Kings–Warriors rivalry
Northern California NBA rivalry between Kings and Warriors.
The Kings–Warriors rivalry is an NBA matchup between the Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors, driven by their shared location in Northern California. San Francisco and Sacramento sit about 86 miles apart. The rivalry dates to 1985, when the Kings moved to Sacramento from Kansas City, making them the two NBA teams in the region. For most of their time in California, both franchises struggled to make the postseason, and they did not face each other in the playoffs until 2023. That first-round series drew strong TV ratings—peaking at 11.9 million viewers for Game 7—and included several notable events. Fan violence between the two sides has also emerged, similar to the 49ers–Raiders NFL rivalry. The Warriors lead the all-time regular-season series 221–199, while the postseason series is tied 4–4.
**History**
**Geographic origins** Both teams are among the NBA’s oldest franchises. The Kings began in 1923 as the Rochester Seagrams, while the Warriors joined the league in 1946 as the Philadelphia Warriors. The Kings have not won a title since 1951. The Warriors, inspired by the Giants’ move to California in 1957, later relocated west to expand their market. The Kings, meanwhile, dealt with unstable ownership, moving to Cincinnati in 1957, then to Kansas City and Omaha in 1972, and finally to Sacramento in 1985. In 1988, the Kings joined the Pacific Division, creating a divisional rivalry with the Warriors. The cities are about 87.5 miles apart by road, which fueled an in-state rivalry sometimes called the “Northern California series.”
**Matchups** The teams have produced several intense games. On January 23, 2015, in Oakland, Klay Thompson scored an NBA-record 37 points in a single quarter, finishing with 52 points in a 123–101 win. Three notable games occurred in the 2015–16 season. On November 28, 2015, the Warriors won 120–101, extending their undefeated start to 18–0. On December 28, 2015, Stephen Curry and Kings player Omri Casspi engaged in a three-point duel; Casspi scored a career-high 36 points, but the Warriors won 122–103 for their 29th straight victory. On January 9, 2016, Curry posted 38 points and 11 assists in a 128–116 win, hitting a no-look three in the fourth quarter.
In the 2018–19 season, former Kings center DeMarcus Cousins signed with the Warriors. All four matchups that season were close, but the Warriors won every one.
Quick Facts
- First Meeting
- November 11, 1948 / Royals 83, Warriors 75
- Latest Meeting
- April 10, 2026 / Kings 124, Warriors 118
- Next Meeting
- November 25, 2026
- Total Meetings
- 427
- Current Win Streak
- SAC W1
- Longest Win Streak
- SAC W15
- All Time Series
- 223–203 (GS)
- Regular Season
- 221–199 (GS)
- Postseason
- 4–4
- Section Header
- Postseason history
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The rivalry traces its origins to the Kings' relocation to Sacramento in 1985, placing them in the same region as the Warriors. Both franchises are among the oldest in the NBA, with the Kings founded in 1923 as the Rochester Seagrams and the Warriors joining in 1946 as the Philadelphia Warriors. The Kings moved to the Pacific Division in 1988, formalizing a divisional rivalry. The close proximity of the two cities—87.5 miles apart by road—fueled an in-state rivalry nicknamed the 'Northern California series.' Fans have developed a recent history of violence between each side, similar to the 49ers–Raiders rivalry of the NFL.
Notable matchups include Klay Thompson's NBA-record 37 points in a quarter on January 23, 2015, and a 2015–16 season game where the Warriors extended their undefeated start to 18–0. In the 2018–19 season, former Kings center DeMarcus Cousins signed with the Warriors, and all four games that season ended in Warriors victories. The rivalry reignited in the 2022 season as both teams became competitive again, leading to their first playoff meeting in 2023. The Warriors won that seven-game series, with Stephen Curry scoring 50 points in game 7, the first time a player scored more than 50 in a game 7. The Kings gained revenge in the 2024 Play-In Tournament, defeating the Warriors 118–94.
Reader's Guide
The Kings–Warriors rivalry matters because it represents a modern geographic and divisional clash between two historic NBA franchises that shared decades of struggle before meeting in the playoffs for the first time in 2023. The rivalry's significance is heightened by the proximity of Sacramento and San Francisco, creating a natural fan divide in Northern California. The 2023 playoff series drew the highest first- and second-round TV ratings for the NBA since 1999, with game 7 peaking at 11.9 million viewers, underscoring its broad appeal. The series also featured controversial moments, such as Draymond Green's stomp on Domantas Sabonis, which led to a suspension, and the ejection of rapper E-40 from a courtside seat. The rivalry's legacy includes intense regular-season games, record-setting performances, and a postseason history that is currently tied. As both teams continue to contend for division titles and playoff berths, the Kings–Warriors rivalry is likely to remain a key storyline in the NBA.
Did You Know?
- The Kings and Warriors did not face each other in the playoffs until 2023, despite both teams being in California since 1985.
- Klay Thompson set an NBA record by scoring 37 points in a single quarter against the Kings on January 23, 2015.
- Stephen Curry scored 50 points in game 7 of the 2023 playoffs, the first time a player scored more than 50 in a game 7.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in Sacramento Kings
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced