2025-26 NBA Guide : Sacramento Kings

New Coach, New Star yet the Same Uncertainty

The past NBA season brought sweeping changes for the Sacramento Kings. After a strong 2022–23 campaign under head coach Mike Brown, powered by De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, the team regressed in 2023–24 and stumbled again early in 2024–25. Despite adding DeMar DeRozan, the Kings opened the season with a disappointing 13–18 record, prompting another shake-up.

The front office decided to part ways with Brown and promoted longtime assistant Doug Christie to interim head coach. Under Christie, the Kings slightly stabilized, finishing the rest of the regular season with a 27–24 record. They showed a marginal improvement, but not enough to restore faith in the project.

The real shock came at the trade deadline, when Sacramento sent franchise cornerstone De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Zach LaVine. While LaVine posted solid individual numbers, his fit with DeRozan and Sabonis proved awkward. The offense became redundant, the defense faltered, and the Kings never found a consistent rhythm. They eventually losing their Play-In Tournament opener to the Dallas Mavericks.

A Quiet Offseason Focused on Depth

The Kings didn’t make any major splashes this summer, likely because their biggest moves came during the latter part of last season. Still, they made a few targeted additions to bolster their rotation.

Veteran guard Dennis Schröder joined to provide stability at point guard. He is a floor general who can organize the offense and add much-needed perimeter defense. Up front, Dario Šarić and Drew Eubanks were signed to reinforce the bench and give Christie more frontcourt flexibility.

On the other hand, Jonas Valančiūnas was traded away, and Jake LaRavia departed to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

In the 2025 NBA Draft, Sacramento traded up to select guard Nique Clifford, a promising playmaker who could bring energy and balance to the backcourt rotation.

How Far Can the Kings Go?

Realistically, the 2025–26 season may look a lot like last year, competitive at times but ultimately inconsistent. Sacramento still boasts a talented core with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis, but the issues of defense and chemistry remain unresolved.

The Kings tend to thrive when one or more of their stars are having big nights, yet struggle mightily when the offense cools down. Without a true defensive anchor or reliable system, sustained success is hard to come by.

That said, a record around .500 (roughly 40 wins) seems plausible, which would once again place Sacramento in the thick of the Play-In Tournament race for the third straight year.

Keegan Murray Faces a Defining Season

Forward Keegan Murray enters a pivotal fourth year, with a potential contract extension on the line. After a down year in 2024–25, he’ll need to rediscover the form that once made him one of the team’s most important two-way contributors.

Murray’s impact on winning is undeniable. Since joining the league, the Kings are 56–33 in games where he scores at least 15 points. His ability to space the floor and keep the offense flowing is vital, especially alongside ball-dominant stars like DeRozan and LaVine.

If Murray can bounce back, the Kings’ offense will regain much of its rhythm and efficiency.

Defense Remains the Achilles Heel

Sacramento’s biggest weakness last season was on the defensive end. The team finished with the ninth-worst defense in the NBA. They were plagued by perimeter lapses and a lack of rim protection, an area where Domantas Sabonis continues to struggle.

The addition of Dennis Schröder should help tighten up the perimeter, while internal growth from Murray and rookie Devin Carter could further strengthen their defensive structure.

Ultimately, improving on that end is crucial, not just to win more games, but to relieve pressure from an offense that had to be nearly perfect just to stay competitive last season.