For the Sacramento Kings, Dylan Cardwell is the gift that keeps on giving. He recently had some impressively grounded and sage words for college players looking at getting drafted this year. His comments put everything into perspective and should be played for everyone in the NCAA.
Dylan Cardwell is a national treasure. While I'm in the middle of my report, Cardwell comes over and interjects some wisdom.
— Kevin John (@heykevinjohn) April 11, 2026
"At the end of the day, what the Lord has for you is greater than anything you can imagine for yourself...I'm living the dream." - Cardwell pic.twitter.com/m5JPdOU6qK
Kevin John, who works with ABC10 in Northern California, was on hand for the Kings final home game of the season, which was a win over their regional rivals, the Golden State Warriors. He was doing his post-game wrap up when Cardwell wandered over to him to jump in on the moment.
Honestly, it's easily the most Dylan Cardwell thing he has done in the NBA so far. He had fun in the impromptu interview, was open and honest about the season, and was nothing but grateful for finding a place in the NBA. More than that, his confidence and reassuring demeanor shone through.
If you haven't watched the footage from this unplanned moment between John and Cardwell, please do. Cardwell is a tough defender, an elite rim protector, and a tenacious rebounder. But it's his attitude and overwhelming positivity that makes him a huge asset to the Kings. Take notes, rookies.
Cardwell speaks to the upcoming NCAA players about the draft
John asked Cardwell some poignant and insightful questions about his path to the NBA. Cardwell went undrafted, was signed by the Kings to a two-way contract, took advantage of every opportunity on the floor to impress, and worked himself into a full NBA contract within months.
It was an excellent conversation that showed how grounded Cardwell is. He spoke about his hopes of going in the first round of the 2025 Draft getting upended and how not getting selected in the second round impacted him. He talked about staying positive and never giving up on getting to the NBA.
The NBA Draft isn't the end of the journey; it's just another step on it. Getting picked number one overall doesn't guarantee success anymore than going undrafted guarantees failure. Cardwell has a contract while previous number one picks struggle to find a place in the league.
Sacramento made a smart move by locking Cardwell in for four seasons. As he matures into the game, his stock is only going to go up. With his positive attitude and sage wisdom on top of his basketball acumen, the sky is the limit for him. At this point, Cardwell is the Sacramento Kings.
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