The Sacramento Kings have completely turned a corner in the new year. They are among the hottest teams in the NBA, winning nine out of their last ten games. They’ve also become one of the most fun teams, with a roster full of talented players and a well-coached scheme. This all started when Sacramento made the controversial decision to fire head coach Mike Brown. In his place, Doug Christie has flourished as the new head coach and the Sacramento Kings have steadily climbed the ranks of the Western Conference standings.
Doug Christie’s Rotational Changes
One of the biggest reasons for the Sacramento Kings’ success has been Christie’s changes to the rotation. Under Brown, young players like Keon Ellis and Devin Carter rarely saw the floor. Since Christie took over, Ellis has started in multiple games, getting significant playing time, and Carter has been a nice piece off the bench. There have been many games during the Kings 9-1 stretch where these players have completely turned the tides of a game. In a double overtime thriller against the Miami Heat, Ellis played an integral role in the Sacramento Kings’ 17-point comeback. He had 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
In a string of games where De’Aaron Fox was out, Ellis stepped into the starting lineup without missing a beat. He has proven himself as a great shooter and perimeter defender. This season, he is averaging 1.7 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. When Brown was the head coach, Ellis rarely played, and the Sacramento Kings defense suffered. His increased role has improved the team’s defense, and his 44.6% three-point shooting is not a bad perk either. Alongside Ellis, Carter’s development has also been interesting. The rookie came back from an injury and has earned a spot in Chirstie’s rotation, proving himself as another valuable piece.
The Sacramento Kings’ Stars
The Sacramento Kings’ recent success goes beyond new additions to the rotation and increased roles. Their star players have been pulling their weight as well. In particular, Domantas Sabonis has been excellent in recent games. Last season, Sabonis was snubbed of an All-Star selection. This season, he has been even better, so if he is not an All-Star, it would be even more egregious. Sabonis is averaging a career-high 20.8 points and 14.2 rebounds per game. He’s also averaging 6.3 assists and shooting 48.4% from three. His rebounds and three-point percentage lead the entire NBA.
DeMar DeRozan has also played well. He is averaging 21.5 points per game this season, but through the last ten games, he’s averaged 23.3. One of the problems with the Sacramento Kings early in the season was acclimating DeRozan to the starting lineup and team they already had.
With Christie’s lineup changes, things have opened up for DeRozan and the Kings, making their offense much more successful. During this run, they’ve beaten some of the best teams in the NBA like the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Dallas Mavericks. These rotation changes have not only helped young players like Ellis, but made it easier for Sabonis, DeRozan, and Fox.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, the Sacramento Kings are 8-1 and are 9-1 in their last ten games. Christie has turned the team around by elevating young players and making the offense flow through the star players. It’s a very simple strategy, but it turns out that if a team plays the right guys in the right lineups, things can change drastically. The Sacramento Kings were 13-19 and well out of a playoff spot. Now, they are 22-20 and have climbed to the ninth seed in the Western Conference. They are only one game back from the sixth seed, so if this team can continue their hot streak, they could be a playoff threat.
