The Sacramento Kings head into Saturday’s preseason matchup with the Golden State Warriors looking for more than just their first win. After dropping both games in a home-and-away set against the Los Angeles Lakers to open the 2026 preseason, Sacramento could have a much more interesting test in San Francisco if its roster is closer to full strength.
A few names stand out as the biggest ones to track.
Ben Simmons is the obvious headliner. If he makes his preseason debut Saturday, it will draw attention far beyond Sacramento. The former three-time All-Star has not played in an NBA game in well over a year, and the Kings are clearly eager to see what he can bring in their uniform.
NBA insider Marc J. Spears reported there is "optimism" that Simmons will suit up against the Warriors on Saturday, though the Kings are being careful with the versatile point guard as he continues to ramp up after a year away from the league.
There is optimism that Ben Simmons will make his Kings preseason debut on Saturday at Golden State, a source said. “Being Ben,” the @E60 with @andscape, airs Oct. 18 at 4 PM EST. pic.twitter.com/1NZypZICmv
Simmons has already earned plenty of praise in training camp, with the hope that he can inch back toward the level he once showed as an All-Star and All-Defensive force with the Philadelphia 76ers. The only real answer, though, will come when he gets on the floor - and Saturday may be the day that happens.
Another situation worth watching is the battle around De'Andre Hunter. Sacramento is expected to open the season with Hunter in the starting lineup, but that spot does not look completely locked down. If his play doesn’t improve, Precious Achiuwa or Ben Simmons could push their way into the conversation.
Hunter’s preseason numbers have been rough so far. In two games, he has averaged 3.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game while shooting 16.7% from the field and 0% from three-point range. He missed the last two months of the 2025-26 season, so there is still room for him to settle in, but the early returns have not been pretty.
The Kings would also love to get more from Emanuel Sharp. Sacramento needs shooting, and the second-round rookie could eventually become an important piece because of that. He’s still trying to prove he belongs in the rotation, though.
Through two preseason games, the 22-year-old has averaged 9.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 25.5 minutes per game, while shooting 25% from the field and 23.5% from deep. Like any rookie, he’s dealing with the usual learning curve, but the Kings need him to show a little more if he’s going to earn real minutes.
Sharp brings the kind of two-way skill set that can matter over time, and if he pops against Golden State, that could be the kind of performance Sacramento has been waiting for.
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 Preseason Woes Just Sparked An Early Starting Lineup Debate
Sacramentos first two preseason games against the Lakers did not offer much early reassurance, especially on the defensive end and from the perimeter. Preseason results rarely tell the whole story, but the Kings have already given their coaching staff enough to chew on as they sort through how this roster is going to fit together once the games count.
De'Andre Hunters recent stretch has only added to the uncertainty, and the discussion around the first unit is starting to widen beyond just the usual tuning-up process. Precious Achiuwa, coming off a strong first season in Sacramento, is at least part of that conversation now, and the way the Kings align those front-end pieces could become one of the more interesting decisions of camp. [Read more 🡒]