Kings sign No. 29 overall pick Alex Karaban to rookie scale contract

The Sacramento Kings have signed former UConn forward Alex Karaban, the 29th overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft, to his rookie scale contract, the team announced.

He will make $2,948,280 next season, according to Spotrac.

Karaban was a first-team All-Big East selection this past season, helping the Huskies to their third national championship game in four years. He averaged 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 37.4% from 3-point range in 40 games.

The 23-year-old closed out his four-year career with a 17-point, 11-rebound performance in the title game against Michigan on April 6, earning a place on the NCAA All-Tournament Team. It marked only his fourth career double-double in 151 appearances.

@UConnMBB‘s winningest player, now in 33 👑 pic.twitter.com/T4uu96JtYu

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) July 1, 2026

A two-time champion, Karaban left the Huskies as the all-time leader in wins (126), starts (150), minutes (4,906) and 3-pointers (292), while he is sixth in scoring (1,880). He became the first active player in program history to be inducted into the Huskies of Honor.

The 6-foot-7 Karaban established himself as a first-round pick because of his offensive skill set, maturity and leadership qualities. He was also a consistent 3-point shooter over the course of his career after converting 37.4% from beyond the arc.

Karaban will suit up in the annual California Classic at the Golden 1 Center, beginning on Saturday against the Brooklyn Nets (5 p.m. EDT; Prime Video, ESPN+).

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Kings sign No. 29 overall pick Alex Karaban to rookie scale contract