With an 8-6 record and a five-game winning streak, the Sacramento Kings are the best team in California this far into the season. Here’s a look at how they reached their current position.
This year, the Kings hope to snap their 16-year playoff drought. Their first offseason move was hiring Mike Brown as a new head coach.
Drafting Keegan Murray with the number four pick in the 2022 NBA Draft was also a significant offseason move for the Kings. Murray has proven that he’s worth such a high pick so far. He won the Summer League MVP Award in Las Vegas this year. In the regular season, the Iowa small forward is averaging 12 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, and 1.1 assists per game. He’s putting up these numbers on an extremely efficient effective shooting percentage of 56%.
The Kings also acquired Kevin Huerter from the Atlanta Hawks in return for Mo Harkless, Justin Holiday, and a future draft pick. Last year, Huerter averaged 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season while shooting 45.4 percent from the field, which is a career-high. Being only 23, Huerter adds great shooting and more youth to an already-young Kings team.
The Kings also added Malik Monk, who was a free agent after his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers expired. Monk has met expectations, putting up similar numbers to last year. This season, he’s averaging 13.1 points per game, 2.4 rebounds per game, and 4.2 assists per game. So far, he has an efficient shooting percentage of 55% and he’s shooting 93% from the foul line.
On November 15, 2022, the Sacramento Kings won in a 153-121 beatdown against the Brooklyn Nets, demonstrating their ability to blow out top teams. Shooting 60% from the field and 49% from three as a team, the Kings were efficient in the win. In the win, seven Kings scored double-digits and five scored 15 or more points
In addition to new Kings like Huerter, Murray, and Monk, Sacramento has found other young prospects. Domantas Sabonis, a 26-year-old from Gonzaga, joined the Kings after starting his career with the Indiana Pacers. This season with the Kings, he’s putting up 17.7 points per game, 10.8 rebounds per game, and 5.9 assists per game.
De’Aaron Fox has led the team as usual, adding 24.8 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game, and 6.4 assists per game. The Kings also have veterans in Harrison Barnes and Matthew Dellavedova.
Overall, the Kings have had a promising start. They’ll likely snap their 16-year playoff drought and with some luck, they might make a deep playoff run.
Stay tuned for more breaking NBA content, including trades, contract updates and more news from every team.
Featured image courtesy of Getty Images
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