While the Sacramento Kings have a shocking number of problems to deal with, the one they can't fix is their schedule. It was rough from the get-go through the end of 2025, and it's not getting better any time soon. January is going to be a grind for the Kings, one that won't lead to a lot of wins.
Over the first 33 games of the season in 2025, the Kings had an impressively tough schedule. They faced the Thunder, the Nuggets, and the Timberwolves three times each, which was more than enough. When the NBA filled in the Cup schedule, the Kings had more problems on their hands.
Instead of giving the Kings a couple more comparable matchups, they got another game against the Wolves and another against the Nuggets. In the end, 11 of their first 33 games of the season were against three of the top teams in the league. It's hard to build momentum that way.
To be fair, the Kings did manage to pick up one win against each of the Wolves and the Nuggets, which was wildly unexpected. Hopefully, Sacramento has a bit more of that luck lined up because the January schedule is looking like an even rougher ride for the Kings.
The Kings have a tough start to the New Year
Sacramento is not going to have a better time this year. They've already lost to the Celtics, Suns, and Bucks to open 2026, and have the Mavericks, Warriors, Rockets, Lakers, Knicks, and Wizards all on deck in the next couple of weeks.
The Kings have at least beaten the Mavericks this season, meaning they have a chance to do it again. At the same time, the Kings beat the Bucks earlier this season, yet brutally lost to them in 2026. After Dallas, the rest of the month looks pretty rough for Sacramento.
Once the Kings get through the next few games, teams like the Pistons, Sixers, and Raptors are all waiting for Sacramento. The problem is that the Kings are one of the worst teams in the league. That means basically every other team is considered to be the favorite to win these games.
Outside of the Mavericks, the Kings also get to face the Wizards in January, which will hopefully result in a victory. That being said, Sacramento is one of those teams whose wins and losses are incredibly hard to predict. There are no guarantees with the Kings at this point.