This Former #4 Overall Pick Out for NBA Season After Eye Surgery

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The proposed trade would send De’Andre Hunter to the Heat

And just like that, De’Andre Hunter’s season is over. The former top-five NBA draft pick and current member of the Sacramento Kings underwent season-ending left eye surgery, a team spokesperson told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin on Friday.

The news was also confirmed by NBA insider Chris Haynes.

Hunter played 45 games this season, the first 43 with the Cleveland Cavaliers and two with the Kings after being traded. He finishes the season with an average of 13.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.

Unfortunately, Hunter’s injury is all too familiar to Kings fans. Hunter is the third Kings player to undergo season-ending surgery… just this week. He joins teammates Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, who are also out for the rest of the season.

This string of injuries has many wondering if the Kings are diving headfirst into full tank mode for the rest of the season. They already own a league-worst 12-46 record and are 31.5 games behind the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference standings.

They’ve also currently on a 16-game losing streak. Kings head coach Doug Christie has acknowledged the rough season.

“I’ve been here for the best and been here for the worst, so I know what both of them look like, and our fans deserve more, and we’ll get there,” Christie told local media. “It’s about as painful as it gets.”

De’Andre Hunter’s Career

GettyDe’Andre Hunter of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns.

De’Andre Hunter of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns.

Despite starting his career with the Atlanta Hawks, it wasn’t Atlanta who took Hunter on draft night. Hunter was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers, who then traded his rights to the New Orleans Pelicans, and he was traded again to the Hawks, all on draft night.

Hunter, a standout at the University of Virginia, is in his eighth season in the NBA. He started 62-of-63 games his rookie season with the Hawks in 2019-20, averaging 12.3 points per game. In year two, he improved to 15. Since then, he’s maintained that career mark at 14.7.

In his sixth season, Hunter moved on from the Hawks and joined the Cavaliers. He was with the Cavs for the end of the 2024-25 season and the start of this season before joining the Kings.

With Hunter, LaVine, and Sabonis absent from the team, the Kings are forced to rely on additional role players to step up for the remainder of the season.

Younger talents, like rookie Maxime Raynaud, are expected to develop earlier than previously assumed. The team has also been in discussions about possibly seeking short-term reinforcements from free agency to bolster their lineup.

The Kings’ front office has already started exploring potential moves to position the team for the upcoming NBA draft, where they will have high lottery odds. Sacramento has emphasized player development, and while the current campaign has been marred by injuries, the long-term vision remains intact.

With the focus now on the draft and rebuilding, fans are hoping the Kings can find new hope and direction for next season.

Alex Shoemaker Alex Shoemaker is a seasoned sports journalist and digital content strategist with more than a decade of experience in newsrooms and digital media. He has covered a wide range of sports, including March Madness, the Olympic Trials, and local high school athletics. He began his journalism career covering high school and community sports, developing a reputation for sharp storytelling and precise design that earned awards for both writing and pagination. More about Alex Shoemaker