After a breakout performance helped spark a comeback win for the Sacramento Kings, second-year guard Devin Carter has become one of the more intriguing pieces on Sacramento’s current roster.
During an interview on The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross, NBC Sports California’s Kayte Christensen said Carter’s thriling performance on Tuesday agianst Indiana stood out not just for the late scoring burst, but for the energy and opportunity that led to it.
“It was great to see him get on a roll,” Christensen said. “That was a really, really exciting performance from him.”
More on Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter
Devin Carter didn’t even see the floor in the first half agianst the Pacers, but entered the game during the third quarter after an injury to Malik Monk opened the door for more minutes.
Once he got the opportunity, Christensen said the rookie made the most of it, helping ignite Sacramento’s defensive intensity and transition offense.
“He didn’t play at all in the first half,” Christensen said. “But he got an opportunity because Malik wasn’t playing in the second half… and from that point on, it was defense that kind of sparked that whole thing.”
Christensen pointed to Devin Carter’s ability to disrupt plays defensively as a major catalyst in the Kings’ comeback effort.
“When you’re coming up with steals and deflections, and you’re running back, and you’re not playing against a set defense, it greatly increases your odds,” she said.
Carter erupted for 22 points in the fourth quarter alone, establishing a new career-high (24 points on nine-of-13 shooting) and giving Sacramento back-to-back wins for the first time in nearly two months.
The 23-year-old also finished the night with five rebounds, three assists, and one steal over just 16 minutes of action, but those minutes were enough to lead the Kings to a win over Indiana.
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
While Devin Carter’s breakout showing was eye-catching, Christensen said the bigger conversation surrounding the rookie is about his long-term role in the NBA. She acknowledged it may still be too early to determine whether he projects as a full-time starter.
“I don’t know if he’s a starter in this league, and that’s not a knock on him,” Christensen said. “It’s about finding a way to be productive night in and night out in the role that you’re playing.”
Christensen also compared Carter’s scoring mindset to former Kings guard Davion Mitchell, noting that Carter may ultimately bring more offensive upside.
“From a scoring perspective, I think Devin has more capability as a scorer than Davion Mitchell,” she said.
Despite being slightly undersized (6’2) for a traditional backcourt role, Christensen believes Carter already brings several valuable traits, including strong defense, rebounding ability, and an aggressive downhill style of play.
“He’s positionally small, but he plays defense at a high level, and he rebounds incredibly well for his position,” Christensen said.
Carter, who nearly led the Big East in rebounds per game (8.7) as a guard in 2023-24, is averaging 6.7 boards per 36 minutes during his NBA career.
For a player who missed significant development time early in his career due to injury and struggled to find minutes in a crowded Sacramento Kings backcourt, performances like this could be a sign that Carter is beginning to find his footing — and potentially carve out a meaningful role moving forward for the final month of the season.
Check out the full interview with NBC Sports California‘s Kayte Christensen by scrolling to the top of the page or by clicking here.
Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.
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When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
The Sacramento Kings will make a brief one-game road trip to Los Angeles for a matchup against the red-hot Clippers.
Los Angeles is 2-0 against the Kings this season, including a 114-111 win over Sacramento in the most recent meeting between these two Pacific Division foes on February 6th.
Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Clippers action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:00 PM PT on Game Night before a 7:30 pm PT tip-off from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
- Saturday, March 14th @ Los Angeles Clippers – 7:30 PM PT
- Sunday, March 15th vs. Utah Jazz – 7:00 PM PT
- Tuesday, March 17th vs. San Antonio Spurs – 7:00 PM PT
- Thursday, March 19th vs. Philadelphia 76ers – 7:00 PM PT
- Sunday, March 22nd vs. Brooklyn Nets – 3:00 PM PT
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