Only One Kings Player Makes NBA Top 100 Players List

Domantas Sabonis was the only Sacramento Kings player included in ESPN’s Top 100. Should Zach LaVine have made the list?

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Sep 24, 2026, 11:15 AM

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SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 13: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Sacramento Kings warms up before the game ag...

Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Sacramento Kings warms up before the game against the Phoenix Suns at Golden 1 Center on April 13, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Kavin Mistry/Getty Images)

(Photo by Kavin Mistry/Getty Images)

The Sacramento Kings enter the 2026-27 season with minimal league-wide expectations and a roster that could look significantly different by the end of the season.

ESPN’s various NBA Insiders ranked their top 100 players headed into the season, and only one member of Sacramento’s roster made the cut. That in itself speaks to how low the national perspective is on their team headed into the year.

Domantas Sabonis checked in at No. 58 after being ranked No. 34 a year ago, a significant drop after an injury-shortened season.

Sabonis appeared in just 19 games last season, making it difficult to evaluate exactly where he belongs in this ranking. Still, falling outside the top 50 is a significant drop for a player who has previously earned All-Star and All-NBA honors during his time in Sacramento.

The ranking was discussed on the latest edition of The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross on Sactown Sports.

“I think there’s a lot of Domantas Sabonis disrespect going on right now,” Dave said.

Whether No. 58 is too low is one conversation, but Sabonis being the only King inside the top 100 may say more about the current state of Sacramento’s roster. If another were to be included, Zach LaVine would be the most obvious choice. After all, he’s currently on the 20th highest-paid total contract, albeit in the final year of his five-year, $215 million deal.

LaVine has dealt with injuries and defensive limitations throughout his career, but when healthy, his scoring has consistently made him one of the league’s more productive offensive guards.

Dave pointed toward several players near the back of ESPN’s list while making the case that LaVine still belongs inside the top 100.

“This isn’t me saying Zach LaVine’s this amazing,” Dave said. “This is me saying he’s a top 100 player. Let’s not be silly about it.”

Sacramento needs LaVine to perform like at least a top-100 player this season for their own success, while also raising his potential trade value. With the Kings transitioning toward a younger roster while still carrying veterans like Sabonis, LaVine and De’Andre Hunter, there are not many proven high-level scorers available to Doug Christie.

Incoming lottery guard selection Darius Acuff Jr., selected No. 7 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, would be the other standout in that aspect.

Acuff was not included, which is unsurprising for someone yet to play a minute of NBA basketball, but ESPN did rank multiple members of the 2026 draft class. Ross said he probably wouldn’t put Acuff in the top 100 right now, but questioned the placement of other incoming first year talents.

“I wouldn’t personally have him in there,” Ross said. “But if you’re putting some other rookies in there, I just found it interesting that he wasn’t.”

Keegan Murray was also mentioned during the discussion, although appearing in just 23 games last season practically eliminates him from contention on its own.

In the end, it’s just a projection, and the NBA nearly never plays out how people expect. But Sacramento having just one representative does reflect where the roster stands heading into the year.

Sabonis has an opportunity to remind people why he was previously much higher on these lists. LaVine could easily prove he deserved to make the cut, and Acuff rising up the list over time is the most important piece to Sacramento’s future.

Perhaps some will use it as motivation, but the only way to change that narrative will be to go out there, produce, and win more games than the low-20s marker most are expecting headed into 2026-27.