Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine Want To Remain With Kings, DeMar DeRozan Sounds Iffy

Sacramento Kings players spoke with the local media on Thursday after their season ended on Thursday. The Kings lost the 9-10 NBA play-in tournament game to the Dallas Mavericks at home. 

Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine want to remain with the Kings, who are hiring Scott Perry as their new general manager. 

However, DeMar DeRozan sounds iffy about a Sacramento return. 

“I love it here. I want to stay here. I want to win here.”

Domantas Sabonis on his future in Sacramento pic.twitter.com/vZkhfh55MZ

— Kevin John (@heykevinjohn) April 17, 2025

“This city loves basketball…Sacramento has some of the best fans…I’m happy where I’m at…why wouldn’t I want to be here.”

-Zach LaVine on the season (various excerpts of his presser) pic.twitter.com/40wApb1v7u

— Kevin John (@heykevinjohn) April 17, 2025

“The uncertainty for me has always been the frustrating part.” DeRozan on the Kings organization.

— Kevin John (@heykevinjohn) April 17, 2025

The Kings fired Mike Brown as head coach and traded All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs this season.

LaVine, a two-time All-Star, was acquired by Sacramento from the Chicago Bulls. 

DeRozan and LaVine were teammates in Chicago. DeRozan, a future Hall of Famer, has played for the Toronto Raptors, Spurs, Bulls and Kings, while LaVine has played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bulls and Kings. 

Sacramento acquired Sabonis from the Indiana Pacers in the blockbuster Tyrese Haliburton trade back in 2022. Sabonis is one of the top rebounders in the NBA. 

Former NBA forward Doug Christie coached the Kings after Brown was fired. It’s unknown at the moment if Perry plans to keep Christie or hire a new coach. 

The Kings made the playoffs in 2023 for the first time since 2006. They lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round in seven games. Sacramento followed up its magical 2022-23 season by missing the postseason in 2024 and 2025. 

It will be interesting to see what moves the Kings make this summer. They need to hire a new coach and figure out if LaVine, DeRozan and Sabonis can play together. 

Perry spent three months with the Kings in 2017 before leaving for the New York Knicks. Perry will replace Monte McNair, who is out as Kings GM after the sides mutually agreed to his departure following Wednesday night’s loss to the Mavericks.