The only major roster acquisition made in the offseason by Sacramento was Dennis Schroder. While his first three preseason games as a King were rough, he came back in a big way in game four and showed Sacramento fans what he's capable of.
There was a point when the Kings had two of the best young point guards in the league in Tyrese Haliburton and De'Aaron Fox. After trading Hali away in 2022 and Fox in 2025, the team was left without a dedicated starting point guard. Enter Dennis Schroder.
Playing basketball professionally around the world since 2010, Schroder is entering his 13th season in the NBA. During that time, he has become a FIBA legend and is well on his way to being inducted into their Hall of Fame. The problem is how he plays in the NBA.
The Schroder conundrum
For 12 seasons, Schroder has had problems translating his FIBA dominance into NBA success. He's always been more than good enough to play in the NBA. It's just that his game isn't as tight or effective in North America as it is in international play.
That's why Schroder has spent 12 seasons bouncing around the NBA, playing for several different teams throughout his run. The Sacramento Kings will be the 10th franchise Schroder has been associated with during his time in the league.
For the first three games of the preseason, Schroder was incredibly quiet. The Kings needed more from their starting point guard, both as a scorer and as a playmaker on the court. Then, in their final preseason game against the Lakers, fans got a glimpse of what Schroder is capable of.
Schroder leads the Kings to victory
After some exceedingly mild performances, Schroder exploded with a team-high 25 points. He shot 10 to 17 from the field, which was good to see as he should be shooting aggressively. Additionally, he picked up three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Defensively, Schroder was a bit of a menace. He's smart, fast, and not afraid to get in someone's path. No one is suggesting that there isn't significant room for improvement, but it's also hard to deny his successes. Schroder held the line when it counted, helping put the Kings in a position to win.
Throughout his career, Schroder has always shown flashes of brilliance on an NBA court. The problem has always been consistency. But in the right program with the right group of guys, he has always had the potential to be an NBA great. Sactown might be that place.