De’Andre Hunter ruled out for rest of season after eye surgery
deandre-hunter-season-ending-eye-surgery
The Sacramento Kings will finish the 2025-26 season without forward De’Andre Hunter, who is set to undergo surgery on his left eye, reporters Chris Haynes and Marc Stein said on Friday.
Sean Cunningham of NBC Sacramento confirmed the decision, noting that the procedure ends Hunter’s year after only two appearances with the Kings.
Hunter, 28, injured the eye during his second game following a trade-deadline move to Sacramento. Diagnosed with left eye iritis, he sat out the club’s final three contests before the All-Star break. He practiced in full on Wednesday but missed Thursday’s loss to Orlando—Sacramento’s 15th consecutive defeat—and will now be sidelined for the remaining 25 games.
The former No. 4 overall pick becomes the third high-salary King lost for the season, joining Domantas Sabonis (knee surgery) and Zach LaVine (hand surgery). Sacramento owns the NBA’s worst record at 12-45.
Hunter opened his career with Atlanta and spent part of last season in Cleveland before arriving in a three-team trade earlier this month that sent Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder to the Cavaliers. In 45 games this year, he averaged 13.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting .415 from the field and .305 from three-point range in 26.1 minutes.
He is earning $23.3 million this season and is guaranteed $24.9 million in 2026-27, the final year of his contract.
With Hunter, Sabonis, LaVine and Dylan Cardwell (left ankle sprain) all out long-term, the Kings are expected to qualify for a hardship exception. The team also holds one standard roster opening and a two-way slot after promoting Cardwell.
Source: Hoops Rumors
