With the 2024-25 NBA season now in the rearview mirror, it’s time for the Sacramento Kings to evaluate the current roster and look ahead to what’s next. That means assessing how each returning player performed this past year—and what steps they need to take to grow heading into next season.
Over the next few days, we’ll break down the performance of each key returnee, highlight their strengths and shortcomings from the season, and assign them a grade based on their 2024-25 production.
Zach LaVine – 2024-25 Season Grade: C+
Zach LaVine entered the 2024-25 season with his value at rock bottom—coming off a 25-game campaign and still carrying a hefty three years left on his $215 million deal. But to his credit, LaVine came out swinging. His electric start with the Bulls reignited his trade value just in time for the Kings to acquire him as the centerpiece in a deal that sent off a franchise cornerstone.
LaVine’s scoring efficiency remained elite throughout the season. He posted a 63.7% true shooting percentage in Chicago and slightly improved to 64.2% after arriving in Sacramento. He even delivered one of his best scoring performances ever against Charlotte. But while the shot-making remained, the overall impact didn’t.
The Kings were statistically worse with LaVine on the floor (-6.5 on/off per 100 possessions) compared to the Bulls, where he was a net positive. In Sacramento, his defensive deficiencies (7th percentile in Defensive EPM) and limited playmaking ability (38th percentile Passer Rating) became more glaring next to ball-dominant players like DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis. His elite 3-point shooting (44.6%) made him a spacing weapon, but he couldn’t cover for the roster’s lack of balance or fill the void left by De’Aaron Fox’s departure.
LaVine remains a gifted scorer, but his fit in Sacramento is questionable at best. With two expensive years still left on his deal and his value having normalized again, the Kings face a tough challenge: either build a better-fitting core around him or try to move a contract that may now be as much a burden as it is a benefit.