Kings and Suns Set for High-Stakes Clash to Kick Off 2025-26 NBA Season—What’s Really on the Line?

Brown coached the Kings for nearly three seasons before being fired in Dec. 2024 after Sacramento began last season with a 13-18 record. Brown famously coached the beloved “Beam Team,” which broke Sacramento’s 16-year playoff drought by earning the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed during the 2022-23 NBA season.

Cunningham also reported that Sacramento’s home opener will be against the Utah Jazz on Oct. 24, followed by another game at Golden 1 Center against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 26.

According to sources, the Sacramento Kings will open the 2025-26 season on Wednesday, Oct. 22 in Phoenix against the Suns.

ESPN Sacramento’s Damien Barling also reported that former coach Mike Brown’s return to Sacramento will be on Jan. 14, when the Kings host his new team, the New York Knicks.

The Kings home opener at Golden 1 Center vs. the Utah Jazz is Friday, Oct. 24. The Sacramento Kings are stepping into the unknown with the 2025-26 NBA season — no crystal ball to tell them how it ends, but hey, the start is clear as day now. Their campaign will tip off on October 22nd, hitting the road first to face the Phoenix Suns, a matchup that already stirs a bit of excitement. Just a couple days later, the Kings will welcome fans back to Golden 1 Center for a home opener against the Utah Jazz, then keep the momentum rolling against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 26th. It’s the kind of early schedule that can set a tone, and after missing the mark in consecutive play-in tournaments, Sacramento’s hungry for more, especially under Doug Christie’s full-time helm. Plus, mark your calendar for January 14th — a bit of drama brewing as former Kings coach Mike Brown returns with the New York Knicks. The path ahead is packed with storylines; the desert’s the first stop on this new chapter. LEARN MOREIt all begins with an October trip to the desert.— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) August 11, 2025

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The Kings’ next home game will be Sunday, Oct. 26 vs. Los Angeles Lakers.— Damien Barling (@damienbarling) August 11, 2025

The Kings don’t know how their 2025-26 NBA season will end, but the beginning of their journey has been revealed.

Mike Brown will return to the Golden One Center when the New York Knicks take on the Kings on Jan 14.

After losing in the NBA play-in tournament in back-to-back seasons, the Kings are seeking a better result in the upcoming campaign, Sacramento’s first with coach Doug Christie serving in a full-time capacity.

Sacramento will kick off their regular season on the road against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 22, KCRA’s Sean Cunningham reported Monday, citing sources.