What to watch in Kings-Raptors preseason opener: Starter minutes, Vezenkov debut and more

A new journey begins when the Kings play their preseason opener against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.

Kings coach Mike Brown said his starters will play 15 to 20 minutes. The Kings return their entire starting lineup: De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis. Sacramento has 21 players on its training camp roster and Brown hopes to play as many as possible against Toronto. A league source told The Sacramento Bee the Kings had no injuries to report Sunday morning, making everyone available against the Raptors.

Sasha Vezenkov, a 28-year-old rookie forward, will make his unofficial NBA debut against the Raptors. The Kings acquired Vezenkov’s draft rights in 2022 and signed him to a three-year, $20 million contract in July. Vezenkov, a former Olympiacos star and the 2023 EuroLeague MVP, has turned heads with his ability to pass, cut and shoot, but his ability to defend at the NBA level will be a focal point early in the season.

“How well can he sit down and defend?” Brown said. “He’s gifted offensively with his ability to pass the ball and he’s really smart, knows how to change pace and cuts really well. Obviously, he can shoot it. He offensive rebounds. There’s a lot of things he can do offensively, and then there are some things he does defensively, too. He’s a physical guy. He’s not afraid to take a hit or give a hit. It’s just whether or not he can sit down in front of the ball when it comes to teams wanting to try to go at him, because there is no secret — they’re going to try to go at him.”

Another player who will make his unofficial Kings debut is former Folsom High School star Jordan Ford, who recently signed a two-way contract with Sacramento after spending last season with G League Stockton. Brown said Ford “has shown an ability to be a third guard in this league,” but Keon Ellis and rookie second-round draft pick Colby Jones will also have an opportunity to secure that role.

Brown is urging his team to play with more physicality as the Kings strive to improve a defense that ranked 24th in the NBA in defensive rating last season. Huerter said it remains to be seen how much the team’s defense has improved.

“It’s tough to tell,” Huerter said. “You’ve still got to do it in a game, but I know the effort is there so far in camp. Again, we just keep going back to guys trying to play more physical, being in the right spots, taking charges, being there for teammates, and we’ve just got to sustain it.”

Kings vs. Raptors

When: Sunday, 5 p.m.

Where: Rogers Arena (Vancouver)

TV/Livestream: NBA League Pass, Kings App, Kings.com

Radio: None

Odds: Raptors -1.0

Over/under: 225.5

Injury report

Kings: None.

Raptors: None

Preseason schedule

Oct. 8 vs. Toronto Raptors (Vancouver)

Oct. 11 vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Anaheim)

Oct. 15 vs. Golden State Warriors

Oct. 18 at Golden State Warriors

Oct. 19 vs. Utah Jazz