This has been a tough season for the Sacramento Kings, one compounded by multiple injury absences. Now, Zach LaVine requires surgery on his hand and will be out for the season. This all but assures that he will take his player option to remain a King next year, impacting the rebuild.
Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine set to undergo season-ending surgery
— Jason Anderson (@JandersonSacBee) February 14, 2026
A tumultuous season has come to a premature end for the two-time All-Star ⬇️https://t.co/w8bKjft9SZ
Regardless of the team, the player, or even the sport, a season cut short by injury is not something anyone wants to see. There was too much of that last season when Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton all went out with injuries in the Playoffs that kept them out all of this season.
That's now the case with Zach LaVine. While he has been away with other injuries this season, his most recent was initially described as soreness in his right hand. This led to him being out of commission for the last few games before the All-Star break. He was one of several injured Kings.
LaVine's injury has since been more accurately described as an issue with a tendon in his right pinky. Being that's his shooting hand, and Zach is a shooter's shooter, that's a big deal. He now needs surgery that will cause him to miss the remaining 26 games of the Kings' season.
The future of the Kings and Zach LaVine
As it stands right now, LaVine only has one year left on his Sacramento contract after this season is complete. The twist is that last season has a player option, meaning he has the choice of whether he stays with the Kings or not for 2026-2027. This injury might cement his decision.
Sacramento has actively been trying to move on from LaVine for a while now. The problem is that he has an expensive contract that no one wants to absorb. Few teams are interested in his services at such a high amount, meaning the market for him is limited at the absolute best.
The reality is that if Zach declines the player option, it's unlikely he'll get the same kind of money the Kings are on the hook for on the open market. That's going to be even more true now that he has a season-ending injury that requires surgery. It seems more likely than ever that he will stay a King.
Everyone wants LaVine to heal up and get back on the court. Where he does that next season is up to him to an extent. If he has to spend another season on the Kings, that's not the end of the world for him or the team. Who knows? He might come back from the surgery better than ever.