5 Reasons Kings Fans Can Be Optimistic This Season

Matt George laid out five reasons Kings fans can still find optimism heading into a season expected to include plenty of growing pains.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Sep 25, 2026, 2:37 PM

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Watch: 5 Reasons to be Optimistic About the Sacramento Kings - The Matt George Podcast | 26 mins

The Sacramento Kings are not entering the 2026-27 season with the same expectations that surrounded the franchise during the height of the Beam Team era.

Plenty of questions remain about the roster, the long-term direction, and how quickly Sacramento can build something sustainable again, but there are also aspects to look forward to throughout the year. On the latest Matt George Podcast, he laid out five reasons Kings fans can still enter the season with some optimism.

The most obvious is the incoming rookie lottery selection, Darius Acuff Jr. Sacramento finally has a young player who can realistically be viewed as a potential centerpiece of what comes next. Acuff provides something they did not have entering last season in a potential franchise centerpiece.

“Darius Acuff Jr. is the undeniable future of the Kings, and he’s here now,” George said.

There will be inevitable rookie struggles, but Acuff’s development should give the season meaning beyond wins and losses.

George’s second reason centered on Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine. Neither veteran appears guaranteed to be part of Sacramento’s long-term future, but their individual goals could still benefit the team-building process.

LaVine is entering a contract year, while Sabonis has plenty of incentive to reestablish his value around the league. Strong seasons from either player would help Sacramento win now while potentially improving what the Kings could eventually receive in a trade.

There is also some optimism surrounding Sacramento’s potential defensive versatility. The Kings may still struggle on that side of the ball overall, but adding a healthy Keegan Murray alongside De’Andre Hunter gives head coach Doug Christie more size and flexibility.

Murray has plenty to prove himself after an injury-shortened season, while Hunter enters a contract year with an opportunity to establish whether he could fit into Sacramento’s long-term plans.

The bench brings another layer of intrigue, with Malik Monk and Ben Simmons giving Christie experienced options, while Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, Nique Clifford and Precious Achiuwa offer optionality.

Finding ideal rotations could become frustrating, but the number of options also gives Sacramento room to experiment.

His final reason highlighted the chance to see two different Kings teams this season. Sacramento may begin the year leaning heavily on its veterans and trying to win as many games as possible, but if players such as Sabonis and LaVine are eventually moved, the second half of the season could shift towards the younger core.

That doesn’t mean the season will be without growing pains, but with Acuff’s arrival, hypothetically motivated veterans, and a promising young group, plenty of intriguing storylines remain as Sacramento prepares for the 2026-27 NBA season.