Doug Christie's Getting Another Shot With the Kings, and Here's Why Management Believes in Him
The Sacramento Kings are stuck at the bottom of the Western Conference with a brutal 22-59 record, but they're keeping Doug Christie as head coach anyway. Yeah, you read that right. Despite one of the worst seasons in franchise history, the Kings aren't hitting the panic button on their coach. According to team sources, management believes Christie never actually got a fair chance to succeed.
The Injury Excuse, and Whether It Actually Holds Water
Here's the thing: the Kings' starting lineup never played a single game together all season. Christie took over the job full-time after signing a three-year deal with new general manager Scott Perry last summer, but injuries absolutely wrecked the roster from day one. Sacramento lost a starting wing in the preseason to a torn thumb ligament and their starting center in November to a partially torn meniscus. That center was limited to just 19 games before needing season-ending surgery. A veteran scorer appeared in only 39 games before his own season-ending surgery.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiThe damage was immediate. The Kings stumbled to a 3-13 start and never recovered, spiraling into a 12-46 record that had everyone wondering if Christie was the right guy. But Perry and management see it differently. They're convinced Christie was never given a proper runway with the roster he was supposed to work with.
Young Talent Is Starting to Click
Here's where it gets interesting: Sacramento has gone 10-13 in their last 23 games. Not world-beating, but a clear shift. Part of the reason management is sticking with Christie is the positive development they're seeing from their young centers and a first-round pick. The franchise is pivoting toward youth, and they like what they're seeing from these prospects under Christie's guidance.
That string of wins did cost them lottery position. The Kings went from the league's worst record to tied for fourth worst with Utah at 22-59 heading into the final day of the regular season. When lottery night hits on May 10, Sacramento will find out exactly which top-8 pick they'll get in what's being called a loaded draft class.
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