Despite finishing their season with a 22-60 record, the Sacramento Kings ended up with the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Sunday’s lottery led to plenty of frustration for Kings’ fans, as they came into the night with the fifth-highest odds. But their most likely outcome was always the 25.5 percent chance of finishing seventh, which came about because the Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies jumped into the top four.
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Sacramento was not the only team that suffered a notable drop, as the Indiana Pacers — who owned a top-four-protected pick due to an in-season trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for Ivica Zubac — had their worst fears come true when their pick landed at fifth and will go to the Clippers. The Brooklyn Nets also fell three spots, ending one spot above the Kings in sixth.
While most draft experts view there to be a clear top four in the 2026 NBA Draft between AJ Dybansta, Darryn Peterson, Caleb Wilson, and Cameron Boozer, there’s still plenty of intriguing talents beyond them.
Guards Kingston Flemings, Keaton Wagler, and Darius Acuff Jr. are the names most mentioned after that grouping, and Sacramento general manager Scott Perry will likely have the chance to select at least one of them if he so chooses. Others like Mikel Brown Jr., Brayden Burries, Labaron Philon Jr., and Nate Ament also could be considered.
The disappointment among the fanbase is understandable, especially given that the Kings owned the worst record for most of the season before winning eight of their final 10 games. But great players are often still found around their current draft slot.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 25: Jeremiah Fears (R) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) after being drafted seventh overall by the New Orleans Pelicans during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Jeremiah Fears (R) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) after being drafted seventh overall by the New Orleans Pelicans during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Last 10 7th Overall Picks in the NBA Draft
2025: Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans)
2024: Donovan Clingan (Portland)
2023: Bilal Coulibaly (Indiana)
2022: Shaedon Sharpe (Portland)
2021: Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State)
2020: Killian Hayes (Detroit)
2019: Coby White (Chicago)
2018: Wendell Carter Jr. (Chicago)
2017: Lauri Markkanen (Chicago)
2016: Jamal Murray (Denver)
The list isn’t full of all-star-caliber players who would change a franchise, but those like White, Markkanen, Murray, Clingan, and Sharpe have proven to be valuable pieces for their teams. Sacramento desperately needs its next star player, but more than anything, they lack youth with notable upside and will still have a chance to add that in 2026.
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If you really want an optimistic perspective, Stephen Curry, who many believe is the best point guard of All-Time, was taken with the seventh pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. That’s only focusing on that pick, as the last few league MVPs were taken even beyond that selection.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went 11th, and Giannis Antetokounmpo was selected 15th. Nikola Jokic, the biggest outlier of them all, was the 41st pick. While pretending they have a high chance of adding their franchise players with the seventh pick would be misleading, it’s worth noting that crazier things have happened in recent NBA history.
General manager Scott Perry surely would have preferred things to have unraveled differently, but he and his staff will still have a chance to add an important piece to help kickstart their rebuild/retool moving forward.
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Upcoming Sacramento Kings & NBA Offseason Schedule
Thursday, June 4th– NBA Finals begin
Thursday, June 25th – NBA Draft (Round 1)
Friday, June 26th – NBA Draft (Round 2)
Tuesday, June 30th – NBA Free Agency negotiation period begins (3 PM PT)
Thursday, July 9th – NBA Las Vegas Summer League begins
Monday, July 13th – Free Agency moratorium ends / signings can become official
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