3 Things that need to happen for the Sacramento Kings to avoid disappointment in 2024-25
By Mat Issa
#3: Make the Playoffs
This is by far and away the most important part of the season. The Kings have the best core they've had in the last two decades. They doubled down on that group (by re-signing Malik Monk) and added to it. There is no reason that this team should be missing the playoffs – no matter how hard the Western Conference is.
To be clear, we are not talking about simply making the play-in tournament and getting eliminated from the dance through that medium. No, no. We are talking about being one of the top eight seeds in the West when the second Saturday of April (the day the first round of the playoffs begins) rolls around.
While making the top eight is the threshold to avoid disappointment, most fans will expect that the team is a top six seed in the conference. That way, they won't have to worry about the variance that comes with the play-in tournament.
There is also a strong segment of the fanbase that feels like the Kings should also win a playoff series. That is a little more ambitious, but then again, you don't invest as much as they have to this core just to be a perennial first round exit.