The Sacramento Kings have a much different look entering this season than they did last fall–but is this team a worse product than what we witnessed during 2024-25?
According to several outlets, the answer is yes.
Preseason predictions are rolling in, and many around the league view the Beam Team as a lottery candidate for the upcoming 2025-26 season, with some penciling the Kings in near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
As we inch closer to the October 22nd season-opener in Phoenix, let’s take a look at some preseason win-loss predictions for Sacramento.
ESPN: 37-45
Bleacher Report: 33-49
The Sacramento Kings’ record has trended in the wrong direction over the last three years, and that’s going to continue in 2025-26.
Start with Dennis Schroder replacing De’Aaron Fox as the starting point guard, a clear downgrade even in light of Fox’s one-foot-out-the-door posture prior to being traded last season. Amid dysfunction, Fox put up 25.0 points and 6.1 assists in 45 games for the Kings. Schroder could have a career year and never come close to that level of production.
As has been the case since they combined forces, Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan make no sense as a core. None of the three rates anywhere close to average on defense, and the Sabonis-DeRozan combo offers zero offensive spacing.
Sacramento controls its 2026 first-rounder and could pull the ripcord if injuries mount or a slow start under unproven head coach Doug Christie makes it clear drastic measures are necessary.
Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes – October 2025
MGM: 35.5 wins
Yahoo! Sports: Kings will make the biggest drop in the standings
This sucks, but … the Kings. I’m just bracing for the worst in Sacramento, where Fox is gone, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are hosting a revival of the wildly underwhelming-in-the-worse-conference Bulls, Domantas Sabonis exited the season hoping for a point guard, and Scott Perry responded with Dennis Schröder and (maybe?) Russell Westbrook. Maybe Doug Christie’s got the goods to turn all of this into a team that doesn’t find itself drowning well below .500 in the West. But maybe, before too long, last season’s 40-42 mark feels like the start of another disastrously steep descent.
Yahoo! Sports’ Dan Devine – September 2025
More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports
Following a long, busy–and then very quiet–offseason, Sacramento Kings basketball is back.
The Beam Team tips off training camp this week as they prepare for October 8th’s preseason opener against the Toronto Raptors at Golden 1 Center.
Sacramento head coach Doug Christie sat down with our very own Carmichael Dave and Jason Ross to discuss his thoughts on where things currently stand heading into his first training camp in his new role, share his defensive mindset for the upcoming season, and much more.
Be sure to listen to and watch the entire interview with Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie right here or on the Sactown Sports 1140 YouTube page.
Doug Christie says new role as Kings head coach ‘feels like a dream’
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Preseason
Wednesday, October 8th vs. Toronto Raptors – 7 PM PT
Friday, October 10th @ Portland Trail Blazers – 7 PM PT
Wednesday, October 15th vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 7 PM PT
Friday, October 17th @ Los Angeles Lakers – 7 PM PT
Regular Season
Wednesday, October 22nd – @ Phoenix Suns – 7 PM PT
Friday, October 24th – vs. Utah Jazz – 7 PM PT
Sunday, October 26th – vs. Los Angeles Lakers – 6 PM PT
Tuesday, October 28th – @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 5 PM PT
Wednesday, October 29th – @ Chicago Bulls – 5 PM PT
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