The Sacramento Kings, leading a tight race to finish with the worst record in the NBA, reportedly will be without their leading scorer for the rest of the season.
Zach LaVine will have right hand surgery following this weekend’s All-Star break, veteran NBA writer Chris Haynes reported on Friday.
LaVine missed the Kings’ past three games due to what was described as a tendon injury to his right pinkie.
The 30-year-old veteran has appeared in 39 games (37 starts) for Sacramento this season, averaging 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists. All of those figures are his lowest in the past eight seasons.
The Kings acquired LaVine from the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team deal at the February 2025 trade deadline. Sacramento picked up three first-round picks and three second-rounders in that transaction, which saw De’Aaron Fox go from the Kings to the San Antonio Spurs.
Over 12 NBA seasons, LaVine has averages of 20.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 693 games (602 starts) with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago and Sacramento. He was an All-Star for the Bulls in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
The Kings (12-44) are battling with the Washington Wizards (14-39), New Orleans Pelicans (15-41), Indiana Pacers (15-40), Brooklyn Nets (15-38) and Utah Jazz (18-37) at the bottom of the league standings. The Pacers and Jazz were fined by the NBA on Thursday for holding players out of games in an apparent attempt to tank.
Teams reportedly are keen to be in the draft lottery this year with a highly rated class set to enter the NBA.
Sacramento returns from the All-Star break on Thursday with a home game against the Orlando Magic.
–Field Level Media