Kings GM Backs Coach Christie Despite Dismal Season

Scott Perry says Doug Christie's job is safe as the Kings struggle to 12-42 record

Feb. 8, 2026 at 2:31pm

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Despite the Sacramento Kings' dismal 12-42 record this season, general manager Scott Perry has assured that head coach Doug Christie's job is safe. Perry expressed confidence in Christie's ability to continue improving as a coach and grow with the team's young players, even as the Kings have fallen well short of preseason expectations.

Why it matters

The Kings' decision to retain Christie as head coach despite their poor performance this season is notable, as NBA coaches are often quickly fired when their teams struggle. This suggests the Kings' front office sees value in Christie's development as a coach and believes he can help guide the team through their current rebuilding phase.

The details

The Kings made the surprising move to promote Christie from assistant to head coach last season, replacing Mike Brown. However, the team has regressed this year, leading to speculation about Christie's future. But GM Scott Perry has firmly backed Christie, saying he expects him to remain the team's coach barring any changes from the front office.

  • The Kings fired head coach Mike Brown and promoted Doug Christie last season.
  • This season, the Kings have a 12-42 record through 54 games.

The players

Scott Perry

The general manager of the Sacramento Kings.

Doug Christie

The current head coach of the Sacramento Kings, who was promoted from assistant coach last season.

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What they’re saying

“I'm expecting him to be my coach until I tell you anything different. I'm not even thinking along those lines right now. I want to see us get incrementally better each day. Our young players, and I want to see [Christie] continue to improve as a coach.”

— Scott Perry, General Manager, Sacramento Kings

What’s next

The Kings will continue to evaluate Christie's performance as head coach, especially as they look to build around their young core and return to playoff contention in the coming seasons.

The takeaway

The Kings' decision to stand by Doug Christie as head coach, despite their poor record this season, suggests the team is focused on long-term development over immediate results as they navigate a rebuilding phase.