The Sacramento Kings are bent on snapping their 13-year postseason drought in the 2019-20 season, and head coach Luke Walton believes improving their defense is the first step to make that a reality.

Per Jason Anderson in The Sacramento Bee:

Walton said one of the keys to the Kings reaching the playoffs will be their emphasis on defense. The Kings ranked 20th in the NBA last season in field-goal percentage defense, 21st in defensive rating and 26th in points allowed, points in the paint allowed, opponents’ second-chance points and defensive rebounding percentage.

“Defense is it,” Walton said. “That’s our priority. That’s what we’re going to start training camp with. That’s what we’re going to start practices with — defense, defense, defense — and that’s where we’re going to make a big jump.”

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Walton enters his first season coaching the Kings after three years in charge of the Los Angeles Lakers. As a player, Walton won two titles with the Purple and Gold in 2009 and 2010

The Kings have a few foundational pieces to create a better defense, including point guard De'Aaron Fox and big man Marvin Bagley III — two lottery selections by the franchise in recent years. Sacramento also re-signed veteran forward Harrison Barnes, who won a title with the Warriors and Walton. Barnes is known for his stout defense.

During the 2018-19 NBA season, the Kings were the eighth-worst rated defense, per NBA.com, at 110.8.