Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Mullin recently shared his thoughts on one of the most intriguing teams in the NBA today, the Sacramento Kings.

According to the former five-time All-Star, he sees a lot of promise in the current squad, but also admits that it's going to be a difficult challenge for the team to take the next step.

“I watched them quite a bit last year. They’re a really young, athletic, dynamic team,” Mullin said via Robert Lopez of The Athletic. “I was watching De’Aaron Fox at USA Basketball practices in Vegas and Anaheim. He’s really, really quick. Athletic. It looks like his game is really coming on. His shot looks nice. (Marvin) Bagley’s a good player and Harrison Barnes too. They’ve got a nice, young team. They had a pretty good year last year.

“This next step is a little tough. Being under the radar is where you can grow a little bit. But then when people know you’re good, that’s when you got to answer that bell every night.”

The Kings were a surprise package last season, finishing ninth overall in a ruthless Western Conference. While they ultimately missed out on the playoffs by quite a margin, it is still admirable that they bettered the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the final standings, especially when no one expected them to.

This, however, is the very reason why Mullin believes that the season ahead is going to be a tough road for the Kings. The rest of the league will no longer underestimate them, and with the spotlight shining bright, this will definitely be a true test for this very young and promising side.