The Sacramento Kings’ already rocky season just took another hit - and this one’s going to sting for a while.
Zach LaVine, one of the team’s key offensive pieces, is set to undergo season-ending surgery on his right hand following the All-Star break. The injury, initially listed as soreness in the fifth finger of his shooting hand, will now sideline him for the remainder of the 2025-26 regular season. It’s a tough break for a player who had been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dim campaign for Sacramento.
LaVine had missed the Kings’ last three games leading up to the announcement, and now it’s official: he won’t be suiting up again this year. In the 39 games he did play, LaVine averaged 19.2 points per game while shooting a highly efficient 47.9% from the field and 39% from deep on 6.5 attempts per night. That level of production - especially from a guard - is hard to replace, even for a team that’s already leaning into a youth movement.
Sacramento’s front office, led by general manager Scott Perry, reportedly fielded offers for LaVine ahead of the trade deadline but ultimately chose to keep him in the fold. Whether that was a long-term play or simply a matter of timing remains to be seen.
With LaVine now out and holding a $48.9 million player option for next season, the Kings will have to wait until the offseason to see how the next chapter unfolds. At 30 years old and with that kind of money on the table, it would be a surprise if he didn’t opt in - but in the NBA, surprises are part of the business.
As for what’s next, head coach Doug Christie will continue to turn to the younger core. Players like Nique Clifford and Devin Carter are expected to see extended minutes in the backcourt, while veterans DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook will remain in more limited roles. The Kings have also been giving two-way players Isaiah Stevens and Daeqwon Plowden more run lately, and with LaVine officially out, that trend should only continue.
The Kings currently sit at 12-44 - the worst record in the league - and have clearly pivoted toward development over wins. Losing LaVine doesn’t drastically change their short-term trajectory, but it does add another layer of uncertainty to a franchise still searching for stability.
Sacramento returns from the All-Star break on Thursday, February 19th, when they’ll host the Orlando Magic at Golden 1 Center. Last season, the Magic swept the Kings in their two matchups, and with Sacramento’s current rotation in flux, it’ll be another test for this young squad trying to find its footing.
Here’s a look at the Kings’ upcoming schedule as they head into the final stretch of the season:
- Thursday, February 19th vs. Orlando Magic - 7:00 PM PT
- Saturday, February 21st @ San Antonio Spurs - 5:00 PM PT
- Monday, February 23rd @ Memphis Grizzlies - 5:00 PM PT
- Wednesday, February 25th @ Houston Rockets - 5:00 PM PT
- Thursday, February 26th @ Dallas Mavericks - 5:30 PM PT
With LaVine sidelined, Sacramento’s focus shifts fully to player development and long-term evaluation. The final 26 games won’t be about wins and losses - they’ll be about figuring out which pieces are worth building around. And for a team that’s seen more than its fair share of roster turnover in recent years, that evaluation window just became even more important.