\u2014 Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) November 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n More on Kings guard Keon Ellis<\/p>\n Frustrations are growing in KingsLand, and Keon Ellis\u2019 lack of playing time comes as the cherry on top of the franchise\u2019s worst ten-game start to a season since 2017-18, a year that saw Sacramento win just 27 games.<\/p>\n Aside from the Kings\u2019 obvious logjam at the guard spots, which head coach Doug Christie pointed out during his postgame press conference on Sunday night, Sacramento has a clear lack of defensive impact.<\/p>\n Ellis, who finished the 2024-25 season ranked fifth among all NBA players in total steals (121) and 11th in steals per game (1.5), is the Kings\u2019 best defender, but is currently buried on the depth chart behind veterans Dennis Schroder, Zach LaVine, Russell Westbrook, and Malik Monk.<\/p>\n Following Sacramento\u2019s loss to Minnesota, Ellis\u2019 minutes per game average dropped to 18.0, the ninth-highest on the team, although he has logged over 20 minutes of playing time just once over the past five games (and only done so in three of the Kings\u2019 ten games this season).<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a logjam at that position,\u201d Christie said of Keon Ellis\u2019 lack of playing time following Sunday\u2019s loss. \u201cBut I know in this league, things happen how they happen. The one thing we\u2019re going to try to do is figure it out, so we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n On Friday, Christie shared a similar response when asked why Keon Ellis didn\u2019t check in until the fourth quarter, which was pretty much garbage time as Sacramento faced a massive deficit against the reigning champions.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a numbers game. There\u2019s a big logjam there, so night to night it could be different,\u201d Christie said. \u201cIt\u2019s not going to get any easier when we get Keegan back. But this is a good problem to have. It\u2019s one that hasn\u2019t been here for a long time when you talk about wing players and the ability to have them. But Keon\u2019s a pro, so I know he\u2019ll be ready and prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n Of course, Ellis\u2019 lack of playing time could be improved by Christie simply restructuring his rotations, but it\u2019s more complex than that for the Kings.<\/p>\n As Christie pointed out, there is a logjam at the guard spot. Sacramento brought in veteran point guard Dennis Schroder in the offseason, signing him to a three-year, $45 million deal. Zach LaVine is on the books for $47.5 million with a player option for next season worth $48.9 million.<\/p>\n Malik Monk has played well during the early stages of this season and still has at least one more season worth $20.1 million, with a $21.5 million player option for the 2026-27 season. Russell Westbrook is on a league minimum deal, but\u2013as crazy as it sounds\u2013has arguably been the Kings\u2019 best player over the first ten games, and certainly been the most engaged player on the floor.<\/p>\n We haven\u2019t even brought up last year\u2019s lottery pick Devin Carter, who is completely on the outside looking in when it comes to Sacramento\u2019s rotation.<\/p>\n First-year general manager Scott Perry has his work cut out for him in re-shaping this roster, but making moves will be easier said than done in the early stages of the regular season when teams are less desperate for upgrades.<\/p>\n The February trade deadline is the true finish line when it comes to finding a solution for the Kings\u2019 overcrowded backcourt, but by then, Sacramento could be well out of the postseason picture\u2013if that is still even the goal for 2025-26.<\/p>\n Regardless of what happens, Ellis\u2019 time in a Kings uniform is likely in its final stages. By picking up Ellis\u2019 $2.3 million team option for 2025-26, Sacramento ensured that the three-and-D guard will become an unrestricted free agent at this season\u2019s end, giving him the chance to sign a deal with any team on the open market.<\/p>\n Plenty of contending teams could use a defensive-minded guard who is also shooting 43 percent from three-point range during his NBA career.<\/p>\n It\u2019s possible that Ellis\u2019 cheap contract is used as a sweetener in moving off veteran contracts like DeMar DeRozan or Malik Monk later in the season, as it\u2019s become clear that it\u2019s a matter of when\u2013not if\u2013the Kings will make moves to chizzle down the depth chart.<\/p>\n Alas, moving Keon Ellis isn\u2019t what the majority of Sacramento fans want to see happen. Gauging the temperature of the fanbase on Sunday, watching young players like Ellis, Carter, Keegan Murray, Nique Clifford, and Maxime Raynaud develop would be more entertaining than seeing aging veterans play out the final stages of their NBA primes.<\/p>\n It\u2019s undeniable that the Kings have talent. It just isn\u2019t the right mix or collection of talent. And because of it, players like Keon Ellis\u2013as well as the Sacramento fanbase\u2013are having to deal with the consequences.<\/p>\n More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports<\/p>\n Outside of Russell Westbrook\u2019s impressive performances over the past week, the Sacramento Kings have been hard to watch during the early stages of the 2025-26 regular season.<\/p>\n 48 hours removed from Friday night\u2019s 31-point loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday\u2019s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves was more of the same for Sacramento.<\/p>\n The Kings (3-7) fell behind early and never recovered, looking flat on both ends of the floor during a 144-117 loss that secured Sacramento\u2019s worst ten-game start to a season since 2017-18, a year that ended with a final record of 27-55.<\/p>\n It\u2019s early, but the Kings appear to be a team on the fast track to the bottom tier of the Western Conference standings.<\/p>\n Keegan Murray\u2019s return will help Sacramento\u2019s defense, but won\u2019t solve all of their issues\u2013especially on the offensive end, where spacing and cohesiveness are glaring issues for a roster that is top-heavy at the guard spots.<\/p>\n Until the Kings make some moves or drastically alter their rotations, it doesn\u2019t appear that things will improve anytime soon.<\/p>\n Read more about Keon Ellis and the Sacramento Kings below:<\/p>\n Kings fall to T-Wolves, secure worst 10-game start since 2017-18<\/a><\/p>\n Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season<\/p>\n Tuesday, November 11th\u00a0\u2013 vs. Denver Nuggets \u2013 8:00 PM PT 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![\"YouTube](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762791968_660_hqdefault.jpg\")
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\nWednesday, November 12th\u00a0\u2013 vs. Atlanta Hawks \u2013 7:00 PM PT
\nFriday, November 14th\u00a0\u2013 @ Minnesota Timberwolves \u2013 1:00 PM PT
\nSunday, November 16th\u00a0\u2013 @ San Antonio Spurs \u2013 1:00 PM PT
\nWednesday, November 19th\u00a0\u2013 @ Oklahoma City \u2013 5:00 PM PT<\/p>\n
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