While the Sacramento Kings have a shocking number of problems to deal with, the one they can't fix is their schedule. It was rough from the get-go through the end of 2025, and it's not getting better any time soon. January is going to be a grind for the Kings, one that won't lead to a lot of wins.
Over the first 33 games of the season in 2025, the Kings had an impressively tough schedule. They faced the Thunder, the Nuggets, and the Timberwolves three times each, which was more than enough. When the NBA filled in the Cup schedule, the Kings had more problems on their hands.