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2025-26 Season Preview: Sacramento Kings

A strong core of talent leads the Kings in an attempt to return to the playoffs.

Brian Martin, for NBA.com

Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan lead a Sacramento Kings team that looks to return to the NBA Playoffs after two straight Play-In exits. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Get caught up

2024-25 Record: 40-42 (Eliminated in Play-In Tournament)

In their exit interviews following a season-ending home loss to the Mavericks in the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament, Kings players described the 2024-25 season as a “roller-coaster,” a “whirlwind” and as DeMar DeRozan said, “probably the most I’ve been through in my 16-year career.”

After enduring a season of upheaval – a midseason coaching change, a star player traded at the deadline, a general manager’s exit hours after the season ended – the Kings enter the 2025-26 season with a clean slate.

Offseason

  • Re-signing: Keon Ellis (team option exercised), Doug McDermott
  • Additions: Drew Eubanks (free agent), Dario Šarić (trade), Dennis Schröder (free agent)
  • Draft: Nique Clifford (24th pick, acquired via trade), Maxime Raynaud (42nd pick)
  • Departures: Jake LaRavia (free agent), Jonas Valančiūnas (trade)
  • Unsigned Free Agents: Jae Crowder, Markelle Fultz, Mason Jones, Trey Lyles

The Kings’ roster shakeup started in February, trading De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs in a multi-team trade for Zach LaVine. After adding guard Nique Clifford and center Maxime Raynaud in the draft, the Kings signed free agent Dennis Schröder to fill their need at point guard and exercised their team option on Keon Ellis. In the frontcourt, the Kings acquired Dario Šarić from Denver for Jonas Valančiūnas and signed Drew Eubanks. 

More moves could materialize as the Kings have reported interest in restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga and veteran Russell Westbrook in their first offseason under new GM Scott Perry. After going 27-24 as interim coach last season, Doug Christie enters his first training camp as head coach looking to alchemize a roster full of individual talent into a playoff contender.

Roster (ESPN Starting Lineups aggregation)

  • Frontcourt: Dylan Cardwell (Two-Way), Drew Eubanks, Isaac Jones, Keegan Murray, Maxime Raynaud, Dario Šarić, Domantas Sabonis
  • Backcourt: Devin Carter, Nique Clifford, Terence Davis, DeMar DeRozan, Keon Ellis, Zach LaVine, Doug McDermott, Malik Monk, Daeqwon Plowden (Two-Way), Dennis Schröder, Isaiah Stevens (Two-Way)
  • Head Coach: Doug Christie (1st season, removed interim title)

The Sacramento Kings’ rookie duo – Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud – led the way in their NBA 2K26 Summer League win over the Orlando Magic.

League Pass must-watch

Keegan Murray is entering his fourth season and is eligible for an extension off his rookie contract. The No. 4 pick in the 2022 Draft has shown flashes of his potential on both ends of the court. He still holds the record for most 3-pointers made by a rookie (206 when he shot 41.1%) and don’t forget the night he splashed 12 triples in three quarters and had Steph Curry asking reporters to turn the game on during his postgame press conference. Last season, he showcased his defense, often called upon to guard the opponent’s top scorer, with the versatility and size to defend players from 1s to 4s. Can he make another leap this season?

One key question

Can the Kings break out of the Play-In field? In 2022-23, the original “Beam Team” went 48-34 – Sacramento’s best record in 18 years – to earn the No. 3 seed in the West and snap the longest playoff drought in NBA history. However, since that run, the Kings have finished ninth in the West each of the past two seasons – with 46 and 40 wins, respectively – and have not been able to earn a playoff berth.

In a loaded Western Conference, the competition for the top six spots with guaranteed playoff berths will be fierce again this season. With a trio of multi-time All-Stars leading the way in DeRozan (6x), Sabonis (3x) and LaVine (2x), can Christie and the Kings maximize the potential of this roster and compete for a playoff berth rather than a Play-In spot?

Fantasy Outlook from RotoWire

The team at RotoWire broke down the top fantasy options for each team in the West. Here’s how they broke down some of the best options from the Kings:

“Domantas Sabonis is a nightly triple-double threat and one of the best centers in the league, and although DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine’s defensive skills need some work, they are both prolific scorers. Keegan Murray and Monk were both clutch at key moments last season, and they’ll round out this potent lineup. As for Sacramento’s bench, it’s pretty impressive. The team snagged experience in the offseason with Dennis Schröder, Dario Šarić and a host of other former role players. There’s also a lot of hype surrounding first-round pick Nique Clifford after an excellent tenure in the Las Vegas Summer League.”

Key dates

  • Preseason Opener: Oct. 8 vs. Raptors (10 ET, Broadcast TBD)
  • Regular Season Opener: Oct. 22 at Suns (10 ET, League Pass)
  • Home Opener: Oct. 24 vs. Jazz (10 ET, League Pass)
  • NBA Emirates Cup West Group A Play: Nov. 7 vs. Thunder (10 ET, League Pass), Nov. 14 at Wolves (8 ET, League Pass), Nov. 26 vs. Suns (10 ET, League Pass), Nov. 28 at Jazz (9:30 ET, League Pass)

What they’re saying

Law Murray, The Athletic: “This is the most top-heavy team in the league that has no business being top-heavy. Let’s be kind first. I’m a big fan of Clifford, and he takes LaRavia’s spot. Don’t be surprised if he is contributing early. The rest? I have concerns.” (Read More)

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