Kings to Retain Coach Doug Christie for Next Season

Despite a 22-59 record, Sacramento's new GM believes Christie deserves another chance with a healthier roster.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:51pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of royal purple, silver, and black representing the official colors of the Sacramento Kings.The Kings' decision to retain coach Doug Christie signals a commitment to stability and player development, even as the team struggles to find its footing.Today in Sacramento

The Sacramento Kings are retaining head coach Doug Christie for next season, team sources told ESPN on Sunday. Christie initially took over as interim head coach in December 2024 after the Kings fired Mike Brown. New GM Scott Perry gave Christie the full-time job last summer, signing him to a three-year deal. While the Kings struggled to a 22-59 record this season, Perry and Kings management believe Christie was never given a proper chance with the current roster, as key players like Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis missed significant time due to injuries.

Why it matters

The Kings have been one of the NBA's worst teams for several seasons, and retaining Christie signals the franchise's commitment to stability and player development as they look to build around a young core. Christie's ability to guide the team's recent youth movement, including promising rookies Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, and Nique Clifford, was a key factor in the decision.

The details

Christie took over as interim head coach in December 2024 after the Kings fired Mike Brown. New GM Scott Perry gave Christie the full-time job last summer, signing him to a three-year deal. The Kings stumbled to a 3-13 start this season and fell to a 12-46 record, but have gone 10-13 in their last 23 games as they've pivoted toward a youth movement. Despite the poor record, Perry and Kings management believe Christie deserves another chance with a healthier roster, as the team's projected starting lineup never played a minute together due to injuries to key players like Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis.

  • Christie initially took over as interim head coach in December 2024.
  • New GM Scott Perry gave Christie the full-time job last summer, signing him to a three-year deal.
  • The Kings stumbled to a 3-13 start this season and fell to a 12-46 record.
  • In recent weeks, the Kings have gone 10-13 in their last 23 games.

The players

Doug Christie

The head coach of the Sacramento Kings, who was initially hired as an interim coach in December 2024 before being given the full-time job last summer by new GM Scott Perry.

Scott Perry

The new general manager of the Sacramento Kings, who decided to retain Doug Christie as the team's head coach despite a 22-59 record this season.

Keegan Murray

A starting wing for the Sacramento Kings who missed significant time this season due to a torn thumb ligament.

Domantas Sabonis

The starting center for the Sacramento Kings who was limited to just 19 games this season due to a partially torn meniscus.

Zach LaVine

A veteran scorer for the Sacramento Kings who was limited to 39 games this season before undergoing season-ending surgery.

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What’s next

The Kings' next big day will be lottery night on May 10, where they will find out which top-8 selection they will receive in the upcoming draft.

The takeaway

The Kings' decision to retain Doug Christie signals their commitment to stability and player development as they look to build around a young core. Despite the team's poor record this season, the franchise believes Christie deserves another chance with a healthier roster and the positive development of their recent draft picks.