What the Spurs and Pistons Show About the Kings’ Path Forward

Just a year or two ago, the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons were stuck near the bottom of the standings, searching for direction and foundational talent. Today, both franchises are viewed as elite young teams with clear identities and legitimate championship trajectories. Their rapid rises did not come from desperation trades or short-term fixes, but from patience, internal development, and most importantly, strong drafting.

The contrast between where they were and where they are now offers a clear blueprint for the Sacramento Kings as they navigate one of the worst records in the league and an uncertain future. Sacramento’s current struggles may feel discouraging, but recent history shows that the bottom of the standings can be the starting point for something much bigger.

Learning from the Spurs

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle and San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama — Oct 26, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) and San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) look on in the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center. | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

San Antonio’s turnaround centers around generational talent in Victor Wembanyama, whose arrival immediately gave the franchise a focal point on both ends of the floor. Rather than rushing the rebuild, the Spurs continued stacking talent through the draft, adding young contributors who complement their star and fit a long-term timeline.

Players such as Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper have strengthened the core, giving San Antonio depth, versatility, and sustained upside. What once looked like a roster lacking direction now appears to be one of the most exciting collections of young talent in the league. The Spurs committed to development, accepted short-term losses, and are now reaping the rewards of that discipline.

Learning from the Pistons

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and center Jalen Duren — Jan 27, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) and center Jalen Duren (0) react to a foul called in the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Detroit’s climb has followed a similar arc, built around franchise guard Cade Cunningham. Not long ago, the Pistons endured the longest losing streak in NBA history, struggling to find wins or consistent production. Instead of abandoning their plan, they leaned into the rebuild, continued drafting carefully, and surrounded Cunningham with players who fit his skill set.

The patience has paid off, as Detroit now looks like a legitimate force in the Eastern Conference with a balanced roster and a clear identity. Their success reinforces that rebuilding is rarely linear, but a well-executed draft strategy can dramatically accelerate progress.

How the Kings can follow this path

Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie talks with center Dylan Cardwell and center Maxime Raynaud — Feb 6, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie talks with center Dylan Cardwell (32) and center Maxime Raynaud (42) during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Golden 1 Center. | Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

For the Kings, the parallels are clear. Sacramento currently sits in a position similar to where San Antonio and Detroit were not long ago: near the bottom of the standings, lacking elite top-end talent, and facing questions about direction.

The lesson from both teams is that the draft remains the most reliable pathway back to relevance. High lottery picks provide access to star potential, but equally important is identifying complementary pieces who can grow together over multiple seasons. Development infrastructure, patience from ownership, and clarity in roster construction all matter just as much as the individual selections themselves.

In the end, the Spurs and Pistons demonstrate that today’s struggles do not define tomorrow’s ceiling. Both franchises transformed from rebuilding projects into elite young contenders primarily through smart drafting and disciplined roster building.

The Kings have an opportunity to follow that same blueprint if they commit to a long-term vision rather than chasing quick fixes. Rebuilding requires tolerance for growing pains, but the payoff can reshape a franchise for years to come.

If Sacramento embraces the draft the way San Antonio and Detroit did, their current position could be remembered not as rock bottom, but as the foundation of their next great era.