Earlier than changing into normal supervisor of the Kings, Vlade Divac performed six seasons for the franchise and took part in probably the most controversial playoff sequence in NBA historical past.
It was the 2002 Western Convention Finals in opposition to the Lakers – who had received the chip the earlier two years and have been seeking to three-peat.
The sequence continues to be talked about in basketball circles right this moment, because of the controversial nature of the officiating – significantly in Sport 6 on Sacramentos’ house courtroom.
Some say the sequence and Sport 6 particularly was rigged in opposition to 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 additional time and Divac nonetheless maintains his aspect was higher.
“I don’t want a hoop or a medal to know once I received, Divac mentioned in an interview for Index HR.”We had an excellent workforce, and I believe we have been a greater workforce 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 pleased with that Kings workforce. For me, we have been winners, simply as I contemplate the Serbian nationwide workforce the winners of the Olympic event in Paris,” he Corridor of Famer declared. “Sacramento was a small workforce then with a small finances, we weren’t almost 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 best 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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