The story of the Sacramento Kings' preseason was, in part, about their standout rookies. One of them was Dylan Cardwell, who took the court against the Los Angeles Lakers to put on another show. While he had an ok stat line, it was his energy and attitude that caught people's attention.
During the 2025 NBA Draft, the Kings had a couple of solid picks, selecting Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud. Both players did well in the preseason, particularly Clifford, who stood out enough that he started the season opener in Phoenix.
The Kings also signed the undrafted Dylan Cardwell in the offseason, a young center with big potential. He also performed well in the preseason, which absolutely earned him opportunities in the regular season, which he has worked to make the most of.
Dylan Cardwell takes the court for the Kings
Cardwell played off the bench for the Kings in their season opener against the Phoenix Suns. In 15 minutes, he collected three points, one rebound, one steal, and two blocks. For a first regular-season NBA game ever, it was a solid showing for him, particularly on defense.
Unfortunately, Cardwell was one of a group of young Kings' players who simply weren't used in game two. Clifford was injured in game one, so he wasn't on the gameday roster. The others were all the coach's decision, though said decision was impacted by returning players like Sabonis and Jones.
Game three against the Lakers was a key moment in Cardwell's young career. If you just look at the stats, there isn't much to see. He played for 13 minutes, collecting no points, three rebounds, one steal, and one block. But his performance was so much bigger than what the numbers show.
Cardwell makes an impact
No one is going to pretend that Cardwell put up big numbers in the loss to the Lakers. What he did was bring incredible energy to the game. The man played with excitement, with a smile on his face for virtually every second he was on the court.
Make no mistake that he took his time in the game seriously. He just brought a lot of positive intensity to the game, which was evident in how he played. That kind of gameplay, even in a loss, is infectious and is exactly what the Kings need moving forward.
Cardwell could be a prime example of the new culture Scott Perry brought Russell Westbrook in to foster. Win or lose, play hard and love every moment you get. Even if that isn't the team mentality, it is marvelous to see that from a young player like Dylan.