Being that the Sacramento Kings finished with a record of 22 wins and 60 losses, it's hard to believe that there is anything positive to talk about. The Kings were basically at the bottom of the league in virtually every measurable stat and may have invented some new stats to be terrible at.
Regardless, there were some major steps forward for Sacramento this season, particularly when it came to roster changes. It's not the first time this has been said about the Kings in the past 20 years, but they might finally be on the road to relevancy. Hopefully, at least.
Russell Westbrook as a leader, on and off the court
One of the smartest decisions made by Sacramento's front office in the past year was signing the legendary point guard. Westbrook started off as the backup point guard for Dennis Schroder, but was promoted to starting point guard when the Schroder gambit didn't pan out.
Westbrook is arguably one of the greatest players of all time and has a laundry list of accomplishments. He has become a key part of developing the Kings' rookies and sophomores, and will continue to do so as long as he's on the team. Frankly, he would make a good coach.
The question now is what the Kings will do with him. Westbrook was only on a one-season deal, and an extension has yet to be announced. Hopefully, Sacramento makes the right choice and keeps him in town. Westbrook wants to be there, and that's hard for the Kings to find.
The rise of the Beam Boys
Speaking of the Kings' young guns, the Beam Boys really broke out in 2025-2026. The group is made up of rookies Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford, and Dylan Cardwell, as well as recent acquisition Precious Achiuwa. It's an interesting crew, to say the least.
These four players have found a rhythm and were the driving force behind the Kings' late-season success. On top of that, other young players like Devin Carter and Daeqwon Plowden are finding their own groove thanks to what is being built around the Beam Boys. It is the foundation of the rebuild.
With the 2026 NBA Draft right around the corner, at least three new rookies will be joining the roster. The Beam Boys will be a major part of developing them and will be key to incorporating them into the team quickly and effectively. The Kings' youth movement will continue to gain momentum.
Vivek Ranadive finally agrees to a full rebuild
So far, the legacy of Vivek Ranadive as the micro-managing co-owner of the Kings has been a long series of bad decisions and missed opportunities. The one thing Sacramento has needed for decades is a full-blown rebuild of the roster, and that might actually be happening.
General manager Scott Perry seems to have finally convinced Ranadive that a proper rebuild is the way to get the Kings back on track. It started with the 2025 draft, continued through the current season, and should pick up serious steam through the offseason.
There have been hints of this in the past, but Ranadive has never really followed through. Perry's influence appears to have changed that. As the rebuild progresses, this roster will be rebalanced and will become increasingly relevant in the league. Ranadive just has to stay focused.
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