Written By Mauricio Segura // Photo: Golden Bay Times Graphics Dept.
OCT 7, 2025
When NBA analysts released their early forecasts for the 2025–26 season, the Sacramento Kings found themselves at the wrong end of optimism. Grant Hughes, a respected national voice, projected the Kings to finish with a 33-49 record, placing them 12th in the Western Conference. For a franchise that clawed its way back into postseason conversations in recent years, that prediction landed like a cold splash of water. It was only a season ago that Sacramento closed out at 40-42 and secured a Play-In berth, offering fans a flicker of belief that the Beam Team era wasn’t over. Yet the latest projections suggest regression, not resurgence, and raise the uncomfortable question of whether last season’s success was a brief spark rather than a steady flame.
Analysts point to several factors behind the pessimism, starting with roster depth. While Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine headline a trio with undeniable offensive potential, critics worry that beyond them, the Kings lack the kind of bench reliability needed to survive an 82-game grind. The Western Conference remains merciless, packed with contenders who got stronger in the offseason, leaving Sacramento in a precarious middle ground, too talented to tank, but too inconsistent to contend. Health and chemistry loom as major variables. A few off nights or nagging injuries could easily swing their season from frustrating to forgettable.
Still, a bleak forecast is not a guarantee of failure. The Kings have built their identity on defying expectations, whether through late-season pushes or surprise breakout performances. If players like Keon Ellis and rookie Nique Clifford can develop faster than expected, and if coach Doug Christie finds the right rhythm between veterans and youth, Sacramento could rewrite its predicted fate. Analysts may not have accounted for the team’s growing defensive discipline or the intangible spark that often comes when a locker room collectively feels disrespected.
More than just numbers, the 33-win prediction feels like a test of culture. Sacramento fans have endured decades of doubt, relocations threats, and rebuilds, yet the energy at Golden 1 Center still burns bright. A gloomy projection only adds to that underdog narrative, giving the Kings a chance to prove once again that numbers don’t measure resilience. Whether they collapse under the weight of low expectations or rise above them will determine if this season becomes another frustrating chapter or the beginning of a new one. The Kings don’t need to silence the critics, they just need to play like they never heard them.
