The Kings have already stumbled to one win this season, and the odd part is that the lone victory came in one of the two games when Domantas Sabonis did not post a double-double. That alone won’t settle anything, but it does sharpen the conversation around how Sacramento is using him.
Sabonis is still producing in the familiar way. He’s averaging a double-double of points and rebounds, which is nothing new for him, and when the offense is built around him, he can be extremely effective on that end of the floor.
But the drawbacks are just as visible. He’s an undersized center who has trouble defensively and appears less and less willing to take the three.
There are also unverified reports that he’s unhappy working with Darius Acuff Jr., as the offense is running through him more and more.
That Acuff reporting should be taken as rumor at best, but the larger issue in Sacramento is real enough: the Kings have a Sabonis problem. Dylan Cardwell is back from injury and offers much better defense, while Maxime Raynaud is also close to returning. Change is coming whether the Kings want it or not.
The answer, at least in theory, is simple. Yes, Sacramento should bench Sabonis.
In practice, that’s not happening given the money tied up in him. But that doesn’t mean the Kings have to keep leaning on him for 35.6 minutes per game, especially when that workload clearly isn’t translating into wins.
The better move is to cut him back hard. Give Sabonis 20 to 25 minutes a night, then divide the rest between Cardwell and Raynaud. Sabonis and Raynaud can both spend time at power forward if needed, though Sacramento has other players who need minutes there as well.
Sabonis is not the Kings’ future, and everyone seems to know it, including Sabonis himself, who reportedly wants out of Sacramento. There are supposedly teams interested in him, but they’re the same rumored destinations that have come up before and never led anywhere. For now, the likeliest outcome is that he finishes out his Kings deal in Sacramento, or at least most of it.
Until that day comes, the Kings need to invest more in Cardwell and Raynaud. They are the ones who matter to what comes next for this franchise.
In Other News...
Kings Fans Wild Ref Incident Drew Luka Into The Drama
A tense moment in Sacramentos game against the Lakers spilled well beyond the usual back-and-forth on the floor when a Kings fan, Duncan McFetridge, was ejected after throwing a basketball toward a referee. The incident quickly became one of the nights most talked-about scenes, especially once Lakers star Luka Doncic stepped into the moment and confronted McFetridge during the game.
McFetridges wife later confirmed his identity and said he did not mean to hurt the official, adding another layer to a situation that already had plenty of attention. For the Kings, it was the sort of off-court flashpoint that can follow a heated matchup long after the final whistle, with the fan reaction and Doncics involvement ensuring the episode did not stay contained to one possession. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Suddenly Have A Bigger Sabonis Concern Than One Missed Game
Domantas Sabonis is set to miss the Kings upcoming game against the Heat because of left knee soreness, a development that carries a little more weight than a routine absence. Its the same knee that needed surgery last season and cut his previous campaign short, which is enough to make any update on his status feel more significant than a single night off.
Sacramento will have to lean more heavily on other players while Sabonis sits, and that only adds to the pressure in what has already been a difficult season. Even before the matchup with Miami tips, the bigger question is not just how the Kings cover for him in one game, but what this latest knee issue might mean if it lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Kings May Be Headed Back To The Version That Worked Better
The Sacramento Kings spent much of the 2025-26 season trying to hold things together through coaching and front office changes, injuries, and a 22-60 finish that made the year feel like a reset more than a run. In the closing stretch, the rookies got more runway and offered a glimpse of a different kind of roster, one with more energy and a little more room to grow even if the results never followed.
Now the conversation is turning toward 2026-27, and the shape of the roster is starting to look familiar in a way that may not be entirely comfortable. The Kings are leaning mostly on veterans who have not yet clicked as a unit, while some of the younger players and injured rookies are expected back in the mix, giving Sacramento at least a chance to rediscover the version of itself that made more sense on the floor. [Read more 🡒]