Alex Karaban’s first taste of NBA preseason action came with a warning label attached: the minutes are there now, but they may not stay that way once the Sacramento Kings get whole.
The Kings still have two roster spots to fill officially, and they’re also sorting through how the rotation will actually look once the regular season arrives. That’s where things get crowded for Karaban.
Sacramento has players returning from injuries, a fresh batch of rookies, and even an extra preseason body who still has to be cut. The two-way players only add to the traffic jam.
For a rookie trying to carve out space, that’s a tough setup. Darius Acuff is in a different lane entirely; he’s the Kings’ starting point guard and is expected to log serious minutes all season. He played more than 27 minutes in his first preseason game, which lines up with what his regular season workload should look like.
Karaban and Emanuel Sharp don’t have that kind of built-in runway, even though Sharp already got a major early look. He played the most minutes of any King in the preseason opener against the Lakers, finishing with nearly 30. Karaban’s path has been more modest, though he did get extended run in the first two games.
Against the Lakers, Karaban logged more than 16 minutes in the first meeting and more than 20 in the second. But that bump came with Keegan Murray out, and the competition for forward minutes is still plenty stiff. Once the games start counting, the Kings are expected to lean on veterans and players already locked into roles, which could push Karaban toward the end of the line.
Even so, he made the most of his first outing. Karaban finished with three points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in that opener against the Lakers.
For a first NBA game, that’s a solid start. His numbers also outpaced veteran forwards De'Andre Hunter and Precious Achiuwa, who each played more than 13 minutes.
Hunter is the one to watch in that comparison. His contract with the Kings expires after this season, and if Karaban keeps building from the minutes he’s getting now, Hunter may not be back for 2027-2028. After the scoreless showing Hunter had against the Lakers, that outcome doesn’t look far-fetched.
In Other News...
Kings Already Face A Ben Simmons Problem They Can't Ignore
Ben Simmons arrived in Sacramento carrying the sort of baggage that makes every offseason addition feel a little more complicated than the last. The Kings took the gamble anyway, betting that a fresh setting could help a player whose injury history and broader career detours have made him one of the leagues most scrutinized names. For a team trying to stay relevant in a loaded Western Conference, the appeal is obvious enough: if Simmons can give them even a slice of his old value, he changes the look of the roster.
The problem is that the expectations around him are already moving faster than the Kings likely want. Some around the league are talking about Simmons as if he is ready to reclaim an elite level immediately, which only sharpens the pressure on a player who has yet to play a game for Sacramento. The Kings would prefer a slower ramp-up and a more careful return, with an eye on both his physical condition and where he is mentally after so much time under the microscope. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans Have Heard This Story Before And Its Concerning Again
The Kings are back in familiar territory this fall, with another round of questions about the mood inside the building before the games even start counting. At a preseason dinner, owner Vivek Ranadive addressed the team, and the message quickly became a point of debate after NBA insider Zach Lowe described it as a roast that took aim at players and staff. For a franchise that has spent plenty of time trying to project stability, even the conversation around a dinner speech can feel larger than it should.
Scott Perry pushed back on that framing, saying the speech was meant to motivate and inspire the group rather than tear it down. Still, the public disagreement has only added to the sense that not everything is perfectly settled behind the scenes, especially with Kings insider James Ham pointing to ongoing internal issues connected to why some players have missed preseason action. The details there remain unconfirmed, but it is another reminder that Sacramento is once again trying to keep the focus on basketball while the off-court noise lingers in the background. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Head To Golden State With Two Big Roles Suddenly In Focus
Sacramentos preseason has opened with back-to-back losses to the Lakers, and the quick turnaround to Golden State offers the Kings a chance to see where some of their new pieces fit before the games start counting. The early focus has been less about the final scores and more about the roster mix, with rookie Emanuel Sharp also expected to get a look as Sacramento tries to sharpen its three-point shooting.
The bigger spotlight is on the frontcourt rotation and the questions it raises for the starting group. DeAndre Hunter is being pushed by Precious Achiuwa, while Ben Simmons is part of the same conversation as the Kings sort through a competition that could shape how they open the regular season. Sacramento still has plenty to learn in preseason, but this trip to Golden State should offer a better sense of which combinations the staff trusts most. [Read more 🡒]