Zach LaVine’s start in Sacramento has looked a lot more like a pro settling in than a star sulking through a situation that may not last long.
On Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers, LaVine led the Kings with 28 points on 10-for-19 shooting, mixing in those punch-dribble stepback jumpers and using his burst to get downhill when defenders gave him space. His scoring gave Sacramento a fighting chance early, helping keep the game tight through the first half as the Kings went into the break down 59-54.
The Clippers took over from there. Los Angeles opened things up in the third quarter, stretched the lead to 14 with seven minutes left, and finished off a 121-96 win.
LaVine’s night wasn’t just about getting buckets, though. After the game, he gave a clear read on what Sacramento needs from its offense, especially when the ball is in the hands of players who aren’t natural catch-and-shoot threats. He said the team has to get downhill, force rotations and create clean looks from three.
That kind of steady, team-first approach is a noticeable shift from the tone LaVine struck in his April exit interview, when the 31-year-old said, "I have a lot of control," while talking about his future and a looming $49 million player option.
He eventually exercised that option in July, but general manager Scott Perry couldn’t find a trade partner willing to take on the deal. So LaVine opened the season in Sacramento, and ESPN 1320’s James Ham sees a familiar pattern taking shape.
Ham called it the "DeMar DeRozan moment," pointing to how DeRozan ended up in a similar spot after his first season with the Kings. Ham said DeRozan was "doom and gloom" at that stage before coming back the next year, embracing a veteran role and playing out the season.
He expects LaVine to follow that same path. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard is in a contract year, trying to help Sacramento win while also positioning himself for whatever comes next.
That mindset has shown up in the way LaVine has talked about his teammates. During training camp, he praised the young players around him and said his game could fit well alongside rookie Darius Acuff Jr. Both are scorers, and LaVine’s off-ball cutting gives him another way to work when defenses are locked in on his 39% 3-point shooting.
Sacramento’s plan is still centered on developing its young core, but its veteran pieces give the team a better chance to stay competitive on nights like Wednesday. LaVine’s efficient scoring was enough to keep the Kings within range for a while, even if the game eventually got away from them.
And because this is a contract year on a team with modest expectations, the door to an exit is still wide open. Contending teams have shown interest in LaVine over the last several seasons, and if he keeps putting together efficient scoring nights, Perry could hear from them again.
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Kings Opened With A Blowout Loss And The Postgame Only Got Worse
The Kings did not get the kind of opening-night jolt they were hoping for, falling 121-96 to the Clippers as the new season began with a thud. For Sacramento, it was a rough way to start, with the game getting away early and the scoreboard only reinforcing how much work still sits ahead in the first stretch of the year.
Los Angeles had its own backdrop hanging over the night, with coach Tyronn Lue dedicating the win to owner Steve Ballmer after the league handed down major punishment in the salary cap circumvention case tied to Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers penalty was steep, including a $30 million fine, the loss of five first-round picks and suspensions for Ballmer and two executives, while Leonard ended up traded to the Toronto Raptors. For the Kings, the game itself was bad enough, and the wider postgame only made the loss feel even more lopsided. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Already Face One Frustrating Question After Season Opener
The Kings 2026-27 season started with an early reminder that the margin for error in the West is thin, as Sacramento fell to the Clippers 121-96 in Inglewood. Zach LaVine supplied 28 points to pace the Kings, but Los Angeles had the cleaner answer throughout the night, with Darius Garland scoring 30 and the Clippers bench giving them a steady lift.
What stood out most was how quickly the game slipped away after halftime, when the Clippers widened the gap in the third quarter and kept Sacramento from ever finding a real rhythm. For a team trying to set a tone in the opener, the frustrating part is less the final score than how little time it took for the contest to stop feeling competitive. [Read more 🡒]
Doug Christie Sends Early Warning After Kings' Sloppy Opener
The Kings opened the season with a rough 121-96 loss to the Clippers, and the aftermath sounded less like panic than a coach laying down a baseline. Sacramento was already shorthanded without Malik Monk, who sat because of ankle soreness, and Ben Simmons, who is out for the season with an Achilles injury, but Doug Christie made it clear the missing pieces were only part of the problem. What stood out more was how the Kings let the game drift away with loose execution and too many empty possessions.
Christies early message centered on the habits Sacramento has to sharpen quickly, starting with defensive intensity and cleaner ball movement. He also wants the offense to show more patience instead of forcing the issue before opportunities develop. It is only one game, but for a Kings team trying to establish a reliable standard, the opener offered a blunt reminder that talent alone will not be enough. [Read more 🡒]