With the 2023-24 NBA season underway, fans are hoping the Sacramento Kings will continue last year’s success. To find out what Jesuit High School Sacramento students think about this year’s squad, The Plank anonymously polled 46 random student-fans asking for their expectations and opinions. Here’s what they had to say: 

Over half of those who responded have been supporting this franchise for 10 years or more. Jesuit students are loyal to the Kings despite the franchise’s rocky history. Most notably, the Kings held the NBA record playoff drought of 16 years, which spans most students’ entire lives or longer. Even though the Kings finished with their first winning-record in almost two decades and earned the third-seed in the Playoffs last season, only 6.5% of respondents have been fans for a year or less, which should abolish any bandwagon narratives that could surround the Kings’ fan base on campus.

The excitement surrounding last year’s Clutch Player of the Year De’Aaron Fox has not died out – he earned more than twice as many votes as Keegan Murray and Malik Monk, who each won 19.6% of the total vote. Domantas Sabonis earned fewer votes than these three players, despite being named to the All-NBA third team last season by averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds per game. The anticipation surrounding Murray’s expected second-year leap and love for Monk’s energy off the bench may contribute to their large number of votes.

Last season, the Kings finished 48-34 to earn the third seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Many fans at Jesuit expect a very similar finish to the season this year, but 37% believe the Kings will have to settle for a 5 or 6 seed. This expected drop in seeding reflects just how crowded the Western Conference has become, with at least 11 teams being able to compete for only 8 playoff spots. While many other teams in the West retooled their rosters during the offseason, the Kings’ core remains largely the same. The additions of Sasha Venzenkov, Javale McGee, Chris Duarte, and Colby Jones add depth off the bench, but the cap space the Kings had going into last offseason was dedicated to extending the contracts of Harrison Barnes and Domantas Sabonis, rather than signing another star. 

An overwhelming 91.4% of respondents believe the Kings will advance deeper into the Playoffs this year than last. In the 2022-23 Playoffs, the Kings faced a tough first round matchup against the defending Champion Golden State Warriors. Despite it being this Kings team’s first Playoff appearance, they were able to push the defending champs to seven games. Jesuit students believe this team is ready to push past the first round in the postseason, with over half of fans believing the Kings can advance to the Conference Finals and beyond, even winning the title this year. Amongst the 30.4% of respondents who think the Kings can make it to the Finals, 71.4% say they can win the Championship – students expect big things from the Kings this year.

28.3% of students who responded say they have no concerns going into this season; however, 26.1% say injuries concern them and 19.6% point to the team’s defense as a possible problem. Last year, the Kings did not suffer any major injuries, a stroke of good luck which may not last through this season. Additionally, the Kings’ defense has proven to be a weakness of this roster. The Kings finished with a defensive rating of 116.0 last year, tied for the 6th worst in the league. That defense may improve this year, but many students are concerned it will carry over into the 2023-34 season.

80.4% of respondents agree that the Kings should continue building around their two All Stars, Fox and Sabonis, who have only spent one full-season together. Going into the 2023-24 season, fans expect Fox and Sabonis to lead the Kings to success and the team to prioritize them, shaping the roster around these two.

To end the poll, The Plank asked students for any other thoughts they have on the Kings. One respondent suggested that instead of structuring the roster around Fox and Sabonis, they focus on Trey Lyles, the backup power forward.

“The Kings should build around Trey Lyles,” the student said. “He is extremely underrated and the best player on this Kings team. He is a big game player and is from the greatest country in the world: Canada.”

Another student celebrates last year’s success and hopes that it carries over into the 2023-24 NBA season and beyond.

“I love the Kings,” this respondent said. “I truly hope that they continue to build on their success from last year. Seeing them break the [16] year Playoff drought was one of the best things I’ve seen in my life. I hope to see them competitive this year and for years to come.”

Another student also believes that the Kings can achieve long-term success, recognizing the team’s ability to compete and win at such a young age.

“The fact that this team is so young makes them even more dangerous,” the student said. “They’re having a huge amount of success and that success can last a long time for how young these players are.”

Student-fans at Jesuit are looking forward to another season for the Sacramento Kings, excited for the regular season and the Playoff success they expect to see. Jesuit students believe the Kings’ current roster can accomplish great things this year.