If there's one positive to take away from the Kings' preseason loss to the Raptors, and there might only be one, it's how well the rookies played. In particular, Dylan Cardwell showed up and showed out, becoming an instant fan favorite among the Sacramento faithful.
Cardwell went undrafted at the 2025 NBA Draft, leaving him without a spot on a roster. On June 26, the Sacramento Kings came knocking and signed him to a two-way contract. Given his first on-court performance, he'll be an asset to both the Kings and their G League affiliate.
Cardwell takes his shot
Without question, Cardwell was one of the most energetic players on the court. He got the Sacramento fans out of their seats, especially after an especially vicious dunk over an unsuspecting and unprepared Raptor. It was a good way to make a statement in his first NBA game.
BAPTISM BY CARDWELL pic.twitter.com/BBFSxixafv
— Jack Dann (@JackBDann) October 9, 2025
Cardwell shot six for seven from the field, giving him an impressive field goal percentage of 85.7 percent on 12 points. He also pulled down three rebounds, one assist, and one block. Those aren't huge numbers, but they show he made the most of his 13:32 minutes.
Riding with the Kings
To put that into perspective, Domantas Sabonis shot seven for ten from the field and five for six on free throws with a total of 19 points. Overall, Zach Lavine shot at 71.4% from the field, picking up 16 points by the end of the game. No other starter came close to double digits.
This made Cardwell the third highest scorer on the team with fellow rookie Nique Clifford coming in fourth with 10 points and nine rebounds. The only other player on the team with a better field goal percentage was second year player Isaiah Stevens who shot 100% from the field on three of three.
Cardwell's royal future
In addition to his shooting, Cardwell is known as a versatile defender who can protect the rim and easily transition to shutting down pick and rolls. He has the potential to be the offensive threat the Kings want while also being the defensive anchor they need.
Sure, it's only one game into the preseason but sometimes talent shines through. That's the case with Dylan Cardwell. He walked onto the court to face his first NBA game ever and flourished under the bright lights. This is the kind of player the Kings need on their roster moving forward.