What Happened to Sacramento Kings?

The Sacramento Kings, a franchise with a long history of struggles, briefly broke through in the 2022-23 season, making the NBA playoffs for the first time in 16 years as the third seed in the Western Conference. This marked a significant turning point, bringing renewed optimism to the fanbase. However, this success proved to be short-lived. The subsequent 2023-24 season saw a regression, and the team failed to make the playoffs. The 2025-26 season proved to be particularly challenging, with the Kings finishing with a dismal 22-60 record, placing 14th in the Western Conference and 5th in the Pacific Division. This season was marred by a franchise-record 16-game losing streak from January to February 2026. Key players such as Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Keegan Murray were sidelined for significant portions of the season due to injuries, severely impacting the team's performance.

In May 2025, Doug Christie was hired as the full-time head coach, having previously served on the coaching staff and as an interim coach. His coaching staff for the 2025-26 season included Mike Woodson as associate head coach, and Bobby Jackson, Mike Miller, Chris Darnell, and Leandro Barbosa as assistant coaches. Despite the difficult 2025-26 campaign, Christie is set to return for his second full season in 2026-27.

The 2026 offseason has seen the Kings attempt to retool their roster. They selected Darius Acuff Jr. with the 7th overall pick and Emanuel Sharp with the 45th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Additionally, they acquired Alex Karaban, the 29th overall pick, from the Cavaliers on draft night. Other moves included waiving veteran DeMar DeRozan in July 2026, trading former lottery pick Devin Carter to the Atlanta Hawks, re-signing Precious Achiuwa, and converting Daeqwon Plowden to a standard contract.

As of August 2026, the Kings' roster for the 2026-27 season includes veterans Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, despite ongoing trade speculation surrounding both players. Sabonis, 30, has been a frequent subject of trade rumors, with teams like the Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, and Washington Wizards reportedly showing interest. LaVine, who exercised his nearly $49 million player option, is expected to remain with the team for the 2026-27 season, though a mid-season trade is still possible. The team also has Keegan Murray, De'Andre Hunter, and Malik Monk on intermediate contracts. ESPN's panel of experts projects the Kings to finish the 2026-27 season with a 19-63 record, which would be the worst in the Western Conference.

In terms of infrastructure, the Golden 1 Center continues to serve as the team's home arena, known for its sustainability and technological advancements. Meanwhile, redevelopment plans for the former Sleep Train Arena (formerly ARCO Arena) site in North Natomas are moving forward, with the Sacramento City Council considering a special financing district for "Innovation Park," a project envisioned to include housing, commercial development, and a medical campus. This redevelopment aims to fulfill promises made when the Kings moved downtown a decade prior.