Sports12 April, 20261 min read
Sacramento Kings Retain Coach Doug Christie Despite 22-59 Season
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Kings will retain Doug Christie as head coach for next season. The team finished 22-59, bottom of the Western Conference.
Christie Retained
The Sacramento Kings have decided to retain head coach Doug Christie for the 2026-27 season despite a 22-59 record. Christie initially took over as interim coach in December 2024 after the Kings fired Mike Brown. New general manager Scott Perry gave him the full-time job, signing him to a three-year deal.
The decision reflects the franchise's belief that he was never given a proper runway with the current roster. The Kings never played a game with their projected starting lineup. Christie is also a favorite of team owner Vivek Ranadive and remains popular with the fan base.
Injuries and Roster Chaos
The Kings' season was marred by a cascade of injuries that forced Christie to deploy 35 different starting lineups. Murray suffered a torn thumb ligament in the preseason. Sabonis was limited to 19 games before meniscus surgery.
LaVine played 39 games before season-ending hand surgery. Christie led the Kings to an 8-9 record over the past 17 games. The Kings finished tied for the fourth-worst record in the league at 22-59.
Roster Moves Loom
The Kings face significant roster decisions this offseason. They are expected to revisit trade discussions involving LaVine, Sabonis, Monk, and DeRozan. LaVine is expected to exercise a $48.9 million player option.
Sabonis is owed approximately $94 million over the next two years. The Kings previously engaged in trade talks with the Raptors involving Sabonis. The team holds strong lottery positioning after finishing tied for the fourth-worst record.
Christie's Connection
Christie played for the Kings from 2000-05 at the height of their success under Rick Adelman. His love and dedication to the Kings organization is unquestionable.
The decision to retain him reflects a belief that coaching stability can provide a more accurate measure of the team’s direction. Christie’s combined record as interim and full-time head coach now stands at 49-83.
