Being a fan of the Sacramento Kings isn’t exactly the easiest. We are so used to taking our lumps that when something good happens, no matter how minor (like winning a summer league championship), we cherish it more than most other fanbases probably would.
So beyond the general ambition of making the playoffs or even just being a good team that every fanbase hopes for, let’s get into some specifics on what we’re excited for or hoping to see this upcoming year.
For me, it all revolves around Sacramento’s guards. I’m really looking forward to the continued growth of Tyrese Haliburton. I can’t talk enough about how much of a joy it is to watch Tyrese play. Tyrese was not a normal rookie and played with a wisdom beyond his years and also with a lightness in his step. You can tell Tyrese really loves playing basketball and that his teammates love playing with him. I want to see how that version of Tyrese does in year two with actual NBA experience under his belt and a full offseason.
I’m also excited to see how Davion Mitchell fits in all of this, especially after seeing him lock up NBA caliber guards in the Summer League. The Kings haven’t had a player like Mitchell in a long, long time and I think having someone like that on our roster who can fire up the team on both ends of the court will do wonders.
And of course, there’s De’Aaron Fox, poised on the verge of true greatness. Last year he became the youngest player in the Sacramento-era to average at least 25 points a game in a season. Fox has gotten better each year he’s been in the NBA and he won’t even be turning 24 years old until nearly Christmas. Will this be the year he finally makes the All-Star team?
Let us know in the comments below what you are most looking forward to as we get ready for Kings basketball to return in a month.
*Never gonna happen.
Honestly, agree with most except I want to swallow my disappointment in Bagley and would like to see him prevail over Metu (5) and (8) DC is not ready to be a head coach. He needs to quell his silliness, stop truing to be the players “buddy” and incorporate other defensive philosophies into his own experience. If he does that – and he can do that- he would then be ready for coaching. Ime Udoka took quite a few years and he ought to be good.
Agree with never going to happen.
I want to see some competitive fire both on offense and defense. That’s what I am looking forward to .
and I just like Basketball.
oh ! I am looking forward to kicking the duds butts.
I agree with the importance of everything you addressed but it disagree with your take on DC. He might not be silly at all as a coach. I don’t think he’d try to be the players’ buddy. I think you’re underestimating his ability to preach and push and DEMAND for defense to be played at a higher level.
Walton tries to be cumbyah instead of demanding defense–or you don’t play.
I’d be curious to know how you snuck into practices to witness DC interactions with the players as a coach. How else would you know he’s trying to be “buddies with the players” and being silly around them? I’ve seen not one single report from anywhere about DC’s contributions to the team thus far.
I cancelled my subscription to Kings’ games late last season when they were a disgusting defensive sieve, painful to watch. Not so long ago I lived in Chicago where Tom Thibodeau took a Bulls team of average talent repeatedly to the playoffs, based on their hard work, defensive tenacity, and a “bench mob” with the same traits that would overwhelm opponents’ reserves. I would love watching the Kings if they just went into every game with that tough, defense-oriented mentality and play.
Won’t deny Thibodeau’s influence, but is that the same average talent team that had 4 different players make multiple All Star games during that run and one win an MVP?
Derrick Rose was undoubtedly a great player and league MVP before he tore his ACL. Butler was just developing his game in those early years. Joakim Noah played very hard. Was the fourth Luol Deng? Except for Rose they were not at that time great talents, but Thibs got them to play hard and helped to develop Rose and later Butler into truly great talents. Players on teams that play hard and win go to all-star games.
Yes Deng was other. They all made mult all star games during Thibs run. Sure Thibs developed them no doubt…but there was underlying talent that I wouldn’t classify as average.
Average talent teams don’t win 60+ (Equivalent) games back to back years just based on hard work.
While still successful, Thibs hasn’t done it since. Prolly because of talent level.
Butler was an all-star reserve in Thibs’s last season. They made the playoffs three times after Rose tore his ACL, twice without Rose. Deng and Noah were not greater talents than several Kings players. So they went to the playoffs when Rose was no longer a great talent and Butler was just becoming one. They played hard!!
Much of that may be true…but that’s a lot of contorting to try and make an argument they weren’t above avg in talent during Thibs era.
By my count in those 5 Thibs years, 8 different players were on the Bulls that made an All Star game in their career and played significant minutes for them. That’s an indicator of some kind of talent…and at least 4+ each year on roster. Most of them made an appearance as a Bull in those years.
Kings currently have how many current or past All Stars? Checks notes…none.
But since talent is close/equal apparently, I’m sure if the Kings just “played hard” though they might have 3-4 All Stars this year.
Note: You know your franchise sucks when debating the Thibs era Bulls is more interesting than anything happening with the Kings coming up ????
Noah was a DPOY. No one on this roster has the talent to become that, except maybe a guy who has never played in an NBA game.
Didn’t Thibbs get run out of town for his starchy, inflexible attitude and process to preparing / coaching his team?
I always feel I invest the most time and energy into lottery night and lead up to the draft…but that feels much too doomsday to say in September, especially since I think they could flirt with .500.
Mainly looking forward to see if Mitchell, Halliburton and Fox can operate in 3 guard lineups.
I’m actually interested in watching Bagley too. Hope to get 30 straight games to start season and end the discussion one way or the other.
I’m looking forward to the guards for sure and I’m also looking forward to training camp starting so we can get this season started!
Right now? The beginning!
After about 10 games or so? The end!
Spoken like an absolute veteran Kangz fan.
-Ben Simmons to be traded so we can stop talking, thinking about it!
-Three guard lineup of Fox, Mitchell, Hali
-Tyrese development
-Possible Fox leap to All Star
-What happens with Buddy and Bagley
-A packed Golden One Center ????
I hobe Buddy and Bagley finally get traded for something worth while. I want to see Monty McNair be our really good general manager and make some really good decisions for the Kings. Finally I want a good coach like Jay Wright to replace Walton.
100% agree on all points
At this point of my fandom I can be happy if we have a couple of positive progression per season. For me, seeing Walton get fired and most players if not all take a step forward in their game would be great
Agreed on all points about the guards, and I’m really looking forward to see what they’re able to do in various combinations. Maybe Mitchell will be the kick in the ass that will get his teammates to go all-in on defense.
What I’d really like to see is what Marvin Bagley can do in a healthy 82-game season. Assuming that he’s not traded, the Kings have to find out what it is that they’ve got, because things change so dramatically after the upcoming season. If he can play himself into being a strong trade chip, or perhaps force the front office to consider a big offer, that’s a no-lose situation. He either helps get us a good player, or he is a good player.
It would be impossible to play well enough to justify VD taking him at two, but if he’s healthy, puts up something like 18 & 8, and shows better defensively? That’s a win all the way around.
I’m also very much looking for to rooting for a team that isn’t coached by Luke God Damned Walton.
I’m looking forward to figuring out what McNair’s plan is with this roster, if there even is one. About all he has done in two drafts, a trade deadline, and two free agencies is draft his perceived BPA (both guards), sign middling vets to insignificant deals, and keep the same coach that’s never won 40 games. 5 years as a head coach and he’s won 41% of this games. Color me unimpressed.
If there is some grand plan or swing for the fences move that he’d like to do, I’d love to see it come to fruition. Right now I feel like the Kings continue to tread water as they set the NBA record for the longest playoffs drought.
Also, I’d like to see Marvin Bagley stay healthy and salvage his NBA career. It may not be here, but I hope it happens for him.
Seconded. I’m looking forward to having some hope for this team to win games when roster/coaching/front office changes eventually come, outside of just being entertained by some of the players, who I do like quite a bit.
What he said…
I think you are forgetting that McNair had a good deal made for Buddy that was so far along the players were looking for housing. Then GM James stepped in and blew it up to make what I believe will be a legend in bad moves for the redacted.
Ben Simmons in a Kings uniform!
I really think no one person likeSimmons is the answer to the Kings problems. There is a lot of talent out there besides Simmons that could help the Kings more. Monty has to find them and then make really good trades. I believe he can do this. Simmons would take too much away from the Kings in a trade and set them back way too far.
I believe Morey will get MUCH less than he has been asking for Simmons. Then there are any number of teams Simmons might end up with, (remotely) possibly even the with Kings, or less remotely, the Kings can benefit by being part of a multiteam trade of which Simmons is the headline piece.
I’m looking forward to watching the games on TV. Trouble is I am in Grass Valley, and a DISH subscriber and DISH no longer has a contract with NBCS Bay, and I am not sure I want to subscribe to YouTubeTV, I was spoiled by recording the games on the DVR and watching them later when I got home from work. Not sure if NBC and DISH will work it out but they haven’t for baseball so, ?? Appreciate you all here.
You can buy NBA team pass and a VPN to, let’s say, watch when you’re traveling to other cities for work, and if you’re not watching from Sacramento, it works fine.
Can I stream it to my Apple TV?
Yes.
My experience with NBA team pass and a VPN is that I have to set my VPN location outside the US for them to let me watch. Then it works fine.
Yeah, I’ve been able to do it while I’m using VPN while, let’s say, traveling to groundskeeper conventions and courses in the US. Never had an issue. But the NBA may block certain VPN providers, and that can change at any time.
YouTube TV has unlimited DVR. My only hesitation would be is my web access in a place like GV. Streaming speed matters with YouTube TV and all streamers, for that matter.
Thanks, KG. All good here, we have fiberoptic 0.5 GB.
I’m looking forward to going on every roller coaster ride of a Kings season with all of my Kings Herald family. We celebrate and suffer together on these forums!
The best part of it though is finding jokes and humor even in bad times, from memes to puns to GIFs, it all helps my Kangzhood stay sane.
I’m just in it for the drama now.
You can’t spell Sacramento Professional Sports without Soap Opera.
THE PLAYOFFS!
Kings media partners arguing that loosing the 9/10 play in-game ended the playoff drought.
So many questions! 17% of the owners including Shaq just sold their shares at a good profit! Because of the Kings hundred million dollar loss last year? No faith In Vivek? Probably both.
A mix of good and promising guards on the floor at the same time–Fox, Haliburton, Davion Mitchell, Hield and Davis–could be huge. Metu and Louis King may be sleepers. Barnes will play the 4 followed by????
Current contracts are $130m+. Somebody like Thomson and/or Bagley are going to leave perhaps for picks to reduce the payroll. Simmons’ floor negatives and $$$ contract will see him go somewhere else. I’m excited! I always am before the season starts…
Seeing Marvin Bagley be better than Luka Doncic.
Oh realistically? Why not hope the Kings find a way to make the playoffs, dare I say a top 6 seed?
I’m looking forward to the trade deadline and daily checking of Tankathon starting around January 10th.
I’m a simple person. I’ll take .500 basketball. It’d be nice to get out of the groundhog day of 30 something win seasons (and Bagley injuries).
Honestly? I’m most looking forward to the comments here on TKH. I haven’t watched a full Kings game in a couple of years now. Why would I? They suck and show no signs of not sucking. But TKH is awesome and makes me laugh, so I look forward to laughing some more.
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