What Happened to Sacramento Kings?
The Sacramento Kings, an NBA franchise with a long history, have experienced a period of significant change and struggle since their 2023 playoff appearance. Following coaching and general manager changes, and the trade of star guard De'Aaron Fox in 2025, the team has entered a rebuilding phase marked by a challenging 2025-26 season due to injuries and a poor record. As of August 2026, the Kings are focused on developing a new core of young talent, including recent draft picks, while retaining key veterans like Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine amidst ongoing roster adjustments.
Quick Answer
After a brief return to the playoffs in 2023, the Sacramento Kings have undergone significant roster and coaching changes, including the trade of De'Aaron Fox and the hiring of Scott Perry as General Manager and Doug Christie as Head Coach. The 2025-26 season was particularly challenging, with a 22-60 record and a 16-game losing streak, largely due to key player injuries. As of August 2026, the Kings are focused on developing their recent draft picks, such as Darius Acuff Jr. and Maxime Raynaud, and are preparing for the 2026-27 season with a mix of young talent and veteran players like Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, who remained with the team despite trade rumors.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Return to Playoffs
The Sacramento Kings made their first playoff appearance since 2006, ending an NBA-record 16-season drought, though they lost in the first round.
Mike Brown Fired, Doug Christie Interim Coach
Head Coach Mike Brown was fired mid-season after the team struggled with consistency, and former Kings player Doug Christie was named interim head coach.
De'Aaron Fox Traded, Zach LaVine Acquired
Star guard De'Aaron Fox was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, marking a significant shift in the team's roster. In a separate move, the Kings acquired Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls.
End of 2024-25 Season; GM McNair Departs
The Kings finished the 2024-25 season with a 40-42 record, missing the playoffs after a play-in loss. General Manager Monte McNair parted ways with the franchise.
Doug Christie Hired as Head Coach
Doug Christie, who served as interim head coach, was officially hired as the Sacramento Kings' head coach for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Scott Perry Hired as General Manager; New Coaching Staff Announced
Scott Perry, a former Pistons and Knicks executive, was hired as the new General Manager. The Kings also announced their full coaching staff for the 2025-26 season under Doug Christie.
2025 NBA Draft: Clifford & Raynaud Selected
In the 2025 NBA Draft, the Kings traded into the first round to select Nique Clifford at No. 24 and also drafted Maxime Raynaud at No. 42. Raynaud later earned All-Rookie Second Team honors.
De'Andre Hunter Acquired
The Kings acquired De'Andre Hunter from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a trade, following an earlier sign-and-trade deal that brought Dennis Schröder to Sacramento.
Eliminated from Playoff Contention; Longest Losing Streak
The Kings were eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive season. The 2025-26 season saw them suffer a franchise-record 16-game losing streak from January to February.
Doug Christie Retained for 2026-27 Season
Despite a challenging 22-60 season, the Kings announced they would retain Doug Christie as head coach for his second full season.
2026 NBA Draft: Acuff Jr., Sharp, Karaban Selected
The Kings selected Darius Acuff Jr. with the 7th overall pick, Emanuel Sharp in the second round (No. 15), and Alex Karaban in the second round (No. 45), adding significant young talent.
DeMar DeRozan Waived
Veteran forward DeMar DeRozan, who was part of the 2025-26 roster, was waived by the Sacramento Kings.
Precious Achiuwa Re-signed
The Kings re-signed Precious Achiuwa to a multi-year contract, securing a key frontcourt player.
Sabonis and LaVine Remain Amidst Trade Rumors
Despite being involved in trade rumors throughout the summer, Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine appear to be staying with the Kings for the 2026-27 season.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Sacramento Kings, a franchise with roots dating back to 1923 and a move to Sacramento in 1986, have historically faced challenges, including an NBA-record 16 consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance from 2006-07 to 2021-22. Their brief return to the playoffs in 2023, ending a long drought, brought renewed hope but was followed by a period of significant upheaval.
The 2024-25 NBA season marked a critical turning point for the franchise. Despite initial playoff aspirations, the team finished with a 40-42 record, placing 9th in the Western Conference, and ultimately lost in the play-in tournament to the Dallas Mavericks. This disappointing performance led to the mid-season firing of Head Coach Mike Brown and the departure of General Manager Monte McNair at season's end. A major roster shake-up also occurred with the trade of franchise guard De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs, while the Kings acquired Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls in February 2025.
Doug Christie, a former Kings player, took over as interim head coach in December 2024 and was officially named head coach in May 2025, with his contract finalized in April 2026. Scott Perry was appointed as the new General Manager, signaling a new era for the team. The 2025 offseason saw the Kings draft Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud, with Raynaud earning a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team.
The 2025-26 season proved to be a 'worst-case scenario' for Sacramento, as the team finished with a dismal 22-60 record, tied for the fourth-worst in the NBA and 14th in the Western Conference. This season was plagued by significant injuries to key players like Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray, who combined to play only 58 games. The team also endured a franchise-record 16-game losing streak between January and February 2026, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Roster moves included the acquisition of Dennis Schröder, who was later traded for De'Andre Hunter, and the waiving of veteran DeMar DeRozan in July 2026.
As of August 20, 2026, the Kings are navigating their offseason with a focus on integrating their 2026 draft class, headlined by seventh-overall pick Darius Acuff Jr., along with Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban. Despite persistent trade rumors, Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine are expected to remain with the team for the 2026-27 season, providing a veteran core alongside developing young talent. The team's valuation, estimated in the range of several billion dollars as of July 2026, reflects the broader growth in NBA franchise values despite recent on-court struggles. The Kings are currently working to finalize their roster, with at least one more standard contract spot to fill, as they prepare to open their 2026-27 season on October 21st against the Los Angeles Clippers.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Sacramento Kings made different choices?