Kings’ winless start comes with a troubling gap in open shots

October 28, 2026

The Kings aren’t just missing shots. They’re making life considerably easier for the people shooting against them.

That’s the concern behind Sacramento’s 0-4 start, and it goes beyond waiting for somebody to get hot.

Through four games, the Kings generated 40 wide-open three-point attempts. Their opponents generated 90, according to Will Zimmerle of Kings On SI.

Those are attempts with the nearest defender at least six feet away. Sacramento ranked last in both creating those opportunities and preventing them.

A shooting slump is one thing. Giving the other team more than twice as many clean looks creates a different problem.

The picture around the basket isn’t much better. Opponents converted 77.9% of their restricted-area attempts against the Kings, while Sacramento made 61.8% of its own, per Zimmerle.

So the Kings are struggling to finish inside while allowing opponents to get comfortable both at the rim and behind the arc. That’s a difficult combination to overcome with a few timely jumpers.

Injuries have complicated the start, including the loss of Simmons. But Sacramento’s problems extend to the quality of possessions it’s producing and allowing.

The Kings ranked 28th offensively and 29th defensively through those four games. Coach Doug Christie doesn’t need to solve an entire season at once, but finding ways to generate cleaner shots and make opponents work harder would help.

Four games are a small sample. The gap in comfortable opportunities is already large enough to demand attention.