It's safe to say that Zach LaVine didn't have the season he was looking for in 2025-2026. He played in less than 50% of games and had a rough time shooting when he was in. But recent comments indicate that he's taking this season seriously, which is important for his career moving forward.
In the first few games of last season, LaVine was on a heater. He was shooting incredibly well and was poised to have a great run. Because this is the Kings and they can't have anything nice, the wheels came off of that whole situation. He had a few moments of brilliance after that, but it wasn't great.
LaVine sporadically missed games due to minor injuries until a major issue finally knocked him out for the rest of the season. It was probably a good thing to an extent, as he wasn't doing well on the court and wasn't connecting with fans. That's not all his fault, though, as coaching was also an issue.
Doug Christie had only recently become the head coach and was essentially a rookie. He wanted a stronger defensive presence from LaVine, which has never been Zach's strong suit. It also didn't help that the offense wasn't being run in a way that would get the ball in LaVine's hands.
New season, new LaVine
In a recent interview, LaVine made it clear that he had plenty of regrets from last season but is still looking forward to this season. His goals are to get on track and be the best Zach he can be. To be fair, he didn't use that exact phrasing, but it would have been hilarious if he had.
That being said, the sentiment was there. LaVine not only finding his rhythm but also maintaining it will be important ot the Kings. They need him firing on all cylinders, particularly if they keep him in their starting lineup at shooting guard. LaVine has to do better than last season for the Kings to win.
It could also have a big impact on his future. LaVine is entering a contract year, and it's widely expected that his time with the Kings is almost over. Few teams will want to sign a player who spent the last two seasons either injured or underproducing, regardless of the reasons why.
There's always the possibility that the Kings re-sign him. Considering the front office has designs on both Jalen Duren and Jonathan Kuminga, that's not likely unless it's a trade-and-sign scenario. Regardless, it's good that LaVine is locked in on what will likely be his final season in Sacramento.
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