Sacramento bolsters its backcourt depth with a battle-tested sniper. The Houston standout brings elite perimeter defense and high-volume three-point shooting to a rebuilding Kings roster.
The Sacramento Kings selected Houston guard Emanuel Sharp with the 45th pick to close out their 2026 NBA Draft haul.
Sharp, like his future teammate Alex Karaban, is one of the more experienced players in this year's draft class. He started 104 out of the 144 games played for the Cougars.
The 6-foot-3 guard blossomed into a full-time starter in his sophomore campaign and became a steady, reliable contributor. Sharp averaged 12.6 points from 2023-25 and recorded a career-high 15.5 points last season.
His three-point shooting is one of the strongest skills in his game, as he is a high-volume shooter. He shot 37.6% from beyond the arc for his career, and shot 40.7% in the 2024-25 season.
He also took pride in guarding the opposing team's best player on the perimeter. Sharp was part of an elite Houston defense that held opponents to 62.3 points per contest, the fewest in the Big 12.
Sacramento needs more defensive depth in the backcourt to go alongside Devin Carter and Nique Clifford. An experienced point-of-attack defender in the second round is a solid pickup for the Kings.
Sharp will have his work cut out for him in Sacramento with its guard depth. The team has Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, Darius Acuff Jr., Clifford and Carter ahead of him.
The Kings' guard depth most likely means he's spending some time with the Stockton Kings -- Sacramento's G League affiliate. Playing in Stockton gives Sharp time to acclimate to the NBA’s pace and develop in the organization's system.
General manager Scott Perry wants to get younger and gain more financial flexibility. The Sharp selection does fit those two goals, as he is 22 years old and he will be a cost-controlled asset.
Having three cost-controlled assets -- Acuff Jr., Karaban and Sharp -- is a step in the right direction for Sacramento. It lays the foundation for building around young contributors.
Sacramento ends its 2026 NBA draft with a new lead guard and two experienced players. It's a solid haul for the Kings, but now it is time for the team to attack the offseason.
Sharp's shooting and defense are solid additions as a mid-second round pick, and he could find himself contributing sooner rather than later.
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