The Sacramento Kings are in a moment of crisis right now after a difficult run of form.
2025 started in a muddle for the Sacramento Kings when Mike Brown was fired midway through the NBA season.
The team rallied around interim head coach Doug Christie and went on an impressive run of form, prompting the Kings to feel comfortable trading away De’Aaron Fox, who had been in and out of the line-up leading up to the February deadline.
The Kings acquired an in-form Zach LaVine, who was enjoying a career year with the Chicago Bulls, yet improbably it is the Eastern Conference team who are happier with their side of the trade.
The early April situation is not pretty for the Kings. They have been overtaken by a patched-up Dallas Mavericks side who are back from the dead, now slumping to 10th in the Western Conference.
The Kings have lost three successive games and are 3-7 over the past 10. Their season is at risk of falling apart.
There was one negative slant on the Kings’ acquisition of Zach LaVine. He was reunited with DeMar DeRozan, who he played alongside at the Chicago Bulls. This talented duo ultimately failed to move the needle.
Yet individually the pair are great talents. DeRozan recently entered the 25,000 points club, establishing himself as one of the game’s elite scorers.
Right now the Kings are in panic mode, and they needs more than a scorer. They require a leader.
LaVine knows DeMar DeRozan can have a positive influence in a time of need. He expressed his admiration for his attributes during the 2022 All-Star break.
Speaking at the time, LaVine commented: “DeMar has been great. We talked before the season, even before coming here and just having him be on the team, to add another guy that’s been in these situations at the top level in these big-time games, where we haven’t been there before.
“He has been to the Eastern Conference Finals a couple of times and been in big moments, and his calmness is always something that’s been helping our team.”
Calmness is exactly what the Sacramento Kings require, along with an ability to deliver in big must-win games. The Kings are currently set to go on the road to the Mavericks in a win or lose Play-In tournament contest.
And it is also required simply to stop the Kings’ season unravelling. The Kings’ next game is on the road at the Charlotte Hornets, an absolute must-win, because every game after that is against a current playoff competing team.
The final game of the season is against the Phoenix Suns, who are still in with a narrow chance of a Play-In spot at the Kings’ expense.
DeMar DeRozan has stayed consistent despite the ups and downs the Kings have experienced this season.
He is averaging 22.7 points per game since the All-Star break, slightly up from his 21.9 pg split beforehand.
Both DeRozan and LaVine might need to be convinced about the Kings’ direction in the summer. This is a team that has faded, and will be looking for a new head coach.
Right now the attribute LaVine cited about his teammate three years ago is crucial. DeRozan must be calm, and transmit that to the rest of the team, if Sacramento are to stand any chance of ending the 2024-25 season in happy spirits, accomplishment, and a sense of direction.
