What Stands Out About the Kings’ 2026-27 Schedule?

The Kings finished last season with a 22-60 record and have retained much of the same core. Following injury-plagued campaigns, Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, and De’Andre Hunter are all healthy and should raise the team’s floor. The front office also drafted Darius Acuff Jr., Alex Karaban, and Emanuel Sharp.

Their roster features numerous former All-Stars, yet they’re still viewed as one of the NBA’s worst teams. The keyword there is “former.” Sabonis and LaVine haven’t played up to standard for some time, but they may be incentivized to play at their highest level.

This season is LaVine’s last under contract, and if he wants to wind up on a contender, he has to prove he can be a positive contributor. Sacramento’s front office has shopped Sabonis for over a year, and if he seeks a change of scenery via a trade, he needs to level up his game.

Developing young prospects like Acuff may earn the Kings more national television appearances. As it stands, though, both Las Vegas and Cable TV don’t envision a box-office season for Sacramento.

Marquee Home Matchups

This past offseason saw blockbuster trades and free agent signings, with many legends switching teams. Mark your calendars, because every superstar, from LeBron James to Giannis Antetokounmpo, will wind up playing in Golden One Center at some point, pending injuries, of course.

Ever since the Kings traded De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs, fans eagerly await the games in which he returns to his first team. The Spurs’ NBA Finals trip led by Victor Wembanyama adds to the excitement surrounding the matchup. The two teams face off on Nov. 6 as a part of the NBA Cup.

On Nov. 8, Giannis will play his first game versus the Kings as a member of the revamped Miami Heat. The Giannis trade sent shockwaves around the league and led to a roster overhaul in Miami. Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, and Kasparas Jakučionis were shipped to Milwaukee. In return, the Heat acquired the two-time MVP and Bobby Portis.

On Dec. 29, LeBron plays his first game against the Kings as a Philadelphia 76er. Tickets start at over $100 on most ticket-selling sites. Fans will be lining up out the door to see James in action, one of the greatest players in NBA history.

On Jan. 8, on the second night of a back-to-back, former Kings head coach Mike Brown and his Knicks play in Sacramento. The Knicks are coming off their first NBA Championship since 1973. It won’t be his first time back in Sacramento, but Kings fans adore Brown, so he’s sure to receive a warm welcome after reaching new heights in the Concrete Jungle.

Following a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, the former King Tyrese Haliburton is back this season after missing the entirety of last year. He’s battled through rehab and a case of shingles, but he’s NBA-ready come October. On Feb. 17, his Indiana Pacers play their only game in Sacramento.

A Chance to Build Momentum

The NBA is as much a momentum game as it is a talent one. Similar to how a team starts a game, the beginning of a season can give a rough estimate of where a team stands compared to the rest of the league.

Interestingly, the Kings play the Los Angeles Clippers on the road to begin and end their season. They play just two playoff teams in their first seven outings. A lighter beginning to the schedule is exactly what the doctor ordered for an organization looking to shock the world. Sacramento finishes up their campaign playing four playoff teams in their last seven games.

In November, Sacramento plays 11 of their 13 games at home. For a team that performed poorly last year, they’re sure to feed off the energy of a rejuvenated Sacramento crowd.

No matter the circumstances, Kings fans show up in numbers. Even when the team was 6-22 at the bottom of the Western Conference, Kings fans generated a loud crowd-pop after a Dennis Schröder game-winner.

That’s not to say the Kings will have a poor season, but it doesn’t hurt that their most home-heavy month comes when they aren’t officially out of the playoff race. The stands will be full, and the passion and intensity of Kings fans will be palpable.

Making the most of important stretches of games is pivotal for teams eager to put the NBA on notice. If they can take advantage of a surplus of home games, momentum can swing their way.

The Schedule Gets Tougher

January will be jam-packed. Across 19 days, the Kings play 12 games. They also face four back-to-backs during the month. This will test the strength and endurance of their rookies, who are used to shorter seasons with games more spread out.

February is a travel-heavy month for the Kings. The team flies roughly 11,600 miles, including 6,000+ over just six days (Feb. 9-14). That stretch of games sees them playing in Milwaukee, Houston, Indianapolis, then Atlanta, an interesting zig-zag from the Midwest, to Texas, to the Midwest again, then the Southeast, not to mention they have to fly back home thousands of miles.

Total travel mileage is an area where the Kings stand out, although rankings vary by methodology. The Yahoo! Sports staff ranks Sacramento fourth in miles traveled, while Courtsketch‘s calculations rank them first. Discrepancies aside, the Kings face one of the NBA’s heavier travel schedules, as they’re projected to travel over 48,000 miles in both models.

Final Record Prediction

It’s tough to determine how the Kings will perform this season. Their preferred starting lineup last year was Russell Westbrook, LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Murray, and Sabonis. Westbrook has retired, and the Kings waived DeRozan, whereas LaVine, Murray, and Sabonis were rarely on the floor. At the trade deadline, they added Hunter to the mix, but he played just two games due to a detached retina.

After the draft, the new expected starting five are Darius Acuff Jr., LaVine, Hunter, Murray, and Sabonis. Until they play any minutes as a unit, it’s unfair to judge them harshly. That said, this does not appear to be a core that will lead the Kings to a playoff trip.

The team’s main goal, apart from a playoff berth, should be to remain above the relegation zone. Due to the new NBA Draft Lottery rules, teams that land in the 14-15th spots in their conferences are no longer rewarded with the highest odds in the draft. Winning games is a must, and this intriguing core can and should do it.

The Kings should finish above last season’s win total. 34-48 seems reasonable. Both conferences feature powerhouses, but also beatable opponents. They’re sure to squeak out a few upsets, along with expected victories over lackluster teams.