There is good news and bad news. The bad news is that the hometown Sacramento Kings have not won a single game in either the preseason or the regular season. Discouraging? Yes, without a doubt.

The stands were perhaps 75% full for last night’s contest with the Memphis Grizzlies. To the Kings’ credit, for most of the game, it was a contest that could have gone either way. Fans responded with a standing ovation with 5:41 left in the fourth quarter, as the Kings knotted the score at 106 apiece. There was genuine pandemonium in the arena, but it was soon dashed.

A swift three-point play by Memphis followed, turning the tide as the Grizzlies’ defense ground the Kings down late. Memphis walked away with an 11-point win, handing Sacramento a 112–123 home loss.

So, where’s the good news?

For one, Domantas Sabonis is playing like the multi-time All-Star he is at both ends of the floor. Sabonis, who set a historic post-merger rebounding mark over his first three games, has been carrying the team along with Zach LaVine. LaVine provided a stellar offensive outburst with a 37-point night against Memphis, giving it his all to keep the Kings in a genuine position to win. Couple that veteran effort with the efforts of Darius Acuff Jr. and Emanuel Sharp, and you have two true rookies who are raising eyebrows.

Although Sharp scored only three points in his 14 minutes of action, his intense perimeter defense reminded me of former King Davion Mitchell. It was a joy to see someone on the floor giving it 100%. That is exactly what the Kings need.

Sadly, the preseason was a collage of players who will probably never again be on the court together, and any chance of developing chemistry was simply lost. Head coach Doug Christie and his coaching staff have dynamic challenges ahead, and the 0–5 preseason is but one reason why. Keegan Murray was reportedly sidelined for the matchup due to an illness. Now in his fifth season, it’s time for Keegan to shine.

The idea that Murray should play strictly at power forward needs to be abandoned once and for all. He is a natural small forward, a position where he has expressed high comfort. For once, stop pounding a square peg into a round hole. If you need a physical power forward to complement the depth chart, Precious Achiuwa or Jonathan Mogbo fit the bill, allowing Murray to show the staff what he can accomplish at the position that fits him best. Simply put, this team needs to put players in positions where they can thrive.

Both Sabonis and LaVine are firing out of the blocks, and, along with rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr., they are serving as the new engine of the offense. Sacramento was right there in both of its last two home contests, against Portland and Memphis, and, with just a little luck, could be 2–1 instead of in the tepid 0–3 regular-season hole it finds itself in. With a rookie guard pulling the strings, executing under pressure and closing out games are still on the teaching agenda.

Coach Christie loves to talk about defense, while Emanuel Sharp saw limited action due to foul trouble. Defense aside, where is the elite offense that led the entire NBA just four years ago, during the historic 2022–23 “Light the Beam” era?

Once again, three-point execution is the Achilles’ heel of this team. While Memphis pulled away late, giving up 15 three-pointers to an opponent will rarely win you a basketball game. The focus needs to be on guarding the perimeter effectively and committing to defending the line.

Coaches represent more than just X’s and O’s. They are motivators and leaders, and they challenge players when needed. We need this coaching staff to guide this unit through its opening trial period and turn things around. It has been said before, and it’s true: this team has NBA talent and every opportunity to turn this losing streak around.

Dream the dream, and give the fans a reason to buy tickets and stand to their feet.

All the best, Kings fans!

V.G. Harris