Kings Lose Top NBA Draft Odds as Season Winds Down

Sacramento's recent wins have dropped them to the fourth-best odds for the 2026 NBA Draft's top pick.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:49pm

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The Sacramento Kings had the worst record in the NBA for much of the season, giving them the best odds for the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. However, the Kings have won 5 of their last 10 games, causing them to fall to the fourth-best odds for the top pick. This is a significant misstep, as the teams now ahead of them - Indiana, Washington, and Brooklyn - have been more strategic about losing games to improve their draft position.

Why it matters

The difference between the best and fourth-best odds can be crucial when the NBA Draft Lottery balls start bouncing. Weeks ago, the Kings had a 14% chance at the top pick, but now face the possibility of falling all the way to the 8th pick. This is a big missed opportunity for the Kings, who were in prime position to land one of the top 3 talents in a strong 2026 draft class.

The details

Over their last 10 games, the Kings have gone 5-5, picking up wins over teams like the Bulls, Pacers, Clippers and Jazz. This has caused them to quickly lose their grip on the top odds, with the Pacers, Wizards and Nets now ahead of them. The Kings could have been more strategic, such as sitting veteran scorer DeMar DeRozan, who has been playing well lately and helping the team win games they likely should have lost.

  • The Kings had the worst record in the NBA for much of the 2025-26 season.
  • Over the last 10 games, the Kings have gone 5-5.

The players

DeMar DeRozan

A veteran scorer for the Kings who has been playing well lately, helping the team win games they likely should have lost in order to improve their draft position.

Darryn Peterson

A top prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft class that the Kings could have had a better chance of selecting had they maintained the league's worst record.

AJ Dybantsa

Another top prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft class that the Kings could have had a better chance of selecting had they maintained the league's worst record.

Cameron Boozer

A highly touted prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft class that the Kings could have had a better chance of selecting had they maintained the league's worst record.

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What’s next

The Kings will continue to play out the remainder of the 2025-26 season, hoping to be more mindful of their draft positioning going forward.

The takeaway

This case highlights the fine line NBA teams must walk between developing young talent and strategically positioning themselves for the draft. The Kings' recent wins have cost them a prime opportunity to land a top-3 pick in a strong 2026 draft class, a misstep that could haunt the franchise for years to come.