Ahead of the 2026-27 season, Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie wants to see improvement on the defensive end of the floor. After the Kings signed Ben Simmons for a comeback season in the NBA, perhaps he'll become an anchor for Sacramento's identity. Plus, a healthy Domantas Sabonis should help this season.

Christie addressed the Kings improving their defense after their preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers, per Sactown Sports 1140's Brenden Nunes.

“More than anything, we want to protect the paint, but we want to arrive on the catch and contest threes,” Christie said. “Guys are gonna make threes and bank threes; those are ones you kind of just shake their hand, like, whatever. But the ability to be in to be out, that means that you’re thinking ahead, you know where you're going, you arrive on the catch, you're in a defensive stance, you got a stick hand, you're aggressive, you're making them put it on the floor; all of those little tiny things are the things that we have to improve on.”

Asked Doug Christie about the balance of protecting the paint and defending threes:

“More than anything, we want to protect the paint, but we want to arrive on the catch and contest threes… But the ability to be in to be out, that means that you’re thinking ahead.” pic.twitter.com/fFOtg1aWjV

— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) October 6, 2026

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The Kings lost 127-103 against the Lakers on Monday. Nique Clifford's 23 points on 8-of-13 attempts, and nine rebounds led the Kings. Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. added 19 points and four assists, and Zach LaVine poured in nine points on 4-of-6 shooting in 15 minutes. The Lakers finished 50% from the floor, including 45% from deep, where Los Angeles connected on 20-for-44 3-point attempts.

For Doug Christie, it was the kind of defensive effort that's not going to fly on most nights throughout the season for the Kings, who will face the Lakers in a preseason rematch on the road on Thursday.