The NBA world did not have high expectations for the Sacramento Kings ahead of the 2025-26 season. Star player Domantas Sabonis was injured before the season opener against the Phoenix Suns, so they may struggle more than expected.
Before the 2025-26 season, most of the NBA community already knew that the Sacramento Kings would not be a top team. A team headlined by Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine has the potential to surprise people.
Unfortunately, Sabonis injured his hamstring in a preseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers, so they will enter the new season with a short-handed roster. This is a big blow as the Kings needed to get off to a strong start, but it might not have happened without their star players who are already under tremendous pressure to lead the Kings.
It will be a tough challenge for head coach Doug Christie because the Kings don’t have their usual focus. This should also mean DeRozan and LaVine step up as go-to players in his absence, but this may not be as effective as having an All-Star center in the projected starting lineup.
It’s unfortunate that Sabonis won’t be playing in the opening game of the 2025-26 season, but he doesn’t seem to be sidelined for long due to injury. He suffered a grade 1 hamstring strain and should recover in about a week or two.
For more advanced injuries, the damage can be difficult to repair. But if it’s a Grade 1 stock, resting and preparing for the season will be enough. Unfortunately, the Kings wanted to start the season on a good note, so playing without their star center will be detrimental to their continuity.
Christie wants Sabonis to get healthy as soon as possible, but adjustments will have to be made. Thankfully, they have a talented group led by DeRozan and LaVine. Former MVP Russell Westbrook signed a contract last week and joined the team.
Now, it’s up to these players to step up and fill the hole left by Sabonis. The center position isn’t the deepest on the Kings roster, so they hope to bring Sabonis back as soon as he’s fully recovered. Relying too much on Drew Eubanks and Dario Saric isn’t the best way to build a team.
As the biggest star on the Kings roster, Sabonis is under pressure to perform. Although he is known for his reserved personality, he is the leader of the team. Thankfully, he has some pretty vocal teammates like Westbrook and Dennis Schroder.
Despite this vocal leader, everyone knows Sabonis is the team’s best player. He has the scoring ability of the best centers in the league, but he’s also a unique player with playmaking ability. Sabonis’ player profile solidifies that he is a great piece of building blocks, despite what some people think.
The Kings offense runs through him despite having a good guard group. Coach Christie wants the Kings to perform at the highest level so they can compete for a postseason spot.
They hope to recapture the magic of the 2022-23 season, when the Kings reached the No. 3 seed and continued to win Light the Beam throughout the year. Currently, Sabonis will not be able to start the season with the team, but he could prove that he is one of the best centers in the sport and continue to produce to help the Kings compete.