Sacramento Kings: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

3. Nate “Tiny” Archibald (PG) — No. 19 Pick in 1970 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Kings):  433 GP, 25.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 8.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1. BPG, 46.7 FG%, 82.6 FT%

Taking the place of legend Oscar Robertson is no easy task for anyone to take on. Luckily enough, the Royals had a worthy replacement to step up in his place in fellow Hall of Fame point guard, Nate “Tiny” Archibald.

Sacramento Kings

The UTEP product slotted in as the team’s starting point guard upon coming to Cincinnati as Robertson departed. Nate Archibald rose to become the face of the team during a precarious time in the franchise’s history, as it moved from Cincinnati to become the Kansas City-Omaha Kings.

In the team’s first season in its new surroundings in 1972-73, Archibald delivered one of the most historic individual seasons in NBA history as he averaged a league-leading 34 points per game and 11.4 assists per game, being the only player in NBA history to lead those two categories in a single season.

Archibald never reached the same heights in ensuing seasons, partially due to injury, but the New York legend continued to rifle off All-Star and All-NBA level seasons for the rest of his tenure when fully healthy. However, the Royals/Kings only recorded one winning season (1974-75) under Archibald’s stint with the team.

While he went on to earn greater glory as a member of the Boston Celtics, Archibald’s play with the Kings helped earn him a place in Springfield, Massachusetts and his No. 10 jersey hangs above the rafters in the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.