ESPN writing staff predicts Sacramento Kings to finish 4th in West
Aug 25, 2023, 9:28 AM | Updated: 9:28 am
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Following last season’s 48-win campaign that featured the long-awaited ending of the 16-year NBA Playoff drought, the Sacramento Kings have received plenty of positive coverage during the summer.
With the start of NBA training camps just one month away, outlets are starting to release their 2023-24 season projections and standings predictions.
ESPN’s writing staff published its win-loss predictions for next season, and Kings fans might like where Sacramento’s season ended in their projection:
ESPN projects the Sacramento Kings to finish 4th in the Western Conference standings this year 👀 pic.twitter.com/xRSFVRdCXk
— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) August 24, 2023
Not far behind [Golden State], though, are the Kings, who exceeded all expectations last season under first-year coach Mike Brown, who was subsequently named Coach of the Year.
After making their first playoff appearance in 16 years, the Kings pushed the defending champion Warriors to an epic seven-game series. Sacramento’s rise should continue, provided it addresses its 25th-ranked defense.
Sacramento stunned the NBA in 2022-23 by finishing with the third-best record in the Western Conference standings and claiming its first Pacific Division title in 20 years.
After retaining core players like Harrison Barnes and Trey Lyles while signing EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov, expectations are high after fans got a taste of the NBA Playoffs in April.
Speaking of the playoffs–according to ESPN’s model, the team that the Kings lost to in the first round is projected to finish in a tie with Sacramento in the 2023-24 standings.
Both Northern California teams are predicted to finish with a record of 47-35 next season, with the Warriors placing third in the conference in what is assumed to be a prediction that Golden State will win the season series against the Kings.
The Warriors will face Sacramento three times over the first month of regular season action, including the Kings’ home opener on Friday, October 27th (ESPN) and both teams’ In-Season Tournament Group Play finale on Tuesday, November 28th (TNT).
ESPN isn’t the only major publication that is expecting big things from ‘The Beam Team’ in 2023-24.
Bleacher Report predicts the Kings to finish 45-37 next year, which would place them sixth in the Western Conference. HoopsHabit thinks Sacramento will “take a leap” and finish in the two-seed position in the standings.
Regardless of predictions made during the summer, expectations are going to be high for the Kings this season.
An encore performance of 2022-23 would be ideal, but that will be easier said than done in a stacked Western Conference that will be as competitive as ever in 2023-24.
Does Sacramento have what it takes to remain among the top teams in the conference? ESPN thinks so.
Do you?
2023-24 Preseason Schedule
- Sunday, October 8th – Sacramento Kings @ Toronto Raptors – 5 PM PST (Preseason Opener)
- Wednesday, October 11th – Sacramento Kings @ Los Angeles Lakers – 7 PM PST (in Anaheim, CA)
- Sunday, October 15th – Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors – 7 PM PST
- Wednesday, October 18th – Sacramento Kings @ Golden State Warriors – 7 PM PST
- Thursday, October 19th – Sacramento Kings vs. Utah Jazz – 7 PM PST
2023-24 Regular Season Schedule
- Tuesday, October 24th – NBA regular season begins
- Wednesday, October 25th – Sacramento Kings @ Utah Jazz – 6 PM (Season Opener)
- Friday, October 27th – Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors – 7 PM (Home Opener)
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