On a team as loaded with guards as the Sacramento Kings, getting minutes is a borderline miracle. That's why Devin Carter spent the first two games of the season on the bench. Given how he's played since getting minutes, maybe the Kings should have left him on the sidelines.
Carter is technically in his second year in the NBA, but it's really only his first full season with the Kings. He spent most of last season with their G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings. In January 2025, Carter became a permanent fixture on the Sacramento Kings' roster.
Throughout the balance of the 2024-2025 season, Carter got inconsistent minutes and development opportunities with the Kings. It certainly showed in his gameplay. He started during a rough patch for the franchise, and may have gotten lost in the shuffle a little bit.
This season was supposed to be different with stability in coaching and the front office. That hasn't been the case. Carter rode the bench for the first two games of the season, then got minutes in the next three games. Considering how he played, they probably should have left him on the bench.
Devin Carter's rough start
His first game of the regular season was in the loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, where Austin Reaves went off. Carter only played three minutes in that game. He collected one steal, one turnover, and two fouls. It obviously wasn't his fault the Kings lost, but he didn't do much to help them win.
Then, Carter got nine minutes of playing time in game two, finishing with four points, one rebound, one assist, and two steals. Game three saw him play 12 minutes, chalking up zero points, two rebounds, one assist, and one block. Those aren't exactly mind-blowing numbers.
For the most part, this season's rookies are generally outplaying him when they get minutes. Carter needs to do more with the time he's getting on the court, making him an undeniable asset to the Kings. Right now, he's a detriment more than anything else to the one and four team.
Rumors persist that the Kings are angling for another first-round draft pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and are using Carter as part of the trade. Regardless of how that pans out, Devin has to stay focused on the court and put his best foot forward. That means playing harder and making every minute count.