Kings Getting Crushed on the Glass - And It’s Costing Them
The Sacramento Kings have a problem - and it’s not just a cold shooting night or a defensive lapse here and there. It’s rebounding.
Or more accurately, the lack of it. Right now, the Kings are sitting dead last in the NBA in rebounding percentage, and that’s not just a stat to shrug off.
That’s a red flag waving in the face of a team with postseason aspirations.
Rebounding doesn’t always make the highlight reel, but it’s one of those gritty, foundational elements that separates contenders from pretenders. A missed shot turns into a second chance or a transition opportunity depending on who wins the battle under the rim. And too often this season, the Kings are losing that battle.
The Numbers Don’t Lie - and They’re Ugly
Let’s start with the basics. Sacramento is pulling down just 46.8% of available rebounds - that’s the worst mark in the league.
They’re also averaging 40.8 rebounds per game, which ranks 28th overall. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that has designs on climbing the Western Conference standings.
And it’s not like this is a new issue. Even during Domantas Sabonis’ recent run as the league’s top rebounder, the Kings still struggled to dominate the glass as a unit.
This season, Sabonis has been hampered by injury and hasn’t looked like the same force on the boards. He’s fallen out of the league’s top 50 in rebounding, and that’s had a ripple effect across the roster.
A Rookie Bright Spot, But Not a Solution
There is a silver lining - rookie center Maxime Raynaud has shown real promise in recent games, giving the Kings a much-needed boost on the boards. His energy and timing have helped push the team’s rebounding numbers slightly upward. But let’s be clear: one rookie crashing the glass isn’t going to fix a team-wide issue.
This isn’t just about the bigs. Rebounding in today’s NBA is a five-man job.
Guards need to box out. Wings have to be active.
Everyone has to commit to finishing defensive possessions and creating extra chances on the offensive end. Right now, Sacramento isn’t doing that consistently.
Why This Matters - A Lot
Rebounding is often the unsung hero of both offense and defense. A defensive rebound ends a possession and gives you a chance to push the pace. An offensive rebound creates a second-chance opportunity - and in a league where possessions are gold, that can swing momentum in a heartbeat.
When you’re not rebounding, you’re giving opponents more shots and fewer chances for yourself. That’s a brutal combination, especially for a Kings team that wants to play fast and stretch the floor. You can’t run if you don’t have the ball.
What Needs to Change
Even if Sabonis returns to form and starts gobbling up boards again, that alone won’t flip the script. The Kings need a collective mindset shift.
Every player on the floor has to treat every missed shot like it’s a loose ball in a playoff game. That means better positioning, more physicality, and a willingness to do the dirty work.
Rebounding isn’t glamorous, but it’s essential. And for a Kings team that’s trying to prove they belong in the West’s upper tier, fixing this problem isn’t optional - it’s urgent.
If Sacramento wants to take the next step, it starts with cleaning the glass. Because right now, they're getting outworked in one of the most fundamental aspects of the game. And until that changes, their ceiling will stay lower than it should be.