Doug Christie isn’t waiting for the Sacramento Kings to figure out who they are. He’s already drawing the line for what this team has to look like in 2026-27: consistent, competitive and built on defense.
That vision has been sharpened by a deeper roster, and it starts with Ben Simmons. Christie has been especially energized by what Simmons could bring on that end of the floor, especially after seeing him work out with the Kings ahead of training camp.
“He looks fantastic,” Christie said of Simmons. “Everything that I’ve seen so far is pulling in the right direction and pushing in the right direction.”
For Christie, Simmons’ comeback attempt carries a personal weight. Christie has been through major injuries himself, and that gives him a different kind of appreciation for what Simmons is trying to do after several disrupted seasons.
“I am humbled to watch because, as an athlete who’s been injured and gone through all of that, I’m super proud of and for him because these things are difficult,” Christie said. “I’m excited for him to get back and love the thing that he’s just about the best in the world at.”
How Simmons fits still isn’t settled. Christie said training camp and the preseason will help answer that, but he sees a player who can slide into different spots because of his talent and the Kings’ added length, athleticism and depth.
“When you have a guy that’s that talented, you can start him anywhere. You can sub him for anyone,” Christie said.
The bigger picture, though, is defense. Christie wants Sacramento to make that the foundation of its identity, and he believes the offensive benefits will follow naturally if the Kings can get stops, rebound and run.
“If you’re not letting people score, you’re getting rebounds, you’re getting out and running. All of a sudden, it’s helping your offense,” Christie said.
That message extends to the younger group as well. Christie wants players like Dylan Cardwell, Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud to bring it every day, with the defensive end serving as the proving ground.
He also has a specific point of emphasis for rookie Darius Acuff Jr.: build structure early. The Kings are giving the 19-year-old both internal and external mentors as he gets used to the NBA.
“Finding a rhythm and a routine,” Christie said. “I think when you are young like that, finding a routine early is paramount.”
What Christie is chasing goes beyond a box score or a record. He wants a daily standard, one that shows up in the way the Kings prepare and compete.
“The consistency of approach, consistency of play, effort, the identity is being defined, connected on defense, aggressive on offense, and relentless in everything that we do,” Christie said. “If we’ve done that, I think that we have been successful.”
That standard is expected to get tested right away in training camp, with competition for minutes running across just about every spot on the roster. Sacramento’s preseason begins Monday, October 5th vs. the Los Angeles Lakers (7 P.M.
PST), followed by Thursday, October 8th @ Los Angeles Lakers (7:30 P.M. PST), Saturday, October 10th @ Golden State Warriors (5:30 P.M.
PST) and Tuesday, October 13th vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7:00 P.M.
PST).
In Other News...
Kings Interest In Jalen Duren Just Got A Lot More Serious
Jalen Durens contract situation in Detroit has suddenly become one of the more interesting plot lines on Sacramentos radar. After declining a five-year offer from the Pistons, he is now in a stalemate with the team as Thursdays deadline to accept a one-year qualifying offer approaches. For the Kings, that only sharpens the appeal of a big man who has already drawn mutual interest from Sacramento, whether through a trade or a future free-agent pursuit.
The catch is the same one that has shadowed Sacramentos pursuit from the start: the Kings do not have the cap room to sign Duren to a max deal right now. So the focus has turned to creating a path, and that has reportedly included exploring a Domantas Sabonis trade to clear the necessary space. If Sacramento can get that flexibility, Duren becomes a much more realistic target either before or during the 2026 season, or when he reaches free agency in 2027. [Read more 🡒]
Kings New-Look Roster Is Already Fueling A Brutal 2026-27 Debate
On The Matt George Podcast, Josh Lloyd of Locked On Fantasy Basketball took a long look at where the Kings could be headed in 2026-27, and his read was not exactly comforting. He pointed to the possibility of defensive issues lingering on a roster that is still trying to sort out its identity, even as the front office adds new pieces and hopes the fit improves.
Lloyd also raised questions about whether newcomers Darius Acuff Jr. and DeAndre Hunter will live up to the expectations attached to them, which only adds to the uncertainty around Sacramentos next step. And if the Kings do decide Domantas Sabonis is part of the answer they want to move off of, Lloyd suggested they may have to be more realistic about the trade return than they would like. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Final Two-Way Spot May Be Down To One Young Guard
The Kings have brought Tristen Newton into 2024 training camp, putting the former UConn guard squarely in the mix for one of the team's two-way openings. Newton arrives with a G League-heavy resume and some real pedigree, since he was a 2024 second-round pick by the Pacers before Sacramento picked up his rights in a trade involving the Stockton Kings.
For a roster still sorting out its final developmental spot, Newton is the kind of player worth a long look: young, experienced in the G League grind, and familiar enough to the organization through the Stockton connection. He also went on to earn All-NBA G League First Team honors in 2026, which only adds to the intrigue around whether the Kings see him as the right fit for that last two-way slot. [Read more 🡒]