The Sacramento Kings have been able to build a team that can play pretty well on offense, however, what will really make the difference for the Kings is if they can defend at a high level.

Across the board, Sacramento does need to improve on defense, but there are a few players who could excel on the defensive end. So, let's take a look at who will be the top three defenders for the Kings in 2026.

One player who could very likely be the top defender for the Kings in 2026 is forward DeAndre Hunter who has become one of the top wing defenders and really overall defenders in the NBA.

With Hunter standing at 6-7 and 221 pounds, he has a frame that enables him to defend all over the floor, which allows him to switch and defend all five positions. Having a versatile defender like Hunter is a massive bonus because the Kings to use him in a variety of defensive coverages, which makes it hard for other teams to score.

In 2025, Hunter played just two games with the Kings and 45 games overall, as he was acquired midseason. While Hunter does have a great frame, he averaged just 0.1 blocks and 0.7 steals per game. Despite what the numbers may imply, Hunter's impact means a lot more than what the stat sheet says.

So, heading into the 2026 season, with Hunter's ability to switch in addition to defending on the perimeter or at the rim, he should be able to have a solid season for the Kings and could be the team's top defender.

Next up is the newly acquired forward and center Ben Simmons, who has been very reliable on the defensive side of the floor throughout his career.

Standing at 6-10 and 240 pounds, Simmons has the build to be able to defend in the paint, but he also has the foot speed to defend on the perimeter as well. When Simmons came into the league in 2016, he was known as a guard, and even though his now more of a forward, his ability to function like a guard on both ends is something that has really helped him.

Last season, Simmons played a total of 18 games for the Los Angeles Clippers, and in those games he averaged 0.4 blocks and 0.7 steals per game. Even though Simmons did not play a ton in 2025, his ability to make an impact on defense was felt on the perimeter just as much as at the rim with the flexibility to defend all five positions.

As Simmons prepares for the 2025 season, he will very likely come off the bench, but even so his ability to make an impact on defense should help the Kings tremendously and could put him on the floor when Sacramento absolutely needs a stop.

The third an final player on this list is forward Keegan Murray who has been with the Kings for a few year now and has proven to be a versatile defender just like Hunter and Simmons.

As a forward, Murray also has a solid frame as he stands at 6-8 and 225 pounds which has helped him to be versatile when it comes to defending all five positions all over the floor and even as a younger player he has continued to progress.

While Murray only played 23 games in 2025, he was quite productive as he averaged 1.6 blocks and one steal per game, which further points to his ability to contribute on the defensive end. As a forward, Murray's length is something that gives him an advantage on defense because he can force very tough shots from opposing teams and give the Kings an opportunity to get out and run in transition.

Now, looking ahead to the 2026 season, if Murray can get much healthier, he should be able to help the Kings take a step forward defensively on the perimeter as well as on the interior, which is something that could help Sacramento to make a push as a top defense in the NBA.