‘It’s Extremely Frustrating’: Lack of Results Beginning to Agitate Kings
Sacramento, CA – The Sacramento Kings' struggles to find consistency and wins are starting to wear thin, with frustration levels rising within the team. Despite flashes of brilliance and demonstrable effort, the Kings find themselves in a precarious position in the Western Conference standings. After an up and down 2024-25 NBA season where they finished with a 40-42 record and were defeated in the first play-in game by the Dallas Mavericks, the team is looking to improve this season.
The latest setback, a 3-1 loss to the Stars, has amplified concerns. Despite outplaying their opponent for significant stretches, particularly in the second and third periods where they limited the Stars to only nine shots, the Kings couldn't translate that dominance into goals. "That was super frustrating," stated Drew Doughty following the game. "We played a really good game. Unfortunately, just a bad bounce at the end…I thought we deserved better, but at the same time, you got to get more than one goal".
This sentiment echoes a recurring theme for the Kings this season: the inability to convert strong play into tangible results. While there has been a recent uptick in goal scoring, the Kings' offensive struggles continue to plague them. The team's inability to capitalize on opportunities is undermining their efforts and fueling frustration.
Several factors contribute to the Kings' current predicament. The absence of Keegan Murray is glaring, as there is no one else who can replicate his role. The team’s defensive consistency, especially on the perimeter, remains a question mark. Concerns exist about the frontcourt and wing depth. The Western Conference is highly competitive, leaving the Kings with a small margin for error.
Looking ahead, the Kings face a challenging road to secure a playoff berth. According to ESPN’s NBA Summer Forecast, the Kings are predicted to finish the 2025-26 campaign with a 37-45 record, which would be the fourth-worst mark in the Western Conference. To reach the seventh or eighth seed in the West, Sacramento would likely need to win between 44 and 48 games.
To turn things around, the Kings need their key players, Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine, to remain healthy and establish strong on-court chemistry. Stable production from Dennis Schroder at the point guard position would also be beneficial. The Kings also need to improve their scoring punch from the top-six forward group.
While the frustration is palpable, the Kings are trying to remain positive. "Bottom line is we need to get wins, and unfortunately, we didn't get this one, but we can definitely look at a lot of positive things on what we did tonight,” Doughty said. The team recognizes the urgency of their situation and the need to start accumulating points. However, positive attitude may not be enough, the Kings need to translate effort into wins.
