The 2025-26 season was always going to be an interesting one for the Sacramento Kings. Coming off a blowout in the NBA Play-In Tournament, they didn’t do much to address their issues in the offseason.
They drafted Nique Clifford, and gave a 3-year deal to Dennis Schröder to try and address the point guard position. A few weeks before they season, they also signed Russell Westbrook as well. The defense was not addressed.
Keegan Murray tore his UCL in the preseason. Doug Christie’s first full-year has seen this team begin 3-12, currently in the midst of a seven-game skid.
During their most recent loss, it was Schröder that led a team with HOF-level scorers Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan on it, in shot attempts.
Sacramento, we have a problem.
Dennis Schroder Led Kings in FG Attempts on Wednesday
When your team has DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Domantas Sabonis on it, it should not be Dennis Schröder that leads in field-goal attempts. The German guard has had a, memorable basketball career, there is no question about that. But the Sacramento Kings are not the national team that he puts on for, and helped to the EuroBasket 2025 title.
He is playing with guys that are professional scorers. On a night where the team lost their seventh game in a row, this time to the 15-1 Oklahoma City Thunder, the imbalance was on full display. LaVine, a career 21-ppg scorer, got just 10 shots. DeRozan has averaged 20+ pts in 12 consecutive seasons, and he got just 12.
Albeit, they didn’t have Sabonis, but even still. The reserve guard does possess an immense amount of talent. But on a team like this, the ball has to move better. Here’s another interesting stat. The current backup PG took 32 shots over his previous four starts. In two games back as a sixth man, he has taken 34.
It has made little sense that whichever of Schröder and Russell Westbrook has come off the bench has taken more shots than when they started. Especially when a microwave scorer like Malik Monk is playing with them There are issues all over the roster right now, and this is just one of them.
Is there a solution on the horizon here? Or is the team doomed?
Mum Is the Word on Sacramento Kings Present
It can’t be fun being a Sacramento Kings fan at the moment. Their head coach Doug Christie hasn’t exactly provided glowing reviews of the team. Zach LaVine was commenting as early as last season that the “vibes” were off with the team.
With this team clearly in freefall, it would appear that things will be changing sometime this season. Exactly when that is, remains to be determined. On the (kind of) bright side, Keegan Murray is expected to make his season debut on Thursday night. Especially coming on the tail-end of a back-to-back, this is a big deal for the squad.
His 3-and-D prowess has been sorely missed, and perhaps he can add something that has been missing.
The biggest of all the problems here might be the lack of playing time for Keon Ellis. The defensive standout has been benched at times, not getting nearly the amount of run he was given in past years. When a rotation player gets the “We Want…” chants during a game, it’s not good.
This is a team in purgatory. They are laden with veterans. Time will tell where DeRozan, LaVine, Sabonis, and perhaps others end up. For now, the Kings are 3-12. They had Dennis Schröder lead them in shot attempts in their latest loss.
For the fans of this team, one playoff appearance in 20 years may not be enough to keep you happy. Just think back to the 2022-23 team. Vibes were high.
It might be a long time before we see another beam lit up.
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