If nothing else, the Sacramento Kings drafted well in 2025 and appear to have done the same in 2026. That includes selecting Alex Karaban, a combo forward who won two national championships with UConn. The word "versatility" is going to come up frequently in conversations about him this season.
Karaban spent four seasons playing for UConn during his incredibly successful college career. In addition to the two national championships, he is the winningest player in the history of the program. He was also named Second-team All-Big East in 2025 and First-team All-Big East in 2026.
He's a 6'8" stretch forward who is known for elite floor spacing and as a deadly catch-and-shoot threat. His high IQ on the court is especially evident in his off-ball movement. That's another way of saying he knows exactly where to be and when to be there. Plus, Karaban is a brilliant passer.
On the defensive end of the court, the man is rock solid and reliable. No one is going to suggest Karaban is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate quite yet, but he knows how to operate within an defensive scheme, can hold down any frontcourt position, and is a leader on the court.
Karaban is a complete player for the Kings
Sacramento was understandably so invested in getting Karaban on the roster, they made a pick trade with the Cavs to make sure they got him in the first round. When you actually sit down and look at what he brings to the table and how he fits the Kings, that move starts making more and more sense.
On offense, his reliable perimeter shooting will give him real gravity. Other teams will have to take him seriously. There's also a belief that he will fit in perfectly with dominant paint players like Domantas Sabonis, Maxime Raynaud, and Dylan Cardwell as a key outlet when they collect offensive rebounds.
Karaban's defensive mindset will also work well for them. Once again, it's all about flexibility and versatility against pressure. With a guy like Cardwell locking the rim down and Emanuel Sharp and Keegan Murray on the perimeter, Karaban can work around them to lock other positions down.
More than that, Karaban is an on-court leader with an established winning mindset. While he's not likely to be starter this season, unless the Kings are routed by injuries again, he will be key in the secondary. He's got the skillset and the experience to go to work for the Kings right away.
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