- The Sacramento Kings won 48 games last season and made the playoffs for the first time since 2006
- The Golden State Warriors beat the Kings in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in seven games
- The Kings project to have a skillful starting lineup in 2023-24
The Sacramento Kings had a remarkable 2022-23 season. They went 48-34 in the regular season and made the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Kings finished with the third-best record in the rugged Western Conference.
In the first round of the 2023 playoffs, the Kings faced the Golden State Warriors. Sacramento won the first two games of the series, but Golden State won four of the next five games to win the series.
Even though the Kings lost to the Warriors, the team has a bright future and Sacramento’s starting lineup is one of the reasons why many pundits are so high on the Kings.
Point Guards
Starter: De’Aaron Fox
Reserve: Davion Mitchell
De’Aaron Fox had a terrific season in 2022-23. The lefty averaged 25.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 73 games while shooting 51.2% from the field, 32.4% from beyond the arc, and 78.0% from the free-throw line. Fox recorded 11 double-doubles and was 14th in the NBA in points per game.
The 25-year-old Fox made his first All-Star team last season. He was also voted to the All-NBA Third Team. The sky is the limit for Fox, who signed a five-year, $163 million extension with the Kings in November 2020.
Fox has career averages of 20.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists with the Kings in 395 games. Don’t be surprised if the Kentucky product is an All-Star and All-NBA player again next season.
Shooting Guards
Starter: Kevin Huerter
Reserve: Malik Monk
Kevin Huerter played well in his first season with the Kings. The former Atlanta Hawks guard averaged 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 2022-23 while shooting 48.5% overall, 40.2% from 3, and 72.5% from the free-throw line.
Huerter was second on the Kings in 3-point field goals with 205. He was third in points per game and fourth in total points. Sacramento is very pleased it acquired Huerter from Atlanta.
The 25-year-old Huerter has career averages of 12.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists with the Hawks and Kings. He has established himself as one of the top shooters in the NBA.
Small Forwards
Starter: Harrison Barnes
Reserve: Chris Duarte
Harrison Barnes agreed to a three-year, $54 million extension with the Kings this offseason. The swingman would have become an unrestricted free agent on June 30 had he and Sacramento not agreed to an extension.
Barnes averaged 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists last season while shooting 47.3% from the field, 37.4% from beyond the arc, and 84.7% from the free-throw line. The 31-year-old has career averages of 14.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists with the Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Kings.
Barnes won the 2015 championship with the Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games. He also played in the 2016 Finals. The UNC product had been linked to the Indiana Pacers, who are coached by Rick Carlisle. Barnes was coached by Carlisle in Dallas and the veteran forward played with Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton and shooting guard Buddy Hield in Sacramento.
However, Barnes decided to stay with the Kings and he will be the starter at the small forward spot once again.
Power Forwards
Starter: Keegan Murray
Reserve: Trey Lyles
Keegan Murray had a productive rookie season for the Kings. The sharpshooter averaged 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 80 games while shooting 45.3% from the field, 41.1% from beyond the arc, and 76.5% from the free-throw line.
Murray led the Kings in 3-point field goals with 206. He was 15th in the NBA in 3-point field goals and 22nd in 3-point field goal percentage. Murray made the All-Rookie First Team.
Murray will likely be one of the league leaders in 3s again next season. He has one of the smoothest jumpers in the association.
Centers
Starter: Domantas Sabonis
Reserve: JaVale McGee
The Kings acquired Domantas Sabonis from the Pacers in the Tyrese Haliburton trade. While there was initial criticism for the trade since Haliburton is a star point guard, the move proved to be a successful one with long-term potential for Sacramento.
Sabonis averaged 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists in 2022-23 while shooting 61.5% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc and 74.2% from the free-throw line. He made the All-Star team and the All-NBA Third Team.
Sabonis and the Kings agreed to a five-year, $217 million renegotiate-and-extend deal this offseason. The lefty was entering the final year of a four-year, $74.9 million contract that was set to pay him $19.4 million in 2023-24.
During an interview with Kyle Irving of The Sporting News, Sabonis said he expected teams to “come at” the Kings next season since they are no longer flying under the radar.
“We definitely know it’s going to be the hardest year yet. Last year, there was no expectations,” Sabonis said. “We were a top-three seed. People are going to come at us. It’s not going to be easy. … We gotta be mentally strong to come out, block out all the noise and just be us. Getting better on defense, adding things on our offensive end so teams can’t scout us. It’s gonna be a lot of fun for us.”
Sabonis has career averages of 15.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Pacers, and Kings. He’s the son of Hall of Famer Arvydas Sabonis.
