Kings show no life against the Dallas Mavericks. Here is who is to blame | Opinion
Weeks ago, it was reported that Kings veterans DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis wanted to have tough conversations with the front office about the direction of the team. That sounds similar to what DeAaron Fox was saying before he forced a trade to the San Antonio Spurs in February.
Fox questioned where the Kings organization was headed.
It’s disappointing to see veterans like DeRozan and Sobanis take such childish steps. The ownership can give you direction all you want, but what happens on the court is what takes you to where you want to go.
Wednesday’s elimination loss to the Dallas Mavericks at Golden 1 Center proves this team has no direction and the players showed no fire to give it direction other than a one-way ticket to summer vacations while better teams with more committed players move onto the NBA playoffs.
You can’t really complain about direction when you show no signs of life when it matters most. That time came when the Kings hosted the Mavericks in a win-or-go-home game. On paper, the Kings had the home court advantage.
Kings’ players showed us who they are as the Mavericks whipped them up and down the court. The Kings’ lack of any defensive intensity made Klay Thompson look like he was ten years younger and winning championships with the Golden State Warriors again.
The Kings looked sluggish and appeared like they were ready for the season to end. They were giving the Mavericks every look they wanted. Fans were walking out at the beginning of the 4th quarter, and who could blame them?.
Maybe the hammer wouldn’t have been lowered as hard if the Stockton Kings, G-League champions, had played instead.. They were committed to what they were doing, unlike the Kings.
Wednesday’s performance puts Kings’ ownership in the driver’s seat. They have the power in these supposed conversations with Sabonis and DeRozan. No player should be complaining about creating a path forward after such a terrible showing.
The Kings end their up-and-down season on a pitiful note. The summer offers a new chapter, a time to set a new course. But if owner Vivek Ranadive wants to do it right, tough decisions will have to be made.
This current Kings team is dysfunctional. No one on the roster should point fingers anywhere but at themselves. What were we really to expect from a team whose roster was overhauled at mid-season?
Whether you call it a restart or a rebuild, change is in the Kings’ future.
The Kings can climb up the NBA ranks, but they need players who buy in.
This story was originally published April 16, 2025 at 10:16 PM.
