Two key players out for Kings Camp due to offseason injuries

Two key players out for Kings Camp with offseason injuries originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Before the 2024-2025 NBA season officially begins, the injury bug has already hit the Kings with training camp just around the corner.

Sacramento revealed that veteran forward Trey Lyles suffered a left groin strain during an offseason workout and will be reevaluated in approximately three weeks, with Lyles’ condition updated as necessary.

This will rule Lyles out of Sacramento’s training camp, which begins Tuesday.

Lyles battled injuries during the 2023-2024 season, missing the first thirteen games due to a left calf strain and an additional two weeks in March due to a sprained MCL in his left knee. After playing 74 games during the 2022-2023 season, Lyles played a total of 58 games last season.

The 28-year-old has played a crucial role for the Kings with his size and strength off the bench, and he has also been one of the vocal leaders of the mostly young team with championship aspirations.

In two full seasons with the Kings, Lyles has averaged 7.4 points on 45.3 percent shooting from the field and 37.3 percent from deep, with 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 132 games.

Additionally, new Kings point guard Jordan McLaughlin will not participate in the first training camp with his new team. McLaughlin suffered a right ankle sprain during an offseason workout, the team announced Friday, and will be reevaluated in about two weeks.

McLaughlin signed a one-year contract with the Kings after spending all of his first five NBA seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Kings open the 2024-2025 regular season on Oct. 24 against his former team at Golden 1 Center.

The backup point guard hopes to be back to full health by then, before telling FOX40’s Sean Cunningham that he was looking forward to facing his old team in the season opener.

In 242 NBA games, McLaughlin has career per-game averages of 4.4 points, 3.1 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 15.4 minutes. He is a 36.9 percent 3-point shooter but shot at a 47.2 percent clip from beyond the arc during the 2023-2024 season.

The Kings, already without Kevin Huerter and 2024 NBA Draft lottery pick Devin Carter, are hoping the injury pile decreases as they focus on their return to the playoffs.

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