The Sacramento Kings may have quietly uncovered another developmental gem, and his name is Daeqwon Plowden.
During a recent segment on Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys, Allen Stiles and Kevin Gleason couldn’t help but notice the similarities between Plowden and former Kings guard Keon Ellis—a player who recently turned a two-way contract into a legitimate NBA role.
“As one Keon leaves, another Keon may be arriving,” Stiles said, setting the tone for the comparison.
At first glance, the numbers back it up. Plowden, playing on a two-way contract, is averaging 10.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per game on 43% shooting and 33% from three across 27 games (25.6 minutes) this season.
But his recent surge is what’s turning heads: 14.2 points per game on 46% shooting and 38% from deep over his last 12 games, fueled by increased opportunity amid injuries.
Da3qwon Plowd3n 💦 pic.twitter.com/N9TA84wZ9a
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) April 2, 2026
More on Daeqwon Plowden
While Ellis carved out his role as a defense-first “three-and-D” guard, Plowden brings a slightly different flavor. According to Stiles, his offensive assertiveness stands out.
“Offensively, he’s much more forceful. He will go get his shot, he will shoot off the dribble,” Stiles explained. “Keon was more of a catch-and-shoot guy.”
That aggressiveness has translated into real production. Plowden isn’t just filling minutes—he’s creating offense, taking 5.6 three-point attempts per game, and knocking them down at an improving clip.
Of course, defense remains the biggest separator—for now.
“Keon is going to be more impactful on the defensive end… more D and three versus more three and D,” Stiles said.
Still, Gleason pointed out that Plowden isn’t a liability.
“They respect him defensively… he might not be a stopper, but he’s not getting played off the floor,” he noted.
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
The bigger question is role projection. Ellis has already established himself as a valuable rotation piece on a competitive team. Plowden, meanwhile, is still being defined.
“I think we know pretty much what Keon is. Daeqwon Plowden, we’re still finding out,” Gleason said.
That uncertainty may actually be the most exciting part.
At 27, Plowden isn’t a traditional “prospect,” but the Kings—and their G-League affiliate in Stockton—have shown a knack for turning overlooked players into contributors.
As Stiles put it: “The Stockton Kings, they are flipping and turning things around pretty quickly here.”
If Plowden continues trending upward, the Sacramento Kings may once again have turned a low-risk two-way deal into a high-value rotation player—another success story in their growing development pipeline, one that also saw rookie center Dylan Cardwell go from a two-way contract to a standard deal this season.
Check out the full conversation at the top of the page or by heading over to the Sactown Sports YouTube channel.
Listen to The Drive Guys from 2 – 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.
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When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
The Sacramento Kings will conclude a two-game homestand on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Sacramento is 2-1 against the Clippers this season, as the Kings delivered a stunning 118-109 win against Los Angeles on the road during a matchup between the two Pacific Division foes on March 14th.
Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Clippers action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 4:30 PM PT on Game Night before a 6:00 pm PT tip-off from downtown Sacramento.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Sunday, April 5th vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 6:00 PM PT
Tuesday, April 7th @ Golden State Warriors – 7:00 PM PT
Friday, April 10th vs. Golden State Warriors – 7:00 PM PT
Sunday, April 12th @ Portland Trail Blazers – 5:30 PM PT (End of season)
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