At this point, pretty much everyone has accepted that the Sacramento Kings are likely going to have a tough season. There is still so much work to do in this rebuild, with both the roster and the coaching staff a long way from where they need to be. 2026-2027 looks like another basement season.
That being said, there will still be some positives to enjoy this season. What's great is that there will be several opportunities for the Kings to find new levels as a team, not to mention what individual players could accomplish. In truth, fans should be excited about the potential hitting the court.
Maxime Raynaud finds that next gear
One of the biggest surprises for the Kings in 2025-2026 was the emergence of Raynaud. In the absence of Domantas Sabonis, Raynaud took over as the starting center and acquitted himself admirably. There's no reason to believe he will regress or not move forward this season. Raynaud is poised to prove he belongs on basketball's biggest stage as a starter.
Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp quickly find their NBA rhythm
Sacramento used two of their three draft picks in 2026 on Karaban and Sharp for a reason. With four years of college experience under their belts, this duo are well-seasoned and expected to figure out how to succeed in the NBA quickly. Watching them rise the ranks of the Kings will be huge for fans. These are two players who could easily be key parts of the continuing rebuild of the franchise.
The Kings' defensive identity shines through
Or at least it starts to. It's been a long time since Sacramento had any kind of defensive identity to speak of. In the last 10 to 15 gams of 2025-2026, that started to change, largely thanks to rookies who could defend getting more minutes. No one is saying that the Kings will have the best defense this season, but they should show real improvement over last season. Incremental, but real.
Darius Acuff Jr. rises to the challenge
The pressure on the Kings' rookie starting point guard is high. He's quickly going to find himself the face of both the franchise and the rebuild, whether he's ready or not. Sacramento is building support for him on the roster, which is important. At the same time, Acuff can handle this. Once he finds his NBA speed, he will prove all the doubters wrong. It's going to be huge for Sactown.
Dylan Cardwell becomes a leader
Cardwell's meteoric rise last season was stunner. He went from undrafted to being one of the league's top rookies in blocks and offensive rebounds. While his skills are sure to improve this season, that's not his most important job. Cardwell is a natural leader, someone who brings positivity, energy, and professionalism to the game. It will be a joy to watch him mature into that role.
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