As the Sacramento Kings emerge from the All-Star break and stare down the final third of a difficult season, the focus has shifted away from wins and losses and toward long-term development.
NBC Sports California analyst Kayte Christensen joined Sactown Sports’ Jason Ross to outline what she’s watching most closely from the Kings’ young core over the final two months of what has been an overall rough season in Sacramento.
Christensen emphasized the importance of a mental and physical reset, especially for a team that has battled injuries and extended losing streaks.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 06: Keegan Murray #13 of the Sacramento Kings dunks the ball against the Miami Heat during the first quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on December 06, 2025 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The break, she said, offered players a rare chance to step away from the grind and refocus on what can still be gained. For the Sacramento Kings, that means turning the remainder of the schedule into an evaluation period — one centered on growth, opportunity, and future building blocks.
“You look at the young guys, they’re the guys that are going to get the majority of the playing time going forward,” Christensen said. “They’ve already played more games this year than they played their final year of college. Like that is a really legit thing that rookies have to go through and experience.”
At the top of that list is Keegan Murray, whom–while he isn’t a rookie–Christensen views as a foundational piece of the franchise. Despite being just in his fourth NBA season, Murray is now one of the more experienced players on a young roster.
Murray is set to return from a lengthy absence that was due to an ankle sprain, and the Iowa product will rejoin a depleted Kings lineup as a top-two scoring option.
With veterans like DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook seeing reduced minutes and Zach LaVine (along with Domantas Sabonis) sidelined for the remainder of the season, Christensen expects Murray to be placed in situations that test his ability to lead — not just with production, but with presence.
“One of the biggest steps for Keegan is finding his voice,” Christensen noted. Known as a quiet competitor, Murray now has an opportunity to grow into a more vocal leader, especially during adversity.
Sacramento is far removed from the third-seed finish that Murray experienced during his rookie season in 2022-23, and the fourth-year forward will now have his chance to lead on both ends of the floor over these final two months.
Christensen acknowledged that leadership looks different for every player, but believes this stretch will offer clarity on how Murray impacts the group when things get tough.
Beyond Murray, Christensen highlighted the value of meaningful minutes for young players like Devin Carter, Nique Clifford, and Maxime Raynaud. With several of them navigating an NBA schedule for the first time after long college seasons, the learning curve has been steep — but necessary.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 22: Nique Clifford #5 of the Sacramento Kings during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 22, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Christensen stressed that growth doesn’t always show up in box scores, emphasizing the importance of experiencing both breakout performances and rough shooting nights, while also noting that learning to impact games in other ways is critical for young players trying to establish themselves at the NBA level.
For the Sacramento Kings, this final stretch isn’t about salvaging the standings. It’s about identifying who can carry lessons from a challenging season into the offseason — and ultimately help shape what comes next.
Check out the full interview with NBC Sports California‘s Kayte Christensen by scrolling to the top of the page or by clicking here.
Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.
More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports
When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
The Sacramento Kings will begin a five-game road trip on Saturday afternoon against old friend De’Aaron Fox and the San Antonio Spurs.
Fox led all scorers with 28 points and 11 assists (two turnovers) during the Spurs’ win over the Kings back on November 16th.
Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. San Antonio Spurs action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 3:30 PM PT on Game Night before a 5:00 pm PT tip-off from downtown San Antonio.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Saturday, February 21st @ San Antonio Spurs – 5:00 PM PT
Monday, February 23rd @ Memphis Grizzlies – 5:00 PM PT
Wednesday, February 25th @ Houston Rockets – 5:00 PM PT
Thursday, February 26th @ Dallas Mavericks – 5:30 PM PT
Sunday, March 1st @ Los Angeles Lakers – 6:30 PM PT
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