Yet another injury will limit the Sacramento Kings for the remainder of their tragic 2025-26 NBA season. Their lone trade deadline acquisition will be sidelined after requiring surgery.
Per Chris Haynes, Senior NBA Insider for NBA on Prime and NBATV, reported that De’Andre Hunter “will undergo season-ending eye surgery,” as league sources told him and Marc Stein.
Kings general manager Scott Perry traded Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to the Cleveland Cavaliers — along with an extremely late second-round pick being sent to Chicago in the three-team deal — in exchange for Hunter roughly a week prior to the 2026 NBA trade deadline.
BREAKING: Sacramento Kings forward De’Andre Hunter will undergo season-ending eye surgery, league sources tell @TheSteinLine and me.
📸: @SacramentoKings pic.twitter.com/IAvaPRALoz
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 20, 2026
Hunter has played just 51 minutes over two games for the Kings since then, totaling 15 points, three rebounds, and one assist. Looking at the larger sample size of 43 games with the Cavaliers this season, the 6’8 forward tallied 14 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 42.3 percent from the field and 30.8 percent on 5.5 three-point attempts per game.
The season-ending surgery is surprising news, as Hunter said recently that he hoped the Kings would end their season strong.
“It’s not all the way there yet, but it’s definitely a lot better than it was,” Hunter said following Wednesday’s practice regarding his eye injury. “I’m able to actually play and train and stuff like that. So, it’s progressing really well.”
Well, apparently, he wasn’t able to continue his positive progress, as the Haynes reporting now indicates he will miss the remainder of the season.
He joins Domantas Sabonis (knee) and Zach LaVine (finger) as the third Kings player who will miss the remainder of their season after undergoing surgery.
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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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