Sacramento Kings six-time all-star DeMar DeRozan began his 16th NBA season on Thursday night. The Kings added the three-time All-NBA veteran as a free agent last summer, and Sacramento’s expectations were immediately increased. Following their season-opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, DeRozan spoke with reporters about how he felt in his debut and what he loves about his new team.
DeMar DeRozan Feels Welcome in Sacramento After His Debut
DeMar DeRozan Preaches Rhythm Following Season Opening Defeat
The night ended in a close, entertaining, but disappointing two-point loss to the Timberwolves as Sacramento officially started their 2024-25 NBA campaign. The offensive potential was on full display for the Kings as three of their top players, De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and DeRozan, all exceeded 15 points. At the same time, two others reached double digits also. The big three combined for 65 points—a highly impressive debut. Still, the Kings fell to the Timberwolves late.
Despite the loss, the Kings’ six-time All-Star roared out of the gates and was by no means disappointing in his debut. The Kings are a dynamic offensive team, a word he specifically used when asked to describe his feelings regarding his new team compared to his previous NBA stops.
“Man, it’s amazing, you know, how dynamic this team is, is incredible. I got the upmost confidence in this group of guys, you know once we get a rhythm, a feel, and we gonna continue to get better with every single day but, you know, this team is extremely dynamic, with what we able to do on both ends, and you know like I said once that rhythm comes, its definitely going to be scary.”
Scary might be the right word for what the Kings can do offensively. Last year, they were one of the league’s best offensive teams in three-point shooting and specific floor actions (dribble handoffs, for example). Fox, Malik Monk, Kevin Huerter, and Keegan Murray are all excellent three-point shooters, not to mention Sabonis—that triple-double machine and possibly the most fun NBA dad in the league, according to Netflix’s Starting 5 series. With DeRozan now in the fold, the Kings offense already looks scary. You rarely lose a two-point game when your three best players score 20-plus points a piece. Don’t count on that to happen often this season for the Kings.
Are the Kings DeRozan’s Last Championship Chance?
DeRozan has insinuated in the past that if it were not for LeBron James, the Toronto Raptors could have progressed a lot deeper in the Eastern Conference and even made multiple NBA Finals appearances. Of course, the Raptors eventually broke through. However, three major factors manipulated that. Lebron had left the East, DeRozan had left Toronto (and the East), and Kawhi Leonard arrived in Toronto in the trade for DeRozan with the San Antonio Spurs. Oh, and Kevin Durant tore his Achilles. So, four major factors led to the Raptors breaking through.
Nevertheless, DeRozan has never won a championship. He never came close in San Antonio and certainly not in Chicago. But with the Kings, this is clearly the most talented squad he’s ever been a part of. After one regular season game, DeRozan is already showering his teammates with words like dynamic and scary. Sacramento may very well be DeRozan’s last, best chance at a title. The West is no sun-kissed, flower-infested valley. It’s a gauntlet, and the Kings are right in the middle. It’s too soon to put them above, say, the Thunder, Mavericks, or Nuggets. But can they be put above several other teams who will all vie for playoff positioning? Maybe.
One could argue that the chances are good for the Kings, judging from what we saw against Minnesota. One game in, you can see the difference De’Rozan has made and how dangerous he, Fox, and Sabonis can be together. Perhaps it is a sign that to sleep on the Kings would make you a court jester.
