With a month to go ahead of the start of a new season, the predictions have already begun to roll in. During one such discussion, the name of De?Aaron Fox & Co. came up as they were speculated to miss the 2024 playoffs. The franchise was not considered heavyweight despite their fight against the Golden State Warriors of Stephen Curry.

The squad put up a breathtaking performance earlier this year in the playoffs against the then-defending champions. Even after that, their chances for the upcoming season looked bleak, making them ?Cancun? bound.

What was the prediction for De?Aaron Fox & Co?

In the latest episode of The Hoop Collective,?Tim Bontemps picked the Sacramento Kings as the potential bust team for the next campaign. While making the prediction, he felt sorry for the supporters, keeping in mind their last season’s achievements. He still justified his take, saying they had a “charmed season”.

With little to no injuries in crucial games, the Kings put themselves in the pole position to punch above the weight. The NBA writer also highlighted the contributions of the players, which would be too difficult to repeat for them. “De’Aaron Fox had a career year…not sure he’s gonna be able to do that again,”?he stated, pointing it out.

Tim displayed concerns over the lack of depth too before shifting the focus to the competitiveness of the Western Conference. “The West is really deep and really good,”?he mentioned as he ruled out Sacramento’s chances of proceeding to the playoffs. He expressed his belief, saying, “I think it’s a lot more likely that they finish 9th to 11th”.

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The analyst appreciated the organization’s efforts last season, especially against the Warriors. “Loved how they attacked the series,”?Bontemps mentioned before making the Kings ?Cancun? bound for 2024. The ball is now on the team’s court, as the supporters have only one question in their minds right now.

Can the Kings replicate their success against the likes of Stephen Curry?

What the city achieved in the previous season was nothing short of phenomenal. The franchise made it to the knockouts after 16 years, with the entire fanbase joining in to celebrate. In their 7-game series, initially, they had even shocked the entire world.

Taking an early 2-0 lead in the playoff against the Dubs, Sacramento at one point looked hot favorites to win it. Stephen and his team had to make a comeback in the last match to clinch a victory. Since then, though, a small market team like them has failed to upgrade their roster.

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Thus, Tim’s words held a certain truth in them as a new campaign would bring in new challenges for them. It would be interesting to see what the Kings can do in the coming season.