“We are going to hit first; you are going to feel us” – Bobby Jackson promises Kings will bring physicality and toughness next season originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Last season, on paper, the Sacramento Kings had a roster that could compete for a playoff spot in the loaded West. Expectations are understandably high with a double-double machine like Domantas Sabonis anchoring the paint and an all-time midrange maestro in DeMar DeRozan.
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Yet, the 2024-25 season turned out to be a major disappointment, as the team ultimately finished as the ninth seed despite being the seventh-best offensively rated team.
One of the biggest reasons they underachieved was that their defensive voids were too big. However, new assistant coach Bobby Jackson promises that a major shift in playing style will be on the horizon for 2025-26, and he believes the opponents will soon start to feel Sacramento’s physical presence.
Jackson on the changes that will come to the Kings
Individually, several players stood out for the Kings last season. Sabonis led the league in rebounds, while Zach LaVine, despite joining the team midseason, scored 22.4 points per game, and DeRozan followed closely with 22.2 points per game. Thus, offensively, the talent was clearly there. However, their downfall was largely on the defensive end, where they ranked eighth worst in the league.
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Jackson pointed out that opponents completely overpowered the Kings and constantly exploited his team’s lack of defensive toughness. Nevertheless, he believes that the narrative will change drastically in the upcoming season.
“Me and Doug are defensive-mindset guards; we’re going to be way better defensively. I think we’re putting a lot of emphasis on picking up the ball 94 feet and pressuring and being physical. But we gotta get the right personnel to play that style of basketball,” Jackson said on Mike Bibby’s show “Straight Game Podcast.”
“We’re still going to come with a mindset, you know, we are going to hit first, we’re gonna touch you, you are going to feel us. We’re gonna play fast, and we’re gonna play exciting basketball. So, I think it’s gonna be a new era of how to play the game the right way with physicality,”  he added.
Sacramento needs a strong supporting cast
While the Kings already have a roster with several All-Star caliber players, they truly lack the kind of gritty, high-motor depth that teams like the Indiana Pacers thrived on this past season.
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Put it simply, they need players who can elevate the intensity and versatility off the bench — perhaps someone like Bruce Brown or Josh Giddey, who can defend multiple positions with speed and physicality. On a different note, a veteran like Brook Lopez or Myles Turner, operating alongside Sabonis, can also be a game-changer.
Safe to say that the potential options are plenty, but one thing is clear: if Sacramento hopes to make noise in the increasingly talent-heavy Western Conference next season, they will need to be aggressive and smart this summer. The talent is there, but it is now about fortifying the team’s grit and two-way presence.
Will they bank on having three quality players by being aggressive in the offseason? Or will the Kings play the waiting game and make moves midseason? It remains to be seen.
Related: “Of course I want to start” – Bobby Jackson on being Mike Bibby’s backup on the Kings
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.