While Sacramento Kings' fans don't have much to be excited about this season, Stockton Kings' fans should be in a good place. Being the reigning champions will do that for you.
The Stockton Kings are the NBA G League affiliate Sacramento Kings. They also won the NBA G League Championship last season with a record of 22 wins and 12 losses.
To put that in perspective, Sacramento finished its 2024-2025 season with a record of 40 - 42. It certainly seems like the G League team is better managed than the NBA team.
Why the Stockton Kings are successful
It starts with the attitude of Stockton's head coach, Quinton Crawford. He leads with a strong focus on composure, even in the face of a 15-point deficit in the finals. His emphasis on team play over personal glory resonated with his players.
Team structure also played a big part in their victory. Stockton has a well-balanced team with a lot of depth at every position. This allows them to run a variety of options, both on offense and defense, and respond effectively to any injuries or issues that pop up.
All of this led to the best 2024-2025 season record in the G League as well as the NBA G League Championship. It was a historic moment since it was the first title in the history of the franchise.
What the Sacramento Kings can learn
To put it in a nutshell, the Sacramento Kings have none of that. They are an unbalanced team at both ends of the court that focuses almost entirely on shooting over everything else.
The main thing Sacramento has to learn from Stockton is how to build a team. They need a deeper roster that offers better options in all areas of the game. To pull that off, a complete rebuild might be in order.
Stockton and Sacramento could not be in more different places as teams. One is looking for a repeat championship while the other is basically praying for a season over .500, and only one of them will be even close to right when it's all said and done.