The Sacramento Kings closed the 2025-2026 NBA Season the same way they started it, with a loss on the road. While the Portland Trail Blazers have had the Kings' number all season long, the Beam Boys still managed to put up a fight last night and showed everyone what the future looks like.
It's been yet another difficult season for Sactown fans. The Kings finished with a record of 22 wins and 60 losses, and will miss the postseason yet again. On top of that, a late-season surge leading to more victories has likely pushed them out of contention for a top-three lottery pick in the draft.
At the same time, there are actual reasons to hope that things will get better for the Kings, given the rebuild moves they've already made. The new front office, headed up by general manager Scott Perry, has gotten further down the rebuild path than anyone else has in Sacramento for two decades.
That all started at the 2025 NBA Draft when the Kings picked Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud, then followed that up by signing the undrafted Dylan Cardwell. They also made the smart move of signing veteran Precious Achiuwa to bolster their defensive presence.
The Beam Boys are the new face of the Sacramento Kings
This group of four players now refers to themselves as the Beam Boys. When they win at home, the group puts on sunglasses and lights the beam together. It's become a ritual that symbolizes and celebrates what the future of the Kings will look like and who will be at the center of it.
That was certainly the case last night against the Blazers. Sacramento may have lost, but the Beam Boys were in full effect. Achiuwa led the charge with 27 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and one block. He was the Kings' top scorer and top rebounder.
Clifford finished with 24 points on 10 of 13 shooting from the field with seven rebounds, five assists, and one block. Raynaud had a similar performance with 21 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two blocks. Cardwell's numbers weren't as good, but his defensive intensity was.
Even in a loss, the Beam Boys have become the engine that drives the Kings forward. Considering three out of four of them are rookies, it's safe to say that with time and experience will come growth and confidence. Once that happens, the future will keep getting brighter for the Kings.