramentos’ house courtroom.
Some say the sequence and Sport 6 particularly was rigged towards the Kings. The Lakers’ Sport 6 win could possibly be partly attributed to the actual fact they have been awarded 40 free-throw makes an attempt, with 27 of these coming within the fourth quarter.
The Kings misplaced Sport 6 and went on to lose Sport 7 in time beyond regulation and Divac nonetheless maintains his aspect was higher.
“I don’t want a hoop or a medal to know after I gained, Divac stated in an interview for Index HR.”We had an ideal staff, and I believe we have been a greater staff than the Lakers. If we had handed them, we might’ve swept the [New Jersey] Nets just like the Lakers did – 4:0 within the finals.”
“I used to be very happy with that Kings staff. For me, we have been winners, simply as I take into account the Serbian nationwide staff the winners of the Olympic match in Paris,” he Corridor of Famer declared. “Sacramento was a small staff then with a small funds, we weren’t practically as enticing to the media because the Lakers, and we confirmed that we may play a greater and extra stunning basketball than them.”
Divac was among the finest facilities within the league on the time and the Kings have been loaded with star-power together with Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic, Mike Bibby and Doug Christie.
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