Sacramento Kings: Difficult early-season schedule or bad team?

Is the Sacramento Kings’ slow start to the season subjected to a difficult early-season schedule or is this simply a bad team?

Even though the Sacramento Kings didn’t have huge expectations heading into the 2022-23 NBA season, it is a little surprising that they haven’t gotten off to a bit of a better start. Through the first week and a half (or the first four games of the season), the Kings have yet to win a game. They are 0-4, and one of three teams in the NBA that are still winless.

Looking at their roster, this is a team that has more talent than their record would suggest. De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter, and rookie sensation Keegan Murray. On paper, you would imagine that they would be better than the 0-4 start that they have gotten off to.

The question is, are the Kings the victim of a difficult early-season schedule or if this is simply a bad team?

Why the Sacramento Kings’ slow start can be chalked up to a difficult schedule

This is a difficult question to answer and not something that we can confidently say either way right now. However, looking at their first four games, you can make an argument that the Kings have had a difficult schedule to start the year.

They opened the season against the Portland Trail Blazers. It may not have seemed like a difficult game at the beginning of the season, but the Blazers are 4-1. They then played the LA Clippers, who many expect to be one of the strong championship contenders in the Western Conference.

After that, the Kings played the defending champion Golden State Warriors. Then, their fourth loss of the season came at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Those are four potential playoff teams in the Western Conference that the Kings have had to open the season against. Objectively, that’s not an easy schedule to open a season.

Is it time to panic for the Kings? I’d lean towards no. Aside from their 0-4 start to the year, there are some encouraging signs that the fan base can lean on. For one, De’Aaron Fox looks good. Really good.

So far this season, he’s averaging 31 points, six rebounds, and six assists per game on 59 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent shooting from 3-point range. His shot looks so much better compared to last season. Again, it’s just four games but it’s absolutely something to get excited about moving forward.

And second, Keegan Murray looks like the real deal. He has been added to the starting unit and is averaging 18 points and five rebounds on 51 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent shooting from 3-point range.

There’s still much we need to see from the Kings. We need more of a sample size before we brush aside this team.