Kings land 10th in Zach Lowe’s annual League Pass rankings

The Sacramento Kings fell short of the playoffs last season, but they earned a reputation among League Pass junkies as one of the most fun teams in the league. It came as a bit of surprise last year, as the Kings suddenly were a fast and fun team led by speed demon De’Aaron Fox. Last year’s team took everyone by surprise, though. Nobody expected the Kings to be fun to watch. Zach Lowe ranked them 30th, dead last, in his League Pass ranking last season. This season they’ve jumped all the way to 10th.

Lowe:

Leap onto the De’Aaron Fox bandwagon before it speeds away. Fox had the Kings living in transition last season -- after turnovers, misses, makes, even free throws. Luke Walton might try to play even faster.

Buddy Hield put together one of the 10 or so greatest shooting seasons ever -- 43% from deep on eight tries per game. Hield needs only a sliver of space to let fly, and he pries it open with cagey pump fakes, sidesteps, and moonwalks.

Marvin Bagley III is going to be a monster scorer from all over the floor. Dewayne Dedmon is enough of a threat spotting up for 3s that Bagley should spend at least some of his time with the starters screening for Fox and jaunting down the lane for ferocious dunks. Bogdan Bogdanovic is a trickster with and without the ball.

Lowe goes on to say he thought he’d end up putting the Kings even higher than 10th this year, but held them back due to their struggles in the half court, and that teams may be more prepared for Sacramento’s pace this year.

While I don’t agree with all the team’s Lowe has ahead of the Kings (I still refuse to believe the Bulls or Jazz will be fun to watch, even if I think the team’s themselves will be good), ultimately these are Zach’s personal rankings so there really isn’t a right or wrong answer. It’s just fun seeing the Kings recognized as an exciting young team that’s enjoyable to watch.