Sasha Vezenkov Sounds Off on Kings' Turbulent Playoff Push

Vezenkov gave some insight to the team’s mentality after losing key players.

Apr 4, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Sasha Vezenkov (7) reacts during the / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a bumpy final stretch for the Sacramento Kings as they look to escape the play-in tournament by the end of the season. Mike Brown’s squad continued its inconsistent performances against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden.

After taking an early lead, the Kings looked like a completely different team in the second half. From missed shots to miscues, Sacramento wasn’t able to answer a Knicks offense that was led by Josh Hart’s season-high 31 points. 

Ever since the injuries of Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk, the Kings’ offense has lacked a spark in game-deciding moments. Fortunately, some players have made recent recoveries such as nF Sasha Vezenkov who missed over a month with an ankle sprain. Vezenkov spoke about what the Kings need to do to win games while missing some crucial players (via SDNA):

“We lost two very quality and important players from the rotation. You see how the West is, it’s a mess from 4th to 10th place, everyone is struggling… We have to be ready to win as many as we can.”

There’s no excuse in Vezenkov’s eyes, and that attitude needs to be replicated throughout the team if the Kings want to secure a top-six seed in a tight Western Conference. Aiming to take a few wins home after the final roadtrip of the season, the Kings will defend Golden1 Center to end the regular season later this month.

With an ample amount of opportunities to win, Mike Brown’s squad should focus on looking forward to find an identity without star sixth man Malik Monk.

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