After a season cut short by injuries, Sacramento Kings fans were willing to cut De'Andre Hunter some slack. Let's just say he's burning through that goodwill quickly. With better players looking for minutes, the questions have to be why the Kings keep starting him and when that will change.
Hunter had some really bad luck last season, much like anyone wearing a Kings jersey. He got traded to Sacramento at the 2026 trade deadline by the Cavaliers. Halfway through his second game as a King, he sustained an improbable eye injury that kept him off the court for the rest of the season.
To be fair to Hunter, 2026-2027 is really the first chance fans have gotten to see him as a full member of the Kings' roster. It hasn't exactly been exciting to watch. Right now, he's averaging 24.7 minutes per game but is only collecting 5.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and no blocks or steals.
Now, sports writers often caution that the box score doesn't tell the whole story of a player. In this case, it does as Hunter is aggressively mediocre, much like his numbers. Yet, he continues to start at one of the forward positions. There has to be a lineup change coming as this just isn't working.
The Kings would be better off with Hunter on the bench
Prior to their injuries, the plan was to start Ben Simmons at power forward and Keegan Murray at small forward. Being that Simmons is out for the season and Murray won't be back any time soon, that changed. Precious Achiuwa is now the starting power forward with Hunter at small forward.
Starting Achiuwa is always a good idea. He is the true foundation of this rebuild, and has proven himself on both offense and defense. The only thing Hunter seems to contribute is the occasional rebound, and the Kings have no issues in that department thanks to Achiuwa and Domantas Sabonis.
At small forward, the Kings have both Nique Clifford and Alex Karaban looking for minutes. When Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell get back from injury, both players will likely be looking for minutes at power forward. Continuing with Hunter as a starting forward makes little to no sense.
Sacramento has to make room for rookie and sophomore development now, not the mediocre play of a veteran who will be gone when his contract is up in April if they don't trade him before that. Starting Hunter is a lose-lose situation for the Kings, one that will only get more problematic.
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