When examining the kind of All-Star-esque talent assembled on the Sacramento Kings’ roster with names like DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, it is easy to assume they are strong contenders to fight for a playoff spot in the Western Conference in the 2025-26 season. The potential excitement only grows when one realizes that the team has added two-level-headed veteran guards in Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook. However, for NBA analyst Brian Windhorst, this mix of random veteran stars isn’t as promising as it seems on paper.
Moreover, in a bold proclamation, Windy even asserted that Kings fans will realize over the coming months the value of having a young franchise cornerstone around whom a team should be built, rather than having journeymen operate as primary ball handlers and point guards.
Advertisement
Windhorst on why he has no major hopes for the Kings
While the Kings’ roster boasts plenty of established names, teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, or Los Angeles Lakers have strengthened their championship aspirations by focusing on two key areas — cohesion and identity. Not only have they built their roster around a cornerstone with clearly defined hierarchies and well-defined roles, but their entire focus is to relieve their best player of the pressure of winning games single-handedly.
On the other hand, while Windhorst is certain that Schroder and Westbrook will bring the necessary grit, grind mindset and accountability in the locker room that will help others elevate their game, he also believes that there will be evident glimpses of why both these veteran point guards have not been trusted enough to be part of stable systems — be it through their inability to deliver in clutch moments or maintain high level of consistency over a long stretch.
Advertisement
“I don’t mean to be the Debbie-Downer. Dennis Schroder is going to be their starter; he’s on his fifth team in three years. Dennis Schroder can do a lot of things; he’s a journeyman. He’s a journeyman for a reason. This is now Russell Westbrook’s seventh team in eight years; he’s a journeyman… for a reason. There are going to be nights where Westbrook positively impacts the Kings. They are going to be glad he’s on the roster. You can say the same thing about Schroder,” Windhorst said. “There are going to be nights when you realize why these guys are journeyman point guards.”
The Kings can be the ultimate underdogs in the West
On paper, Sacramento has all the ingredients to make a playoff run — be it offensive firepower, experience, or depth. However, what they lack is an established sense of chemistry and trust that separates good teams from great ones.
Advertisement
Thus, for the Kings to truly make noise in the regular season as well as the postseason, players will need to prioritize teamwork and sacrifice individual accolades. This includes role players like Malik Monk or Keegan Murray to bring consistency and support the star names, such as Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine, along with the already mentioned Schroder and Westbrook.
If everyone embraces their role, stays healthy and commits to a unified structure, the Kings might surprise the league and become a legitimate dark horse. Ultimately, the acquisitions of Schroder and Westbrook bring something Sacramento has lacked in recent years — veteran leadership and relentless energy. Now, whether that translates into genuine playoff success remains to be seen.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 17, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.