Sacramento Kings (DeRozan, LaVine) miss 2025 playoffs after a 106-120 Play-In loss to Dallas. The 40-42 Kings now eye the NBA Draft. What's next for Sactown?
StatPro NBA Beat Reporter
Well, Kings fans, it's the news none of us wanted to confirm, but here we are. For the second straight year, our Sacramento Kings saw their season end in the Play-In Tournament, officially missing the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Finishing 9th in a tough Western Conference with a 40-42 record, the team now pivots its entire focus towards the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft, hoping to find the missing pieces after a season of significant change and ultimately, disappointment.
Despite the additions of DeMar DeRozan (22.2 PPG) and Zach LaVine (22.4 PPG), the Kings couldn't overcome their inconsistencies, culminating in a 106-120 season-ending loss to Dallas in the Play-In.
The final standings confirmed the Kings' 40-42 record, slotting them into the 9th seed in the Western Conference. This meant another perilous journey through the Play-In Tournament, which unfortunately ended prematurely with a decisive 106-120 loss to Dallas. It's a bitter pill to swallow, especially after a midseason overhaul that brought significant offensive firepower to Sacramento. The dream of playoff basketball in the Golden 1 Center will have to wait another year as the front office shifts its gaze to scouting reports and draft boards.
This season was defined by bold midseason moves. The Kings notably acquired All-Star caliber talents in DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. DeRozan quickly established himself as a go-to scorer, averaging 22.2 PPG, while LaVine, despite his own injury history which wasn't mentioned here but is known, contributed 22.4 PPG when on the court. The team also brought in Jonas Valanciunas from Washington, Kevin Huerter (a familiar face returning from Chicago), and Jake LaRavia from Memphis. However, these acquisitions came at a significant cost, most notably the departure of franchise cornerstone De'Aaron Fox, who averaged 25.0 PPG in 45 games for Sacramento before being traded to San Antonio (where he played 17 games). While the new additions brought individual talent, the team chemistry and overall consistency needed to make a deep playoff push didn't fully materialize in time.
Despite the team's struggles, several Kings put up impressive individual numbers. DeMar DeRozan officially led the team in scoring with 22.2 points per game. The ever-reliable Domantas Sabonis was a monster on the glass, pulling down a dominant 13.9 rebounds per game, and also dished out a team-high 6.0 assists per game, showcasing his all-around impact. On the defensive end, Keon Ellis emerged as a tenacious perimeter defender, leading the team with 1.5 steals per game, while Keegan Murray paced the Kings with 0.9 blocks per game. The season saw a coaching change, with Mike Brown (13-18) starting the year and Doug Christie finishing it, as the team navigated to its 40-42 final record.
The 2024-25 season is officially in the books, and it's another one that ends with a familiar 'what if?' for Kings fans. All eyes now turn to the front office and the upcoming NBA Draft. The pieces are intriguing, the talent undeniable in spots, but the puzzle remains incomplete. This offseason is crucial for Sacramento to finally break the Play-In cycle and build a sustainable winner. The work starts now.
