Sacramento Kings Logo PNG
The Sacramento Kings’ emblem reflects a commitment to origins and rich history. The mascot and emblem graphics symbolize the team’s play features, aspirations for leadership, confidence, and firmness in-game tactics.
The history of the Sacramento Kings dates back to the 1920s in Rochester, New York, where the team began as a semi-professional club. In 1945, the Rochester Royals joined the NBL, and after the 1949 merger with the BAA, became part of the NBA. The name Royals came from a newspaper contest, and the team adopted blue and white colors while winning titles in both leagues.
In 1957, the franchise moved to Cincinnati, keeping the Royals identity and later adding red to the palette. Results declined, and by 1972, the team relocated again, splitting games between Kansas City and Omaha. Because of the existing Kansas City Royals, the club changed its name to the Kings, forming the Kansas City-Omaha Kings identity.
In 1975, the team settled fully in Kansas City, keeping the same name and visual structure. A vertical wordmark appeared briefly before being replaced by a more standard layout in the early 1970s. The color system remained close to the original scheme during this period.
In 1985, the franchise moved to Sacramento and became the Sacramento Kings. The identity introduced lighter blue tones, while the crown detail above the “i” reinforced the naming concept. In the early 1990s, the visual system shifted again, with black and purple becoming the dominant colors.
By the 2000s, purple had become the main color across uniforms and branding. A gold alternate uniform introduced in 2005 was quickly removed after negative fan response. The team’s mascot, Slamson the lion, reflects the royal theme tied to the King’s identity.
Meaning and History
The Sacramento Kings have changed their logos several times due to numerous relocations. Meanwhile, it never turned to its mascot for inspiration: in most emblems, artists played with the club’s name, linking together the crown and basketball. The latest version appeared in 1985. Stylistically, it is no different from the previous one, but the designers significantly refined the details, giving the drawing a modern feel.
What is Sacramento Kings?
The Sacramento Kings are a basketball team from the capital of California. Since its foundation in 1923, it has changed its name several times. It was known as Rochester Seagrams, Rochester Eber Seagrams, Rochester Pros, Rochester Royals, Cincinnati Royals, Kansas City-Omaha Kings, and Kansas City Kings. The last renaming to “Sacramento Kings” occurred in 1985.
1946 – 1957
When the team was in Rochester and called the “Royals,” it used a triangular shield logo with two inverted arches at the top. The main space inside the heraldic element was blue, and the wide frame was white and light blue. In the center was a white ribbon with the inscription ROYALS. Directly above it was the word “ROCHESTER.”
1958 – 1971
After moving to Cincinnati, the club abandoned its old emblem and adopted a new one: a basketball with a face, a crown, and the inscription “CINCINNATI ROYALS.” The words are depicted in large, voluminous letters. The first is curved like an arch and is located at the top, while the second is written in a straight line at the bottom. The team’s name is also duplicated on the crown.
The drawing style is cartoonish but very simple: the artists used blue to outline elements, leaving the interiors white.
1972
In 1972, a logo appeared that would become iconic. The red-orange crown (at the top) and half of a blue basketball (at the bottom) form a whole figure resembling a heraldic shield with a round base. Above them is the word “CINCINNATI,” and inside the royal attribute is “ROYALS.”
1973 – 1975
After moving to Kansas City and renaming the club “Kansas City-Omaha Kings,” the club updated the emblem, removing the old inscriptions. The word “KINGS” appeared at the bottom of the crown, and the phrase “KANSAS CITY-OMAHA” was curved under the ball.
1976 – 1985
The next redesign involves the team simplifying its name to “Kansas City Kings.” The designers removed the word “OMAHA” and moved the city name up, positioning it above the graphic composition.
1986 – 1994
The team’s subsequent move to another city led to the word “KANSAS CITY” disappearing from the logo, and in its place appeared the word “SACRAMENTO.” At the same time, the designers changed the palette, giving the red crown a dark pink hue.
1995 – 2016
On the eve of 1995, the “Sacramento Kings” adopted a new emblem as part of a radical redesign. Nothing remained of the classic style: the developers combined the crown, two crossed spears, a basketball, a ribbon with the inscription “SACRAMENTO,” and a large sign reading “KINGS.” The palette includes white, black, silver, and purple colors.
2016 – present
In the 2016-2017 season, the club returned to the classic style. The logo was created by specialists from the branding agency Hattiesburg, Miss., designer Rodney Richardson from RARE Design, and representatives of the Sacramento Kings. Initially, they wanted to create something entirely new, so they sketched thousands of drafts with crowns, shields, swords, lions, and the abbreviation “SK.” But everything kept coming back to the already used “crowned” basketball. So, the attempt to develop a design from scratch led to the modernization of the old symbol.
Font and Colors
The updated logo reflects the franchise’s historical past and revitalizes its legacy. The simple sign encrypts the phrase “Kings of basketball,” which corresponds to the team’s ideology. Rodney Richardson, who led the rebranding process, retained classic elements: the crown, the semi-cut ball, and the inscription “SACRAMENTO KINGS.” He only changed the colors and shapes, leaving the silver-and-purple combination and widening the white lines.
The developers used a transformed font: the original block font with many angles. According to the authors’ concept, it symbolizes the basketball players’ strength and courage.
The palette also changed: the designers made the upper part of the emblem purple and the lower part dark gray. The purple-violet shade is the identifier of the Sacramento Kings and the color of most royal families. The slate-gray color is inspired by the granite found in the mountains near Sacramento.
FAQ
Why is there a lion on the “Kings” logo?
There is no lion on the main Sacramento Kings logo – it is represented as an additional badge. This animal embodies royal power, high status, strength, and leadership. It is also the team’s mascot.
Why did the “Sacramento Kings” change their logo?
The basketball team changed its logo design to reflect its heritage. Initially, the designers wanted to depict something entirely new, but then changed their minds.
What symbols are depicted on the “Sacramento Kings” court?
A basketball, a crown, and a lion are the primary visual symbols of the Sacramento Kings Court. They can be used separately (lion, crown) and in various combinations.
Where did the Sacramento Kings team come from?
The franchise’s main location is the Californian city of Sacramento. Previously, it was based in Kansas City, Omaha, Cincinnati, and Rochester.