Much to the surprise of everyone in the league, the Sacramento Kings have actually managed to win a couple of games recently. While that's good to see, they have definitely been missing Dylan Cardwell, particularly on the defensive end of the court. He's quickly become a key defender.
Cardwell has one of the best stories in the league this season, if not the best. He wasn't selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, but he was offered a two-way contract with the Kings in the offseason. Injuries on the main roster led to him being used in NBA games with a lot of frequency.
It didn't take him long to establish himself as one of the top rookie defenders in the league, racking up blocks and rebounds like he was collecting Pokemon. On top of that, Cardwell brings a positive, joyful energy to the court, which is rooted in how excited he is just to be playing basketball.
All of that was rewarded by the Kings when they signed him to a proper NBA contract just after the trade deadline. While Sacramento doesn't have the best history when it comes to making the smart move, this is one time they actually managed to get it right. Then, he got injured.
Dylan Cardwell is the key to the Kings' defense
Cardwell hurt his ankle in practice, putting him on the bench for at least 14 games. After that time, he will be re-evaluated by the medical staff, and they'll discuss a return. If everything goes well for him, that would put Cardwell's projected return date on March 19th for a home game against the Sixers.
To be honest, the Kings need him. Don't let the fact that they've won two out of their last three games fool you. Those victories happened against two severely depleted teams, the Grizzlies and the Mavericks. A team like the Sixers will present a much bigger challenge for Sacramento.
The Kings signed Cardwell up for the long haul because of his defense. He is by far their best shot blocker and rim protector, not to mention one of their top rebounders alongside Precious Achiuwa and Maxime Raynaud. With Domantas Sabonis on the shelf, Cardwell is even more important.
At this point in the season, wins don't matter as much, especially when the Kings want that first-round drat pick. But Cardwell still needs development to reach his full potential. and he can't get that while injured. Once he's back in action, he can continue both his individual and team growth.