The Kings were 3 1/2 games out of eighth place in the Western Conference with a 17-24 record on Jan. 25, 2006, when they finalized the deal that sent Peja Stojakovic to the Indiana Pacers for Ron Artest.
Their best years were behind them, but the move to acquire a physical defensive stopper at small forward quickly paid off. After Artest, who later changed his named to Metta World Peace, joined the Kings, they won 15 of their next 22 and made the playoffs as the No. 8 seed. That was the eighth consecutive postseason appearance for the Kings — and also their last.