If you're looking for new definitions of the concept of terrible in the NBA, you can stop. The Sacramento Kings have it cased. While there are a lot of issues to explore, the one that keeps coming up is their unstable, fluctuating roster. It's hard to win gamed when you can't predict who's playing.
This problem goes all the way back to the preseason. Keegan Murray sustained a thumb injury that required surgery and kept him out of action for several weeks. He finally made his return, only to be taken out by another injury. So far, he's played 19 out of 58 games this season.
Domantas Sabonis has had an equally rough go of it. He's dealt with small injuries here and there, as well as one major issue that kept him out for two months. Managing his healing process continues to cause him to miss games, also playing only 19 games to date like Murray.
Numerous Sacramento players have dealt with injuries in 2025-2026, some leading to longer absences than others. The Kings walked into the game against the Jazz last night without De'Andre Hunter, Domantas Sabonis, Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, and Keegan Murray,
This instability in the roster is a major factor in the Kings' dismal season
To fill all of these gaps, rookies and bench players have been taking increased roles. Two-way G League players have been picking up a lot of time on the main roster. Just as they're finding a rhythm together, one or two people return, and the entire roster reshuffles. That scenario keeps happening.
Sactown fans have reached a point where they have no idea what the starting line up is going to look like from one game to the next. Devin Carter actually got the first start of his NBA career against the Jazz. That's great for him, but that's not likely to be something fans see in the long term.
The Kings have deeply ingrained problems on both offense and defense that need to be dealt with. Everyone in the front office and the coaching staff knows it. Those problems are almost impossible to fix when more than a third of your roster is out injured on any given night.
Health is going to be a huge factor in this rebuild, which is why Scott Perry wants younger players who are usually more durable and less injury prone. Until the Kings can reach a point that they have a relatively stable starting line up and bench rotation, fixing these fundamental issues is not happening.