Kings Owner Blames Injuries for Disastrous Season

Vivek Ranadive cites injuries as the main cause for Sacramento's poor 2025-26 campaign.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:55pm

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The Sacramento Kings have had a disastrous 2025-26 NBA season, and owner Vivek Ranadive is blaming the team's extensive injury issues as the primary reason for their struggles. Despite the Kings' expected starting lineup of Dennis Schroder, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis never playing a single minute together due to injuries, Ranadive's claim that injuries are the sole reason for the team's poor performance is being questioned.

Why it matters

The Kings' inability to field a healthy roster has been a major factor in their disappointing season, but there are also questions about the team's roster construction and coaching that may have contributed to their struggles. Ranadive's comments raise concerns about the franchise's ability to accurately assess the team's problems and make the necessary changes to turn things around.

The details

Domantas Sabonis has played only 19 games, Keegan Murray has played 23, and Zach LaVine has played 39. The Kings' expected starting lineup never played a minute together this season. Despite the extensive injury issues, some believe the team's problems go beyond just health, pointing to poor roster construction and coaching as additional factors in their disastrous campaign.

  • The Kings will go the entire 2025-26 season without seeing their expected starting lineup fully healthy.
  • The Kings' expected opening day starting lineup of Dennis Schroder, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis never played a minute together.

The players

Vivek Ranadive

The owner of the Sacramento Kings.

Domantas Sabonis

A Kings player who has played only 19 games this season due to injury.

Keegan Murray

A Kings player who has played 23 games this season due to injury.

Zach LaVine

A Kings player who has played 39 games this season due to injury.

Doug Christie

The first-year head coach of the Sacramento Kings.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, it's tough to lose, but injuries are a fact of life. I don't think we've had a single game where we've had all our starters together. So we've had the injury plague this year.”

— Vivek Ranadive, Kings Owner

What’s next

The Kings' offseason will be crucial, as they must decide whether to retain their core group of Sabonis, DeRozan, and LaVine, while also addressing the team's roster construction and coaching issues.

The takeaway

While injuries have undoubtedly played a significant role in the Kings' disastrous season, the team's owner's claim that injuries are the sole reason for their struggles is being questioned. The Kings must take a hard look at their roster construction and coaching in order to turn things around and become a competitive team again.