Duane Causwell sits atop as the single-season BPG leader for the Kings.
The Sacramento Kings have had a number of talented rim protectors suit up for them throughout their 78 years in the NBA. This article will dig into the greatest shot-blocking seasons in franchise history, from Duane Causwell to Sam Lacey. Note that blocks did not become an official NBA stat until the 1973-74 season.
Duane Causwell – 1992, 2.7 BPG
Causwell, the 28th pick in the 1990 NBA Draft, spent seven seasons in Sacramento. During his sophomore campaign in 1991-92, the seven-footer posted his best statistical year, averaging career-highs in blocks (2.7), rebounds (7.3), games played (80) and minutes (28.6) to go along with 8.0 points per game. ‘The Causinator’ recorded 11 double-doubles and 12 contests with five or more rejections, and the 215 total blocks he collected are the most in a single season in franchise history. Over the course of his 11-year career with the Kings and Miami Heat, Causwell compiled averages of 4.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 1.4 bpg in 541 appearances (262 starts) between 1990 and 2001.
Michael Stewart – 1998, 2.4 BPG
Injuries plagued Stewart throughout his eight seasons in the NBA, but that didn’t stop him from earning the second spot on the Kings’ list. In his lone campaign in Sactown, the undrafted center-forward out of California suited up for 81 contests (37 starts) en route to 4.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game during his rookie year. Stewart went on to play for the Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks before officially retiring in 2005. He wasn’t able to build off of his promising debut season, though, as ‘Yogi’ never appeared in more than 47 games in a single season following his departure from Sacramento.
Sam Lacey – 1974, 2.3 BPG
Two decades earlier, the then Cincinnati Royals chose Lacey with the fifth overall pick in the 1970 NBA Draft, just three years before blocks became an official stat in the league. In 1973-74, with the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, a 25-year-old Lacey went for a career-best 14.2 points and 2.3 blocks with 13.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals across 79 games. Through his first 11 full seasons with the franchise, ‘Slammin’ Sam’ never missed more than five contests, suiting up for all 82 on three occasions and 81 games five times. Lacey spent 11 and a half years with the Kings, amassing averages of 11.1 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.5 spg and 1.7 bpg in 888 outings between 1970 and 1981.
Chris Webber – 1999, 2.1 BPG
During the lockout-shortened 1998-99 campaign, Webber was dominant on both ends of the court in his debut season with the Kings. In 42 of a possible 50 games, the 25-year-old tallied 20.0 points, a league-leading 13.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.1 blocks in almost 41 minutes a night. ‘C-Webb’ earned the first All-NBA (Second Team) honor of his career and finished seventh in the MVP race, setting up what would be arguably the best five-year stretch of his 15-year professional tenure. The former first overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft also played for the Golden State Warriors, Washington Bullets/Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons between 1993 and 2008. Webber was the 1994 Rookie of the Year, a five-time All-NBA and All-Star selection, and was nominated to the Hall of Fame in 2021.
Sam Lacey – 1975, 2.1 BPG
The only player to be listed twice on the Kings’ list, Lacey had a stellar 1974-75 campaign that saw him finish tenth in MVP voting and earn the only All-Star nomination of his 13-year career. Lacey put up 11.5 points, 14.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.1 blocks across 81 games, leading the league with 11.4 defensive boards a night. Following his time with the Kings, Lacey spent half of a season with the New Jersey Nets before suiting up for his final season as a pro with the Cavs in 1982-83. In 1,002 total appearances, he averaged 10.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.3 spg and 1.5 bpg.