ESPN recently dropped their list of the top 100 players in basketball. Shockingly, no one from the Sacramento Kings made the top ten, though Domantas Sabonis did check in at 58. For the moment, he's the only King on the list, but there are a few players positioned to make some noise for next year.
The 2025-2026 season was an absolute train wreck for the Kings, even the generally reliable Sabonis. For the first time in his career, he suffered an injury that cut his season extremely short. Ultimately, Sabonis only played 19 games, which is the least he's played in a campaign by far.
Despite that, Sabonis still found a spot on 2026 top 100 players list, largely because of what he's accomplished in seasons past. His status elite double-double producer remains intact for the most part. He did drop from being ranked 34th a year ago, a result of his abbreviated 2025-2026 season.
This list also notes other well-known issues with Sabonis, specifically his weak three-point shot and non-existent rim protection. These concerns not only keep him lower down the rankings, they continue to make him difficult to trade. Still, he's the only King on the list, which may change soon.
Sacramento's roster is on the rise
When you look at the current crew on the Kings, they are not lacking in youth and talent. Sacramento currently has seven players who are 25-years-old and younger. That includes rookie starting point guard Darius Acuff Jr. who will check into his first NBA game at the ripe old age of 19.
These are all players on the rise, with potential to make a real splash. All eyes are on Acuff as he was a high draft pick with a massive amount of potential. The league should also be paying attention to sophomores Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell, both of whom had great rookie seasons.
Cardwell broke through because of his energy, charisma, and suffocating defense at the rim. Raynaud took the league by storm, leaping from deep in the second round of the 2025 to frequently being in fifth place on the Kia Rookie Ladder. He even made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Acuff has what it takes to jump onto next year's pre-season top 100 list, without question. The continued trajectory of Raynaud and Cardwell that makes them both contenders, as well. Assuming Sabonis is still a King next season, he might not be the only one on the 2027 list.
