The Sacramento Kings' late-season resurgence continued last night with a victory over Zion Williamson and the visiting Pelicans. A major reason for that was Dylan Cardwell, who was a dominant defensive force for the first time since coming back from his injury, and Sactown fans loved it.
While the Kings have had a brutal season, there have actually been a surprising number of positives. That includes the variety of rookies and sophomores who have taken advantage of the veritable smorgasbord of injuries and used these opportunities to grow their games exponentially.
One of those players is Cardwell. He went undrafted in 2025, but the Kings signed him to a two-way contract. When he got playing time on the main roster, Carwell showed up and showed out. He proved himself to be a rim protector, a lob threat, and a fountain of positive energy for the team.
Fans fell for him almost immediately. That made the injury that kept him out for a month even more difficult. Since his return on March 14, Cardwell has struggled to find his usual rhythm on both offense and defense. That all changed last night against the Pelicans as he wore them out.
Cardwell is back and the Kings are loving it
While Cardwell's game has more to it than just defense, he has quickly made a name for himself as an elite rim protector. This is something the Kings have lacked for a long time, mainly because Domantas Sabonis is almost useless on defense. That lack of defense at the five has held the team back.
Both Precious Achiuwa and Maxime Raynaud offer strong defensive options, but Cardwell is the man. He finished the game against the Pelicans with six points, eight rebounds, one assist, and five blocks. This is the Cardwell fans in Golden One Center have gotten to know and love this season.
Two of those blocks came in the last minute of the game, shutting down what should have been game-changing baskets from the Pelicans. Cardwell even blocked Williamson, an All-Star and one of the most explosive scorers in the league. Well, assuming he's healthy, which has long been an issue.
Seeing Cardwell play such dominant defensive basketball lit a fire under the Kings, not to mention the hometown crowd. Keep in mind that this is just his rookie season. As he preps for 2026-2027, Cardwell will continue to grow, find more confidence, and become even more dangerous.