Dribble Handoff Action Is Key to Kings’ Offensive Success in 2026-27

The Sacramento Kings have a unique offensive action that maximizes floor spacing and off-ball movement: the dribble handoff.

DHOs are common in the NBA, starting with a big man initiating the play at the perimeter. They dribble toward their teammates, who will meet him at the wing to receive the handoff.

The action isn't predetermined; the big man can fake the handoff and the guard can shoot off the catch or drive downhill.

Sacramento has a talented playmaking center in Domantas Sabonis and multi-level scorers in Darius Acuff Jr., Zach LaVine and Malik Monk. All four can bend the defense in various ways, and elevate the DHO from good to great.

Monk said it’s hard to stop the entire DHO because the defense can't dictate what he does when getting the ball.

“I don’t start with a live dribble,” Monk told reporters during training camp. “I can go right, I can go left, I can go any way I want to. They can’t force me a way to go.”

When the defense can’t dictate what the offense can do, they can get stuck in scramble mode. The Kings would make them pay one way or the other.

Sacramento had the NBA’s best offense in the 2023-23 season, averaging 120.7 points per game. Coach Mike Brown implemented DHOs into the offense, a foundational action in the Golden State Warriors offense when he was an assistant coach.

An elite offense helped the franchise snap a 16-year playoff drought. The Kings earned the No. 3 seed and secured home-court advantage.

The DHO should still be the backbone of the Kings’ offense with Doug Christie at the helm and his top players returning healthy. Sabonis, LaVine and Keegan Murray returning healthy should recharge the team and help add wins next season.

Christie has held intense practices during training camp, setting a new standard in the team’s rebuild. He’s stopping drills to demand good passes and made shots; he's holding the team accountable, so in-game execution is flawless.

Monk said the team feels more “bought in” after facing adversity last season with injuries. Sabonis and LaVine underwent season-ending surgeries in February, and Murray nursed a lingering left ankle sprain that limited him to a career-low 23 games.

Sacramento’s top three missing over 70% of the season led to a 22-60 finish, tied for the fourth-worst record with the Utah Jazz.

A healthy trio will revive the DHO action that made the Kings' success several seasons ago and revitalize one of the NBA’s best offenses.