New general manager Scott Perry and head coach Doug Christie were transparent, heading into the 2025-26 Sacramento Kings season, that it is about cultivating an identity.
Perry’s six principles cover their mentality: competitive, tough, team-oriented, disciplined, accountable, and professional. Their veterans at the top of the roster —DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, and new addition Russell Westbrook — obviously fit the bill.
But they’d obviously prefer to win games throughout this process. Christie’s “overarching principles” on the court have been to “defend, rebound, and share.”
Three games into their season, they haven’t checked those boxes. It’s as early in the process as it gets, but how their current roster fits their desired defensive orientation was curious.
Sunday night’s losing battle against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers was the most obvious example. With Luka Doncic and LeBron James sidelined, it was clearly going to be the Austin Reaves show.
I was asked around pregame to see who else could pick up the slack for Los Angeles. Would Deandre Ayton roll hard and make a difference? Could it be Rui Hachimura or a night where Marcus Smart decides to let it fly? Maybe a Jake LaRavia ‘revenge game’?
Well, Ayton (22) and Hachimura (18) combined for 40, but it turned out to be just the Austin Reaves show all night long.
He shared postgame that Doncic joked Reaves needed to go for forty without him. How about 50?
“He was like I need 60…”
Luka Dončić had BIG expectations for AR tonight 😂 https://t.co/eexpLy9iXN pic.twitter.com/raC0htO9tv
— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2025
The fifth-year guard had a career night with 51 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists against the Kings. Perhaps more impressively, he went 21/22 from the free-throw line.
“You have guys in and out at a rotation because of foul trouble,” DeRozan said after Sunday’s loss. “It’s hard to get a rhythm, because you put them on the line, giving them a rhythm. So it’s definitely tough.”
YouTube video
The Lakers shot 46 free throws as a team, something he called “crazy” countless times in his presser. While they were clearly unhappy with what most of them believed was a one-sided whistle, their defensive shortcomings were apparent.
Christie attempted various coverages and defenders to slow down Reaves to no avail. Keon Ellis found himself in early foul trouble. Their perimeter containment left backline responsibilities to Sabonis, who also committed two quick personals.
Switching 1-4 for most of the action lets Reaves find his preferred matchup. When Sacramento’s bigs dropped in pick-and-roll defense, he didn’t hesitate to let it fly, going 6/10 from three.
By the fourth quarter, the Kings elected to double-team him, but he just made the right play from there.
Reaves was able to hit the pocket pass nearly every time, and Sacramento’s 4-on-3 defense from there stood no chance — especially given their lack of size with four-guard lineups.
Missing their most versatile defender, Keegan Murray, hasn’t helped the cause, as DeRozan and Westbrook have often filled the now vacant power forward spot.
Sacramento is trying to adopt an aggressive defensive style, even though it may not have the personnel to pull it off. As Christie often says, “Make them feel us.” This approach has helped them force opponents into 16 or more turnovers in each of their first three games. However, it has also resulted in a negative free-throw disparity each time out.
As mentioned, it’s early in the season, but Sacramento’s upcoming schedule isn’t kind. They’re identity hasn’t been clear up to this point, and it’s tough to identify a reliable, consistent strength given their roster construction.
More Sacramento Kings coverage on Sactown Sports
Upon learning that the Los Angeles Lakers would be without stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James due to injury on Sunday night in Sacramento, it seemed as if the Kings were in a strong spot to pick up a second-straight win.
Austin Reaves had other plans.
Reaves scored a career-high 51 points, with 21 coming at the free-throw line to lead the shorthanded Lakers past the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center by a final of 127-120.
Read More:
Reaves’ career night leads shorthanded Lakers past Kings
When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
Sacramento will embark on a four-game road trip that will begin with a tough test against the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday afternoon.
Oklahoma City will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back after facing the Mavericks in Dallas on Monday.
Be sure to catch all of the Kings vs. Thunder action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 2:00 PM PT on The Drive Guys before a 5:00 pm PT tip-off from downtown Oklahoma City.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Tuesday, October 28th – @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 5 PM PT
Wednesday, October 29th – @ Chicago Bulls – 5 PM PT
Saturday, November 1st – @ Milwaukee Bucks – 2:00 PM PT
Monday, November 3rd – @ Denver Nuggets – 6:00 PM PT
Wednesday, November 5th – vs. Golden State Warriors – 7:00 PM PT
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