The Kings' starting five haven't exactly had the best preseason. Thankfully, Sacramento's rookies have stepped up and given the Kings a bit of life off the bench. Their hunger, youth, and energy will be the keys to saving what might otherwise be a dismal 2025-2026 in Sactown.
Last season was terrible for the Kings at best. The firing of Mike Brown and trading De'Aaron Fox caused a lot of chaos, though 2024-2025 wasn't looking great before any of that happened. The Kings needed some big moves over the offseason to get back on track.
That didn't happen. No blockbuster trades or big moves shook up the status quo in Sacramento or rebalanced the roster. What did happen was the acquisition of a group of rookies and second-year players who have already shown insane levels of potential in the preseason.
Sacramento's rookie crew
Nique Clifford, Dylan Cardwell, and Maxime Raynaud have all been putting on absolute shows for Kings' fans. They have been active on both ends of the courts, keeping the team moving in the right direction. Cardwell, in particular, has a lot of new fans in Sacramento.
There are also second-year players such as Isaiah Stevens, Isaac Jones, and Devin Carter who are putting in the work. They aren't as impactful as the aforementioned rookies, but their contributions and efforts cannot be overlooked, even this early in the season.
It's hard to ignore how well the rookies are playing, both individually and together. If Zach LaVine, the only starter playing consistently well so far, can fill the role of leader on and off the court, the Kings could have something here. It may be enough to turn the season around.
Tough days are ahead for the Kings
Keeping in mind that it's only two games into the Kings' preseason, it's still hard to feel positive. With two losses under their belts and little sign of their new defensive focus, there is reason to worry. Dennis Schroder certainly hasn't found a groove yet, proving he is not a replacement for Fox.
Given the general performance of the team's starting five and veterans, there needs to be drastic improvements in consistency and defense to even hope for a season above .500. If they keep playing the way they have been, that goal is out of reach.
The Kings aren't going to hand the keys to the kingdom to a rookie squad right away. There still needs to be more work and development before that happens. But now is the time to start preparing for the future, and if Sacramento is smart, they'll put their focus there.