The Sacramento Kings hoped their two-game winning streak signaled a long-needed turnaround. Instead, Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center felt like yet another gut punch in a season full of them.
A brutal 41–16 first quarter set the tone for a 112–100 loss to the Phoenix Suns, sending the Kings to 5–14 and pushing Zach LaVine, already surrounded by trade chatter, to voice a rare, pointed frustration about where things stand.
Zach LaVine Vents His Frustration
After the loss, LaVine didn’t sugarcoat the mood. Speaking with reporters, including ESPN’s James Ham, he described the team’s inconsistency as maddening, saying:
“I mean, every game has been different for us. We have played two games, we play really good, you know, we end up playing like this. Got to find a rhythm somehow, someway, but each game has been different.”
When pressed on whether effort or consistency was to blame, LaVine pushed back: “I don’t know. You guys can say all you want to about effort. We play as hard as we can, we’re out here exhausted… so, um, I don’t know.”
An extremely frustrated Zach LaVine from the locker room after the Kings dropped to 5-14 on the season. pic.twitter.com/YQzAoGwrO2
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA) November 27, 2025
Likewise, on his personal frustration level, he was blunt as well: “Not good. Guys are frustrated we’re not winning, guys are frustrated they’re not playing right, or playing in the way that would best suit them… we’re all trying our heart out though.”
As for how to climb out of the hole, LaVine stressed accountability: “Look each other in the face and try to encourage each other and get ourselves better… play hard, play for each other, and figure it out.”
The two-time All-Star finished with 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting — another tough night in what has become a cold stretch after his explosive start to the season.
The Kings’ issues weren’t subtle. Phoenix racked up 34 points off 19 Sacramento turnovers, exploiting every sloppy sequence.
LaVine’s slump hasn’t helped either; after opening the season with four 30-plus point outings, he has averaged just 10.1 points in five of his last six games, excluding his 26-point burst against the Memphis Grizzlies.
With Sacramento now 13th in the Western Conference and trade rumors around LaVine resurfacing, the pressure is mounting for a course correction and they need it fast.
The Kings next suit up on Friday, Nov. 28, against the Utah Jazz, hoping for a reset after another deflating night.
