Time to wake from a summer slumber and embrace the 2026-27 season, because the Sacramento Kings will be in action tomorrow night, October 8th, in a preseason matchup against the daunting Los Angeles Lakers.

While the Lakers are without LeBron, they are arguably packed with talent. Their sophomore forward Adou Thiero is just waiting for an opportunity to show Laker fans what this highly athletic NBA player can bring to the hard court.

Likewise, the Kings are blessed with a deep team, something that they have struggled with in the past. That depth brings with it the looming question: who will be Doug Christie's starters, and who will garner the majority of minutes off the bench? Minutes are a precious commodity in the NBA, and players like Malik Monk simply cannot get lost in the shuffle as new faces enter the arena. The tendency is to play newcomers and rookies early, while sometimes forgetting who it is that got you there.

Not lost on anyone is the paltry 22 wins of a season ago. Most fans have put that agonizing number in the "lost to injury" column, and I believe rightfully so. It's the reason Doug Christie is back for a second season. With a solid draft and the acquisition of an apparently healthy Ben Simmons, Christie has the chess pieces to make last season's 22 wins a distant memory.

Without question, this team will need to walk before it can run. Putting too many minutes on rookie Darius Acuff Jr. or veteran Ben Simmons should be the last thing coach Christie does. Developing a rotation that satisfies minutes while producing results is the balancing act that he has before him.

This is why we watch the game, Kings fans. While the offseason may not have been as active as you would have liked, I am grateful that the Kings have a post presence led by Domantas Sabonis and backed up by youngsters clamoring for playing time. Both Precious Achiuwa and second-year big Dylan Cardwell will undoubtedly get quality minutes, and they should.

Coming out of the gate, Sabonis needs to establish who he is and once again be the elite cleaner of the boards that the NBA has seen over the past three seasons. With that rebounding acumen comes stopping the competition from second-chance points and presenting fast-break opportunities for the Kings.

Many were critical when the Kings brought in Domantas Sabonis and sent Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers. However, following that trade, the Sacramento Kings famously became the #1 scoring team in the NBA. It was a magical season that saw the Kings win 48 games, make the playoffs outright, and take the archrival Golden State Warriors to a 7-game series.

So, what will the partial rebuild from Scott Perry bring us this year? Only time will tell, but I can assure every basketball fan reading this column that there is no shortage of talent on this team.

The looming question resides in the coaching staff and whether this team can play together and find a real identity. Every team needs one, and most have one. If you talk to coach Christie, he will tell you defense is the name of the game. My question is: can you teach defensive strategies, and will this team that is getting younger buy into what you're teaching? No one is going to argue that the Kings need to play defense, but will your veterans step up and lead by example or simply buy into what the national pundits want to bandy about?

Enter Keegan Murray, who needs to impress and do it early! Yes, the clock is ticking with regards to Keegan Murray's tenure as a King, but the ball is still in his court and the opportunity starts tomorrow night. I still have faith that Keegan can rediscover the elite shooting stroke that made him one of the nation's leading scorers in college and remember the stellar accomplishments of his rookie year. His defense has taken a step forward; now, it's time to find the jumper that suddenly went dormant.

Mentorship and teaching are not just words, they are where leadership begins. I'm waiting to see if this coaching staff and Scott Perry have it, but the question will be answered soon.

Get excited, Kings fans! All the best!