There is no one person to blame for the Sacramento Kings' slow start, as it's a systemic failure across the franchise. Despite that, Zach LaVine has played incredibly well. With the Kings' renewed focus on defense, it's become increasingly apparent that he doesn't fit, a fact he's well aware of.
While the current Kings' roster has a lot of talented players, they just don't balance each other out. Much has been made of the imbalance towards offense over defense, which is absolutely true and the core of their problems. But there is so much more to it than that.
The Kings have long had issues with developing young talent, often prioritizing veterans over getting reps for rookies. That can be a pretty major problem when said veterans aren't defensive players, and that's where you're weakest. It's a hole Sacramento has dug itself into.
The biggest problem is the Kings' new defense-focused attitude. Yes, they need to have a stronger defensive presence, not to mention anything even close to resembling a defensive identity. They have none of that because they have very few players known for their defense.
Zach LaVine knows what's up
In a recent post-game interview, LaVine said what everyone else is thinking. It's fine to want your team to play better defense. That's great. But you actually need the right players to do it, and that's not shoot-first scorers like Zach LaVine. It seems like he has fully recognized that discrepancy.
Zach LaVine on SAC’s “defensive identity”:
— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) November 10, 2025
“We’ve all been trying. I’ve been trying my ass off on defense, but you need a team collective, the right identity. Sometimes you need the right personnel out there.”
“You’re not gonna ask Rudy Gobert to go out there and average 30.” pic.twitter.com/DJPV1YhyUX
The Kings have spent the past few seasons investing in shooters and veterans who are not known for defense. That's the team they built. It's kind of unfair to turn around and tell these same guys that they now have to become focused on defense. They'll do their best, but it will take a lot of time.
To be fair to the Kings, their recent signing of Precious Achiuwa is a step in the right direction. At the same time, they keep leaving Keon Ellis, arguably their best defender, on the bench for 75% of the game. The coaches are kind of sending their team mixed messages on this one.
If the Kings want a defensive presence, that means big changes to the roster. That also means big money contracts like Zach LaVine's are going to become a liability. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him traded this season, or taking his player option next season to find a better fit.