The Sacramento Kings entered last offseason on a high note after acquiring six-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan, but despite the buzz around his arrival, their 2024–25 season fell far short of expectations.
Finishing with a 40–42 record, the Kings missed the playoffs for the second straight year, bowing out after a play-in tournament loss to the Dallas Mavericks. While DeRozan put up solid numbers—averaging 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists—his first year in Sacramento was riddled with turbulence.
The season saw major shake-ups, including the mid-year firing of head coach Mike Brown and the surprising trade of franchise point guard De’Aaron Fox. Recently, the front office followed suit, with general manager Monte McNair parting ways with the team. With each major change, the Kings became less and less like the team DeRozan initially signed on to join.
Speaking in his postseason exit interview, the 35-year-old veteran reflected on the turmoil.
“It’s just indicative of the season we had to endure from top to bottom,” DeRozan said. “It still hasn’t set in yet… it’s definitely been a year.”
Following the loss to Dallas, DeRozan expressed his urgency to make the most of what remains in his career and emphasized what will matter most in deciding his next steps.
“Just the structure and a foundation of a compete level,” he said. “I think all year we had such an uncertainty of everything. You can’t really operate in any successful environment with that much uncertainty.”
Given the chaos in Sacramento, it’s unclear whether the franchise can offer the kind of stability DeRozan is seeking. The veteran even described this season as the most chaotic of his 16-year NBA career.
While signs point toward a potential exit, the situation remains fluid. Reports suggest the Kings are finalizing a deal to bring in Scott Perry as the new general manager, a move that could influence DeRozan’s decision.
This offseason will be a critical turning point for the Kings—both in defining their long-term direction and in determining whether DeRozan will be part of it.
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