{"id":202360,"date":"2026-03-03T16:13:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T16:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/202360\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T16:13:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T16:13:10","slug":"could-the-sacramento-kings-schedule-end-up-hurting-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/202360\/","title":{"rendered":"Could the Sacramento Kings’ schedule end up hurting them?"},"content":{"rendered":"

With 20 games remaining, the Sacramento Kings find themselves in a strange spot: worst record in the NBA, and maybe too easy of a road ahead.<\/p>\n

This week on The Drive Guys, Kevin \u201cWhitey\u201d Gleason and Allen Stiles broke down the numbers. Depending on the model, Sacramento has either the 28th or 29th-hardest remaining strength of schedule \u2014 in other words, the second- or third-easiest slate in the league.<\/p>\n

\u201cBottom line, Washington, Indiana, Utah have really hard schedules, and the Kings have an easy schedule. And when you\u2019re trying to lose more games than them, that\u2019s a bad thing,\u201d Gleason said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

(Tankathon)<\/p>\n

Could the Sacramento Kings\u2019 schedule hurt their draft position?<\/p>\n

The Sacramento Kings are currently clinging to the league\u2019s worst record \u2014 and with it, the best lottery odds. If they finish with the worst mark, they can fall no lower than fifth in the draft order.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is the big thing,\u201d Gleason emphasized. \u201cIf you have the worst record, you pick no worse than fifth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Draft odds are everything at this stage. It\u2019s not all bad for the Sacramento Kings, though. They currently own the worst record in the NBA, giving them a 52.1% chance of landing a top-four pick and a 14.0% chance of winning May\u2019s NBA Draft Lottery.<\/p>\n

Still, the schedule complicates things. Nine of the next 10 games come at home. That\u2019s significant for a team trying to maintain its position at the bottom.<\/p>\n

Sacramento also faces several fellow lottery-bound teams multiple times \u2014 the Nets twice, the Hornets twice, the Pelicans twice, plus another matchup with the Jazz.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is where things get real, people,\u201d Gleason warned.<\/p>\n

Adding another layer: injuries. Franchise stars Zach LaVine (hand), Domantas Sabonis (knee), De\u2019Andre Hunter (eye), Keegan Murray (ankle), and Dylan Cardwell (ankle) are all sidelined. The Sacramento Kings aren\u2019t exactly rolling out a win-now rotation, even if the schedule suggests opportunity.<\/p>\n

\"SACRAMENTO,<\/p>\n

(Photo by Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Stiles acknowledged the emotional toll of rooting for ping-pong balls instead of wins the rest of the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really hard not watching a game as a fan, either wanting them to lose or expecting them to lose. It\u2019s just really hard,\u201d he said. \u201cThey let you down if they win.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the paradox. Development matters. Culture matters. But so does positioning.<\/p>\n

Gleason admitted the internal conflict. \u201cIf the Kings are in position next year to tank again, I will understand it intellectually\u2026 but emotionally, I don\u2019t want to go through another year of this.\u201d<\/p>\n

For now, Sacramento walks a tightrope. An easy schedule and a long homestand could spark a few unwanted wins. And in this phase of the season, those wins might cost more than they\u2019re worth.<\/p>\n

Check out the full conversation by scrolling to the top of the page or by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to\u00a0The Drive Guys\u00a0from 2 \u2013 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on\u00a0Sactown Sports 1140.<\/a><\/p>\n

Click here for full episodes of\u00a0The Drive Guys.<\/a><\/p>\n

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports<\/p>\n

Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season<\/p>\n

Tuesday, March 3rd\u00a0vs. Phoenix Suns \u2013 8:00 PM PT
\nThursday, March 5th\u00a0vs. New Orleans Pelicans \u2013 7:00 PM PT
\nSunday, March 8th\u00a0vs. Chicago Bulls \u2013 6:00 PM PT
\nTuesday, March 10th\u00a0vs. Indiana Pacers \u2013 7:00 PM PT
\nWednesday, March 11th\u00a0vs. Charlotte Hornets \u2013 7:00 PM PT<\/p>\n

Thank you for reading\u00a0SactownSports.com<\/a>. Follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Google News<\/a>, and subscribe to our\u00a0YouTube<\/a>\u00a0channel.<\/p>\n

Follow @FCartoscelli3<\/a><\/p>\n

\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n