Sacramento Kings (2001–2008) Mike Bibby
bibby played kings 7 seasons.
in first season sacramento, bibby formed 1 of league s best duos alongside chris webber. 2 of them guided kings nba best-record @ 61–21, , pacific division title on archrivals los angeles lakers, @ time two-time defending nba champions. in first 2 rounds of playoffs, defeated utah jazz , dallas mavericks, setting western conference finals match-up against lakers. 2002 western conference final between sacramento kings , los angeles lakers 1 of memorable in league history. popular (though small-market) kings led two-time defending nba champion lakers 3 games 2 heading game 6 @ staples center, game prove infamous of series. game, lakers won four, featured several phantom fouls, disputable calls (mostly against kings) including late-game no-call foul on bibby—after bleeding being elbowed in nose kobe bryant. game epitome of major issue in series. lakers shot 27 free throws in 4th quarter. both teams complained officiating @ different points in series (the kings in game 6 , lakers in games 2 , 5).
former nba referee tim donaghy filed in court papers in 2008 said game 6 fixed nba. nba commissioner david stern denied donaghy s allegations. lawrence pedowitz, led review of league s officiating following outbreak of scandal, concluded while game 6 poorly officiated, no concrete evidence existed of having been fixed. lakers won series in game 7, , go on win third nba championship in row.
bibby s performance during series, perhaps memorably game 5 game winner, earned him reputation clutch performer, , reward, granted 7-year, $80.5 million contract.
during 2002–03 season, bibby hampered injuries, playing in 55 games, still averaged respectable 15.9 points per game kings going 59–23 , securing second seed in west, second-consecutive division title. faced utah jazz , dallas mavericks in first 2 rounds respectively second consecutive playoffs, after defeating jazz, 4–1, lost mavericks in 7 games. kings had lost chris webber season-ending injury in game 2 against dallas, still forced series 7 games.
for 2003–04 season, bibby posted of best numbers of career, scoring 1,506 points (18.4 per game) , helping kings reach playoffs. bibby helped lift kings on dallas mavericks in first round, scoring career playoff-best 36 points in clinching game 5. go on lose in second round second consecutive year, time minnesota timberwolves 4–3.
the next 2 seasons see sacramento taking yet step backwards, losing in opening round of playoffs in both years. during 2005–06 season, bibby started 82 games, , averaged career-high 21.1 points per game. lose in first round of playoffs defending-champion spurs 4–2.
bibby made guest of honor sacramento kings sat court side watch game against chicago bulls on november 20, 2014. along former teammate chris webber, pair introduced crowd along video clips part of team honoring legends.
bibby hawks
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