Category: NBA

Keegan Murray #13 of the Sacramento Kings dunks the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 10, 2025 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings will be without their best team defender and arguably their best individual defender to start the 2025-2026 NBA campaign.

Per the team, Keegan Murray left the game on Friday against Portland with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. Keegan will undergo surgery and will be reevaluated in 4-6 weeks.

Going into his fourth season, Keegan was viewed by many as a real X-factor for the Kings’ success this season. Keegan will be a restricted free agent going into the summer of 2026 and was certainly playing for a large contract during this season if all went according to plan.

It was a tough blow for the Kings, who are trying to implement a defense and effort-first mentality that Keegan’s game fits very well into. Now, the Kings will need to rally together to fill the large defensive void that Keegan leaves behind until his return, most likely in December. However, his exact return date remains unclear and may be longer.

Kings head coach Doug Christie had his initial reactions with the media on Sunday after the news came out.

“It’s tough,” Doug said. “Obviously, it’s the nature of our business though. You just gotta deal with it. I feel sorry for him. All the work that he has put in. He’ll be fine. He will be able to work out and do things but obviously not use his hands. Send him lots of love and get well soon.”

It’s not yet decided how the Kings plan to fill the void. Doug Christie spoke further on how the Kings may replace Keegan’s contributions.

“Yeah, it’s tough. Keegan has size, strength, athleticism, and he shoots 40%. So I think everyone’s looking for that. We have a couple different guys that could maybe equal Keegan, but we don’t have Keegan. Replacing it is definitely difficult, but guys have other strengths… we don’t know. We will have to wait and see.”

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Zach Lavine #8 of the Sacramento Kings looks on against the Toronto Raptors in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game at Golden 1 Center on October 08, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO — The new-look Sacramento Kings were in action on Wednesday night for game one of four preseason games the team is slated to play. The Kings fell to the Raptors 130-122 inside Golden 1 Center on a crisp fall evening. 

During training camp prior to the preseason, the emphasis was clearly on two things. Doug Christie wants the Kings to be the most well-conditioned team in the NBA, and he wants them to pick up 94 feet. These two things are directly related to the identity that Christie and GM Scott Perry are attempting to implement come the start of the regular season.

Before the game, I asked Doug Christie what goals he had or what he wanted to see from his squad in game one of the preseason.

“I just want to play to our identity. That’s really it,” Christie said. “I mean, if we do that consistently with talent and all those different things that you need, I believe the byproduct of that is winning.”

What is that identity Doug is speaking about? The Kings have said it is centered around six pillars: competitive, tough, team-oriented, disciplined, accountable, and professional.

In the first three quarters, the Kings failed Christie’s expectation to play to the identity he is trying to implement, as they gave up 97 points. The gritty defense and high-motor effort he’s emphasizing were nowhere to be found. Granted, it’s the first game of the preseason, and any critiques should be taken with a grain of salt. Still, it wasn’t an encouraging look for the Kings and their quest to establish their new identity.

Christie didn’t mince words about the team’s effort as it pertained to the identity he’s trying to see.

“Out of that whole game, you probably got Kings identity maybe two quarters, a quarter and a half—I’ll say a quarter and a half. So the consistency of what we expect needs to be able to be at a higher level for a longer period of time.”

Christie also addressed a question from Sactown Sports reporter Brenden Nunes about how he felt the team picked up 94 feet, an emphasis throughout camp.

“… In the first half, they were 30%. So that’s unacceptable,” Doug said. “And we talked about it. Eighty-five is the number. So that means out of all the opportunities that you get when someone turns around with the basketball, they know what you ate for breakfast.”

Zach LaVine led the Kings in scoring in the first half with 15 points but didn’t play the rest of the game. It appeared to be planned rest for LaVine, with nothing physically wrong. The Kings’ leading scorer through the first three quarters was Domantas Sabonis, who had 19 points and four rebounds in nearly 23 minutes on the court. Keegan Murray also caught my attention, displaying a new level of aggression during his time on the floor.

In the fourth quarter, Devin Carter, Isaiah Stevens, Dylan Cardwell, Maxime Raynaud, and Nique Clifford changed the entire tempo of the game. The Kings outscored the Raptors 44-33 in the final quarter as the reserve lineup brought much-needed intensity and effort to the floor. Raynaud didn’t check into the game until the fourth quarter but brought an infectious energy, at one point urging the fans at Golden 1 Center to get loud as the Kings made a last-minute effort to get back into the game.

I asked Doug if some of the chemistry with that last unit was prebuilt from Summer League and how they handled their minutes.

“I mean, I expect that from them. Yeah, a little bit of that [Summer League chemistry] probably… They played Kings basketball. Identity-wise, that’s what you saw and that’s what we expect.”

Domantas Sabonis was impressed with the play of the last unit on the court late in the game.

“They did amazing,” Sabonis told me after the game. “They came, they waited for their turn, they came out, brought the energy, brought the basketball that Doug wants us to play, and props to them. They came out. We, as the starters, should have done our part.”

Maxime Raynaud, even with limited experience at this point in the NBA, said he and the group are holding each other accountable to learn and be better—not just for one quarter, but for the whole game.

“I do think that we managed to keep the score reasonable during that [fourth] quarter, but it’s not about us, not about one quarter. Again, it’s four quarters, as you all know, and we’re a group. We all need to step up to the highest possible level. So in that sense, I think we all have a ton to learn from—young guys, old guys, stars, everything.”

Overall, Doug was firm in his message to the players after the game. He is demanding to see a better effort in what he calls “the fight.”

“I’ve talked to them about—there’s two games every night. There’s the game and there’s the fight. So we got 164 games. Every night, we’re going to win one of ’em. If we win both, we’re doing something… So unfortunately, we lost both of the games tonight. Unacceptable. And that will be, hopefully, the last time that happens. That was my conversation with them.”

The Kings will practice on Thursday before flying to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers on Friday at 7 p.m. PST in Portland, Oregon.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Doug Christie photographed at Golden 1 Center last season against the Chicago Bulls. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings held their annual media day on Monday and their first practice on Tuesday as they prepare for the 2025-2026 NBA season.

The Kings come into training camp with renewed expectations amid uncertain times for the team. All offseason, the Kings have been mired in trade discussions surrounding Devin Carter, Malik Monk, and Jonathan Kuminga. On media day, much speculation remained as Kuminga was not in attendance at the Warriors’ media day, and his future was uncertain.

However, on Tuesday, news came down that Kuminga had inked a new two-year deal with the Warriors. Scott Perry spoke with us on Monday about how he is set with the team he has in camp already.

“As we sit here today, this is our team and I’m excited about what we have going into this year. And again, my job each and every day is to listen, see what’s happening out there, can we get better? But I’m pleased going into training camp…”

Well, after Tuesday’s decision from Kuminga, the Kings will need to be happy with what they have in camp.

One area the Kings feel they significantly upgraded after the end of last season is the point guard spot. After trading De’Aaron Fox last season, the Kings were without a main point guard until they signed Dennis Schröder this offseason to a three-year deal. Schröder is expected to be the Kings’ starting point guard come opening night.

The Kings have a number of unanswered questions going into the season with a roster that hasn’t shown they can mesh as a cohesive product on the court. Last season, the Kings’ lack of defense and unpredictable, stale offense led to concerns surrounding the fabric of the roster and whether it needed to be torn down and rebuilt. The Kings have been clear they see no need to enter into a full rebuild. The line from GM Scott Perry since his hiring is that they expect to be “opportunistic and prudent” in their pursuit of players.

During media day and Monday’s practice, the Kings made it clear they think guys like Dennis Schröder fit the pillars they are preaching and want the players to put into action in order to compete.

“From myself and Scott, we are going to be the best-conditioned team in the NBA, one of the top ones for sure,” Head Coach Doug Christie said after practice to the media on Tuesday afternoon. “So trying to figure that out and them buying into that has been a message that they received since I took over and Scott was the general manager.”

The message is clear from the Kings: play with pace, but not just on the offensive end—on the defensive side of the ball too. When the media walked into practice, the Kings were running drills on fast-break sprints. It was a demonstration of what the team had talked about when wanting to be one of the best-conditioned teams in the league, and they were showing it for all to see.

Time will tell if the players buy into the messages from the coaching staff and front office. As we have seen before recently in Sacramento, the players must lead the accountability. Having a voice drill a mindset into you only goes so far; the players must hold each other accountable.

Maxime Raynaud being interviewed by NBA TV during the Kings 84-81 victory over the Magic on Thursday night. (Photo: Jeremiah Salmonson)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

LAS VEGAS–The Sacramento Kings opened their 2025 Summer League schedule on Thursday afternoon in Las Vegas, Nevada, by defeating the Orlando Magic 84-81.

Maxime Raynaud’s Kings Debut
Kings rookie center out of Stanford, Maxime Raynaud, led the Kings with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and two assists. Maxime got the Kings out of the gate immediately, scoring the first 11 of the Kings’ 14 points in the game.

Kings head coach for Summer League, Dipesh Mistry, spoke after the game on Max’s impact.

“Max plays so hard, but he’s so smart and he can play everywhere on the floor… he’s kind of limitless in his potential and he can affect the game in so many ways with his energy and effort, but then also his skill.”

Maxime was pleased with the effort in the win, describing his defensive approach to the media postgame.
“I feel like that’s everything I can bring as a big, anchoring the defense,” Maxime said. “You got to be the loudest guy on the floor, being able to direct the guys—calling screen left, right, pin downs, all this—and then later in the game, once you recognize action, being able to kill the play before it even happens.”

Maxime impressed Kings Nation with his debut, and it will be good to see his development into training camp.

Devin Carter
Much has been made in recent weeks of what Devin Carter will showcase at the NBA Summer League. On Thursday, Carter was solid but didn’t wow in the first game of Summer League. While the primary ball handler, Carter did a nice job of getting downhill and touching the paint. However, he seemed disconnected with the group at times. Carter also could be seen flexing his shoulder at times, seemingly in pain, but there’s no indication he is injured. Carter finished with eight points, three rebounds, and two assists.

Nique Clifford Debut
Nique Clifford shined in the second half of his Kings debut. He started the game a bit tentative and not as aggressive as the Kings wanted him to be. However, at halftime, Coach Mistry addressed the aggressiveness, and Nique turned up the intensity. Nique had 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in the second half to help the Kings secure the win.

“He’s a Swiss Army knife,” Dipesh Mistry said. “You [Nique] going to rebound, you can push, and I challenged him… you get the ball, you got to go. He’s trying to run a play. It’s kind of slow. But he finally got it, and then he started attacking the basket, and you can kind of see his force at the rim.”

Kings Take on Chicago on Saturday
The Kings will take on the Chicago Bulls in their next game on Saturday at 5 PM PST. The game will take place inside Cox Pavilion, adjacent to Thomas & Mack Center.

Dennis Schröder and Scott Perry at a press conference on Tuesday introducing the new Kings PG. (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–Dennis Schröder sat behind the microphone in Sacramento with the confidence of a man who’s seen it all — from playoff runs to deadline trades — and finally found the place that values him for what he brings to the table.

“I’m always giving everything I have every single day, every single practice, every single game,” Schröder said in his introductory press conference. “I always try to leave it all out there. So I’m extremely, extremely happy to be here, to be a part of the Sacramento Kings moving forward, to try to set a culture, and yeah, I’m really, really, really grateful for this opportunity and I can’t wait to get started.”

For a Kings franchise looking to establish sustained success, the fit was immediate according to general manager Scott Perry. Perry opened his press conference by reinforcing why the team made Schröder its top target in free agency.

“He is very tough, energetic. He plays the point guard position really with no fear,” Perry said. “He really fills a need for us — another building block as we move forward… Dennis not only is a great basketball player, but he’s the type of person that we desire to have in this organization.”

Schröder’s journey to Sacramento comes after a whirlwind two-year stretch that saw him suit up for five different teams, adapting to new systems, roles, and expectations. That road — filled with both challenge and growth — helped shape a veteran presence that the Kings were attracted to. 

“It means a lot,” Schröder said. “I’ve been 12 years in this league now, 31, got three kids, my wife… to have a GM and the organization prioritize me as their point guard means the world to me. I want to give it back.”

That commitment — the belief the Kings placed in him — is something he hadn’t felt in years. He described his previous stops as professional and positive, but not quite the full investment Sacramento seems to be offering.

“Before Brooklyn, Detroit, all those teams, I always felt great. Not disrespecting anyone, but to have this commitment from the organization, from Scott — that is what I didn’t have the last couple of years,” he said. “And I always say, I’m going to make sure I repay them… It’s a big opportunity for me, for the organization, for the team to be great.”

The opportunity in Sacramento comes with more than just a likely starting role. It comes with a responsibility — a chance to set the tone for the team’s culture and identity under Scott Perry. Perry’s vision for the Kings centers around his six pillars: competitive, tough, team-oriented, disciplined, accountable, and professional. According to Perry, Schröder checks all the boxes. 

“From where I’m from and how I learned and grew up playing the game — a place like Detroit, Michigan — this guy embodies that,” Perry said. “You pick up 94 feet, you’re very combative in a good way on the court. And so that just really resonated with not only my personality but Coach Christie’s personality, our entire organization and what we’re building here.”

The Kings, who missed the playoffs the last two seasons after a breakthrough with Beam Team One, bring on Schröder as the replacement for De’Aaron Fox as the team’s presumed starting point guard. Granted, that does not seem ideal. However, the 31-year-old views this moment not as a detour but as a pinnacle opportunity. 

“To be a starting point guard in the NBA, I think you can’t ask for more,” Schröder said. “To go out there every single night, to establish a culture, how we want to play — and like Scott said, to be the leader, to make sure we do it every single night… that’s all you can ask for.”

His future backcourt chemistry with stars like Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan is yet to be seen (assuming they are on the roster come training camp),, but perhaps the most intriguing pairing is with center Domantas Sabonis — the Kings’ offensive hub since the Tyrese Haliburton trade. 

“He’s unique. How he pushes the pace, when he gets the rebound, gluing everybody together, hitting people backdoor cuts… great passes, really physical big,” Schröder said. “He sets screens great in the pocket, can shoot it… I mean, he’s unique, so I’m really looking forward to competing with him.”

Schröder also expressed admiration for the Sacramento fan base when asked by CBS 13’s Brandon Banitez about his experience playing on the road at Golden 1 Center.

“The fans is the first thing what comes to mind when you hear the Sacramento Kings — always loud,” Schröder said. “Every time when Keegan Murray scored, I kind of liked that [the Keegan Murray chant],… I was having a smile on my face.”

Whether or not the Kings are done making moves this summer remains to be seen. However, when Schröder was asked if he has anything to prove?

“I got my own legacy. Every year, every day when I wake up, I try to be 1% better,” Schröder said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s in basketball, in life. I just try to be great every single day… I don’t have to prove anything.”

The new-look Sacramento Kings certainly have something to prove. Time will tell if Dennis makes the type of impact Scott Perry needs from him en route to accomplishing the stated goal: sustained success.