Published for Kings fans — October 2026
By Toxlay Sports Editorial Team · Last updated October 19, 2026
The Club
The Sacramento Kings are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA — founded in 1923, playing in Sacramento since 1985 at Golden 1 Center in purple, black and gold, where “Kings Basketball Lives Here.” The franchise’s only championship came in 1951 as the Rochester Royals — and the generations since have been chasing the next one, from the Webber-Divac-Bibby era’s heartbreak to the 2023 beam team’s joyride. This is a fanbase that has endured everything and still shows up.
Last Season (2025-26): The Bottom Falls Out
22-60 — 14th in the West, 5th in the Pacific, no playoffs for a third straight year. It was the franchise’s first 60-loss season since 2008-09, and it unraveled fast: a franchise-record 16-game losing streak from mid-January to late February, and the team became the first in the NBA to be guaranteed a losing record. The culprit was the injury report — Domantas Sabonis played just 19 games, Keegan Murray 23, Zach LaVine 39, and De’Andre Hunter barely suited up. By spring, Sacramento was suiting up rookies and two-way players, with Nique Clifford dropping 24 in the finale and Maxime Raynaud flashing a real future. The rebuild is now official.
Best Players Right Now (2026-27 Roster)
Domantas Sabonis, 29, Center — The franchise cornerstone when healthy. A three-time All-Star and the league’s rebounding machine; everything starts and ends with him in the post. The only question is health.
Zach LaVine, 31, Guard — The veteran scorer. Managed just 39 games last season but remains a 20-point-a-night threat when right — and a trade candidate the whole league is watching.
Keegan Murray, 25, Forward — The young core piece. Played only 23 games last year; Sacramento’s defense and spacing live and die with his availability.
Malik Monk, 28, Guard — The spark plug. One of the league’s best sixth men, instant offense off the bench, and the emotional engine of the roster.
De’Andre Hunter, 28, Forward — The two-way wing. Played just two games for the Kings last season after an eye injury; a healthy Hunter changes the starting five.
Ben Simmons, 30, Guard-Forward — The gamble. Signed as a free agent after sitting out last season with a back injury; the front office flew to Miami to watch him work out and came away encouraged. Backup point guard if the body holds.
Nique Clifford, 24, Guard — The rookie surprise. Forced his way into minutes through injuries and closed the season with 24 points in the finale; a rotation guard right now.
Maxime Raynaud, 23, Center — The lone bright spot of 22-60. Averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds as a rookie with real physicality; he’ll get heavy minutes with Sabonis’ injury history.
Darius Acuff Jr., 19, Guard — The future. The No. 7 pick in the 2026 Draft, projected as the starting point guard of the rebuild; his preseason scoring has already turned heads.
Precious Achiuwa, 27, Forward — The energy forward. Re-signed for frontcourt depth; 27 points and 11 rebounds in the season finale.
Dylan Cardwell, 24, Center — The rookie big. Part of the young frontcourt rotation with Raynaud; development minutes are the plan.
Head coach: Doug Christie — Second season. The former Kings guard has more rotation options than he can use — and the league’s lowest win total hanging over the locker room.
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Star Spotlight: Stories You Should Know
The 2002 heartbreak. Every Kings fan knows it: the 2002 Western Conference Finals against the Lakers, Game 7 in Sacramento, the Webber-Divac-Bibby-Peja team that came within a breath of the Finals. Ask anyone in Golden 1 Center about it and the room goes quiet — the greatest team in franchise history never got its banner.
Light the beam. In 2023, the Kings ended a 16-season playoff drought — the longest in NBA history — and Golden 1 Center lit the victory beam after every win. The beam team lost to the Warriors in seven, but for one spring, Sacramento was the loudest building in basketball.
The end of an era, the start of another. De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton were supposed to be the future — both sent away. DeMar DeRozan was waived this summer, Russell Westbrook retired, and the keys went to 19-year-old Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 pick. It’s a full reset around Sabonis and the young core.
This Season (2026-27): The Honest Rebuild
Vegas set the win total at 21.5 — the lowest in the NBA — and USA Today projects 18-64. Title odds are +100000. Nobody is pretending: this is a development year for Acuff, Clifford, Raynaud and the 2026 draft class, with Sabonis and LaVine as the veteran anchors — and trade chips if the season goes sideways. The beam might not light often. But in Sacramento, the fans will show up anyway.
Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Games to Watch
Wondering when the Kings play? The Kings schedule opens on the road — here are the early dates to circle, and grab your Kings tickets early:
- October 21 — at LA Clippers (Intuit Dome, 7:30 PM): Season opener on the road against a Pacific Division rival. The rebuild tips off under the bright lights.
- October 23 — vs Portland Trail Blazers (home): The home opener at Golden 1 Center — NorCal bragging rights on the line from night one.
- October 27 — at San Antonio Spurs: First meeting with De’Aaron Fox’s new team. Sacramento fans will be watching that box score.
- November 4 — vs Los Angeles Lakers (home): The rivalry never sleeps — 2002 still lingers. Golden 1 Center will be rocking for this one.
- November 8 — vs Miami Heat (home): A measuring stick against a playoff-caliber East squad; a good test for the young core.
Biggest Rivalries — The Wars
1. Los Angeles Lakers — THE one. 2002 Western Conference Finals. Nothing else in franchise history comes close. Every Lakers visit to Golden 1 Center is personal.
2. Golden State Warriors — The NorCal war. The beam team took them to seven games in 2023; two franchises an hour and a half apart who genuinely dislike each other.
3. Phoenix Suns — The Pacific battle. Division foes, playoff races, and a rivalry that’s flared up whenever both teams are good.
4. LA Clippers — The other LA fight. The Kings open the season in the Clippers’ building; Pacific Division points are never free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is De'Aaron Fox still on the Kings?
No. Fox was traded away and now plays for the San Antonio Spurs; Sacramento faces his new team on October 27 in San Antonio.
When the Kings play the Lakers in 2026-27?
November 4 at Golden 1 Center. The 2002 rivalry never sleeps, and the arena will be rocking.
Who are the best Kings players right now?
Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, and No. 7 draft pick Darius Acuff Jr., the 19-year-old projected starting point guard.
What does "Light the beam" mean?
In 2023 the Kings ended a 16-season playoff drought — the longest in NBA history — and lit a victory beam at Golden 1 Center after every win.
Show Your Colors
Kings Basketball Lives Here — at Golden 1 Center or watching from home, true fans wear it. Gear up with quality fan sportswear — jerseys, tees and athletic wear built for real supporters:
Shop Fan Sportswear at Toxlay Sports →
Sources & official links: Sacramento Kings official site · Sacramento Kings tickets
Light the beam — Sacramento has been waiting, and the wait is almost the point.
