Sources: Kings exercise Keon Ellis’ team option for 2025-26 NBA season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Kings will exercise their team option on guard Keon Ellis, sources confirmed to NBC Sports California’s Tristi Rodriguez on Sunday.
The undrafted 25-year-old has seen his role with Sacramento increase season after season since signing a two-way contract with the Kings after going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft. Sacramento converted Ellis’ two-way contract to a three-year deal towards the end of the 2023-24 NBA season.
The decision will cost the Kings $2.3 million for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
The University of Alabama product averaged 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game this past season with the Kings while playing in 80 games – starting in 28 of them.
Ellis also has shown an ability to knock down the long ball for Sacramento, shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point range in all three of his seasons with the Kings – most recently shooting 43.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Ellis’ defensive tenacity has made him a fan-favorite in Sacramento and has helped keep him on the floor for the Kings while covering some of the opposing team’s top offensive weapons.
The 6-foot-5 guard also averaged 1.5 steals per game last season, and his 121 total steals were good for fifth-most in the league.
While the decision comes as a surprise to some fans due to the fact that Ellis now will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, the Kings still could sign the guard to a contract extension to avoid him testing free agency in 2026.
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Sources: Kings exercise Keon Ellis’ team option for 2025-26 NBA season
The Kings will exercise their team option on guard Keon Ellis, sources confirmed to NBC Sports California’s Tristi Rodriguez on Sunday.
The undrafted 25-year-old has seen his role with Sacramento increase season after season since signing a two-way contract with the Kings after going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft. Sacramento converted Ellis’ two-way contract to a three-year deal towards the end of the 2023-24 NBA season.
SIGN UP HERE The decision will cost the Kings $2.3 million for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
The University of Alabama product averaged 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game this past season with the Kings while playing in 80 games – starting in 28 of them.
Ellis also has shown an ability to knock down the long ball for Sacramento, shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point range in all three of his seasons with the Kings – most recently shooting 43.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Ellis’ defensive tenacity has made him a fan-favorite in Sacramento and has helped keep him on the floor for the Kings while covering some of the opposing team’s top offensive weapons.
NBA
The 6-foot-5 guard also averaged 1.5 steals per game last season, and his 121 total steals were good for fifth-most in the league.
While the decision comes as a surprise to some fans due to the fact that Ellis now will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, the Kings still could sign the guard to a contract extension to avoid him testing free agency in 2026.
