The Sacramento Kings announced their 2024-25 schedule on Thursday. The full schedule can be viewed or printed here. The team kicks off the season at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, October 24th.
A few key points, via the Kings:
- Schedule breakdown by month: October (2 home, 2 away = 4 total), November (8 home, 8 away = 16 total), December (8 home, 3 away = 11 total; 2 games TBD), January (6 home, 8 away = 14 total), February (4 home, 7 away = 11 total), March (9 home, 8 away = 17 total), April (3 home, 4 away = 7 total).
- The Kings longest homestand features seven games
- The Kings two longest road trips each feature six games
- Sacramento has 12 games that will be aired on national TV, including three on ESPN (2 home, 1 away), three on TNT (2 home, 1 away) and six on NBA TV (5 home, 1 away).
- Of the team’s 16 back-to-back sets, five are home-home, six are away-away, two are away-home and three are home-away.
Some additional analysis via Matt George:
The Sacramento Kings have the 11th hardest schedule in the league via strength of schedule analytics.
They have 11 games with the rest advantage (10th most)
They also have 11 games with rest disadvantage (11th most)
— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) August 15, 2024
Sacramento Kings 2024-2025 Schedule Notes:
▪️ Season opener: October 24th vs T-Wolves
▪️ 12 national TV games (3 TNT, 3 ESPN, 6 NBA TV)
▪️ 16 back-to-backs. 15 three games in four nights
▪️ Longest homestand: 7 games (3/17 – 3/27)
▪️ Longest road trip: 6 games (twice. 1/23 – 2/3…— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) August 15, 2024
I personally try not to get too hung up on breaking down the schedule before the season, but inevitably I always have some reactions to it. The Kings have 16 back-to-backs, compared to the league average of 14.9. The 15 instances of 3 games in 4 nights is tough. But I focus less on things like strength of schedule, since that’s based on last season’s win records. Some teams are going to be better, some will be worse, and it’s going to take time before we can really say how hard the schedule is. Nonetheless, it’s fun to have a little Kings news to discuss.
82 games? That’s unusual, there are usually more than that…or less than that. Maybe it is about the same.
The easiest schedule? the Celtics since all the teams they play are worse than them.
For your information 82 games is the standard schedule for the past few years.
What qualifies as “a few” to you Jack? It’s been that way as long as I can remember, and I watched a lot of Run TMC.
From ESPN (Arnovitz 2011)
Buddy Heild, as a Pacer, then a Sixer, played 84 games last regular season. 16 other players (including Harrison Barnes and Domantas Sabonis) are listed as playing 82 games last season. (StatMuse).
The Play-In Tournament is even more games – but these are counted as Post Season, though not officially Playoffs. Where we used to say that a team had to win 16 games to win The Larry O’Brien, they could win as many as 18 should they rise from the depths 9 or 10 (and thus theoretically play as many as 30 games (7 x 4) + 2 = 30)
That’s a few and then some.
So ’68 to ’24, about 55 years. To me, that’s QUITE “a few.”
Jack, Jack, Jack. I was just messing around. I have been a season ticket holder from the first season, and I know how to count (loses mostly)
I pulled your leg, and you fell for it.
But all funning aside- do you think Monte wants to keep Hueter for shooting more than he wants a lengthy guy for defense (Stewart, your man crush J. Collins or Kuzma perhaps)???
I think this is an interesting dilemma- keep the shooting and get sub-standard help at 3/4 or get help at 3/4 and lose the shooting.
You got me there. Just trying to help out. On Monty good question. He is the GM not me thank heavens. The ball is in his court. If he wants a shooter he could keep Huerter or maybe go after a player like Cam Johnson who in my opinion is a better shooter and all around fit in the roster but then again it would cost more to get him. If he wants a bigger guy for defense etc. then it to would probably cost Huerter and some. As for the 3 mentioned above IMO don’t trade for Kuzma for a lot of reasons mentioned before on King’s Herald. I like both Stewart and Collins and would be happy with either one.Again I am not Monty and he has a lot of tough decisions to make. PS. You know me I also like Tari Eason.
I know you like Eason. I believe that is potentially a contributor. On the other hand, Huston seems to be an “accumulate assets” mode, and it would be difficult to pry him loose. What would they want from the Kings? Picks undoubtedly and is worth the risk of losing any more picks?
A three way deal? It might be worthwhile to give up picks for a known commodity, a serious contributor.
Monte will make the choice. Seems like Jalen who has never met the media and C. Jones are vulnerable. Huerter could be moved IF the return is a proven lengthy 3/4. Picks for a proven 3/4 would also be ok but If the 3/4 is not proven then I would not give up either picks or Huerter.
I can go with that.
First of all can you help me on how many picks we have used. A 31 pick swap to get Derozan. What else. Who would you consider as a proven lerngthy 3/4 or a proven 3/4? Let me know.
Without seeing the data, is it safe to assume that the WC teams make up the majority of the “toughest schedule” teams?
Many East Coast teams are a challenge for this team. It is safe to say many of the East coast teams are well beyond this team.
The basketball power balance has changed in the last few years.
they did last year but many of the EC teams improved in off season while WC teams got worse
I’ve only glanced but..
an interesting twist (and maybe I missed it):
Sacramento only plays New Orleans 3 times and it’s in 6 days, which is the week before ASG in February. (One game at home and then Dallas away, the NOP back to back Wednesday and Thursday away before ASG Friday)
I am sure there are a few other little kinks and blips when we all look closer. The schedule between mid-Jan to mid-Feb ASG is brutal, IMO.
Isn’t 3 games about normal? I’ll make a wager and say the Kings win 2 out of 3. IMO its about time.
That is or could be brutal.
Only six games on TNT and ESPN?
More games I can watch without being blacked out by League Pass! 😉
70 Days until the opener!
Too long! Can’t wait.
The schedule is VERY interesting. Also here’s my top 10 Sacramento Kings.
1) Vlade
2) Webber
3) Richmond
4) Fox
5) Sabonis
6) Boogie
7) Bibby
8) J Will
9) Peja
10)Artest
why would vlade be number 1? As a player he wasn’t near the top other 5 you have.
Is this based on career contributions or just who is the better player? Sabonis is the team’s best player, I’m surprised there is still so much confusion on it. The team was languishing, and changed abruptly with his inclusion on the team (and coach Brown’s). Sabonis’ mvp consideration on nba.com mvp ladder (6 for the year) signifies his contributions
Sabonis is this team.
True! but this team would suck without Fox.
Also, Fox was this team until Sabonis arrived to help him finally get us to the playoffs. Fox was the entire wheel until Domas provided a hub. Fox is on course to eclipse everyone, and it would be very difficult to catch up even if Domas had played his entire career here. Fox will be the GOATISH (Greatest Of All Time In Sac History)!
Be better with Haliburton. Something had to happen and Monte had an asset to move. Net positive.
I said “Top Kings,” not players. Sabonis’ player career will likely eclipse the Vladefather in time, not yet. Vlade led Sac to the brink of a championship. Fox broke the playoff drought after Vlade drafted him. Webber came to Sac because of Vlade. Mitch was the light at the end of the tunnel when Sac couldn’t even see the tunnel, until Vlade arrived. Boogie was the most talented, but never got Sac to the postseason. Bibby played his role in making the Webber years so memorable. J Will is a legend. Peja (with Vlade’s help and guidance) became Sac’s greatest shooter. Artest was art. If Sac has his doppelganger this season, they’d dominate. He’s the guy they’re looking for, Anunoby only better.
Webber came to the Kings because of Vlade?
Eighty two opportunities to earn a spot in the playoffs. Hopefully the perennial habit of playing down to the competition stops. Losing to bad teams has been and is the simplest problem to solve.
Will this team play eighty two games or lay down for fifteen or twenty when it matters?
yes, far too many loses to mediocre or injured teams last year.
When/if they stop playing down to the level of their opponents, will they also stop playing up to their level?
The idea is to continue to beat good teams and not lose to garbage teams.
Love the relatively easy start. It always annoys me when we have a hard start and can’t have the surprise team narrative
Taking a look at the early portion of the season, my goal is for the Kings to have 20 wins by the New Year. Frankly, I think they could have quite a few more than that if they come out strong.
Outside of Boston, OKC, and NYK there is nobody on the schedule the Kings should fear.
hey can of course win or lose any given game, but I believe this team capable of hanging with any team in the league.
Minny, Dallas, Philly, Milwaukee and Denver, along with the 3 previously mentioned, are the only teams that might be favored against us. By my estimation, that makes us a Top 10 team in the league, and certainly Top 6 in the West.
We’ll see how the cards fall, but I’m exceedingly confident in this team. They’ve won 94 games the last two seasons, and they’ve never had a roster this talented. DeMar, third-year Keegan, full season of Keon in the rotation, and eventually Devin Carter are all major X factors, along with the usual production that can be expected from Fox/Sabonis/Monk/Lyles/Huerter.
I’m expecting 50 wins and a Top 6 seed, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see them far exceed that mark. Cannot wait for the season to start and watch all the national media talking heads have to pick their jaws off the floor for this squad.
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