The Kings’ preseason is already putting a spotlight on the same problem that dogged them last year: perimeter shooting that just hasn’t come around yet.
Sacramento tied with the Brooklyn Nets for the worst 3-point shooting team in the league last season, and the first two preseason games haven’t offered much reason to think things are fixed. Against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Kings have gone 14-for-59 from deep, a shaky 23.7%. Rookies Darius Acuff Jr. and Emanuel Sharp have combined to shoot 7-for-28 from 3-point range, or 25%.
The numbers have been cold, but the confidence is there. Acuff and Sharp are still letting it fly, and that matters.
Acuff has been forced into tougher looks because of Los Angeles’ physical defense, which pushed him into sidestep threes. Sharp, meanwhile, has had trouble turning catch-and-shoot chances into points.
That lack of efficiency has fed directly into Sacramento’s 0-2 preseason start. When the threes don’t go down, the offense loses its shape. Possessions start to stall, and the Kings end up leaning on Acuff isolations or Maxime Raynaud post-ups when the veterans aren’t on the floor.
That’s exactly the kind of slippage Doug Christie wants to avoid. Sacramento attempted a league-worst 30.3 threes, and Christie knows that has to change. He said the Kings need more half-court action to manufacture catch-and-shoot looks, whether that comes through dribble handoffs or a more organized pick-and-roll game.
The offense should look cleaner when Domantas Sabonis and Ben Simmons are available to steer it. Sabonis remains a major piece because of the way he sets screens, using his strong base to slow down defenders and create separation for Sacramento’s guards. Acuff got easier opportunities on Monday, but that looked different on Thursday when Sabonis was out.
Simmons brings a different kind of value. At 6-foot-10, he can see the floor over the defense, push the ball after a rebound, or sling a cross-court pass to a shooter waiting for space. That playmaking is a big part of why general manager Scott Perry took the chance on the 30-year-old as he works through his NBA comeback.
Sacramento missed that kind of playmaking last season after Sabonis underwent season-ending surgery in February, and the Kings still haven’t had Simmons on the court for either preseason game. Christie, entering his second full season as head coach, wants more than just better process - he wants wins.
For that to happen, the Kings need health and they need to become a respectable 3-point shooting team again, something they were in the 2022-23 season. Volume has to rise, and the veteran shooters have a role in making that happen. Zach LaVine, Malik Monk and Keegan Murray should all help, and Acuff and Sharp figure to add more attempts once the regular season starts.
In Other News...
Zach LaVine Has One Last Chance To Change His Kings Story
Ben Simmons is back in the NBA with Sacramento after stepping away for a season to focus on his mental and physical health, and his arrival adds another layer to a Kings roster that already has plenty of career-crossroads energy around it. Zach LaVine is in the same kind of prove-it space, still trying to reset the conversation around his game and his place in the league while sharing a locker room with another veteran trying to rebuild a reputation.
For LaVine, the timing matters because his Kings run has not gone the way either side wanted, and every stretch from here carries extra weight for how the rest of his stint is remembered. Sacramento is looking for signs that he can still be part of something meaningful here, but the larger question hanging over the season is whether there is enough time left for him to change the story before the next chapter arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Add Two Wings With A Chance To Earn More Than Stockton
The Kings kept their camp pipeline moving by adding a pair of wings on Exhibit 10 deals, giving Aaron Nkrumah and Damari Monsanto a path to stick in Sacramento while also setting them up for a possible bonus if they head to Stockton. Nkrumah arrives as an undrafted Tennessee State product who has been working his way through the pro ranks, while Monsanto comes in after spending last season in the G League following his time at UTSA.
Monsantos fit in the organization has been building for a while, since Stockton had already secured his returning rights before this signing. For Sacramento, the move is another low-risk look at two perimeter players who can spend training camp around the club, compete for a deeper opportunity and at minimum give the Kings minor league affiliate a couple of useful names to monitor when the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Precious Achiuwa Is Giving The Kings A Tough Rotation Decision
Precious Achiuwa has quickly become one of the more useful pieces in Sacramentos early-season picture, the kind of frontcourt option coaches value because he can cover different spots and help on the defensive end. His preseason stretch gave the Kings a real look at what he can do when asked to shoulder more responsibility, and the early returns made it hard to ignore how well he fit when the roster was thin.
Now the challenge is figuring out where he lands once the lineup is healthier again. Achiuwa has done enough to stay in the conversation, and his ability to bounce between positions gives Sacramento more flexibility than it had before, but that versatility also complicates the rotation math. For a team trying to settle its bench group, he has made himself tough to take out of the picture. [Read more 🡒]