Sacramento Kings Emerge as NBA's Top Two-Way Player Developers

The Kings' focus on defense, effort, and defined roles has allowed them to turn two-way contracts into long-term contributors.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Sacramento Kings have quietly established themselves as one of the NBA's best organizations at developing two-way players into legitimate contributors. Their development philosophy emphasizes defensive reliability, effort, and basketball IQ, allowing overlooked talent to thrive in clearly defined roles that align with the team's identity. Players like Keon Ellis, Isaac Jones, and Dylan Cardwell have all transitioned from two-way deals to guaranteed contracts through the Kings' patient, system-oriented approach.

Why it matters

In a league where two-way contracts are often treated as temporary experiments, the Kings view them as long-term investments. Their ability to turn these players into stable rotation pieces speaks to the strength of their development program and the organization's commitment to building a winning culture through defense and team-first basketball.

The details

The Kings' success with two-way players is rooted in their strong G League infrastructure, where the affiliate team mirrors the NBA squad's offensive and defensive systems. This alignment allows players to move between levels seamlessly and develop with specific NBA roles in mind. The organization's emphasis on patience, development, and role clarity has created realistic pathways for two-way players to earn minutes and prove their worth.

  • The Kings have quietly established themselves as one of the NBA's best at developing two-way players in recent years.
  • This season, Dylan Cardwell has emerged as the Kings' latest success story, earning an extension after providing valuable interior defense, energy, and physicality off the bench.

The players

Keon Ellis

Initially signed to a two-way deal, Ellis earned minutes through elite point-of-attack defense and positional versatility, ultimately earning a guaranteed NBA contract and a stable rotation role.

Isaac Jones

Known for his physicality and relentless motor, Jones maximized his opportunities through the Kings' system, transitioning from a two-way player to a proven contributor.

Dylan Cardwell

This season, Cardwell has emerged as the Kings' latest success story, providing valuable interior defense, energy, and physicality off the bench, earning him a contract extension.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Seeing a clear path from a two-way deal to a rotation player made Sacramento the ideal fit.”

— Dylan Cardwell (si.com)

What’s next

The Kings will look to continue their success in developing two-way players, as depth becomes increasingly essential in the modern NBA.

The takeaway

The Sacramento Kings' commitment to patience, development, and role clarity has allowed them to set the standard for turning two-way players into long-term contributors. Their ability to identify and nurture overlooked talent through a strong G League system and a team-first philosophy has been a key factor in their recent success.