The Sacramento Kings are reportedly expected to keep head coach Doug Christie, According to the Athletic’s Sam Amick, Christie took over for Mike Brown as the Kings’ interim head coach last season before signing a three-year deal last summer.
The Kings are 21-59 and 14th in the Western Conference this season. Last year, Christie went 27-24 and was the ninth seed in the play-in before the Dallas Mavericks eliminated them.
Advertisement
After a slow start this season, the Kings have shown late progress under Christie. After starting the year 12-46 and setting a franchise record in February with a 16-game losing streak, the Kings have gone 10-13.
Most of the Kings’ wins down the stretch have come without the team’s star players, including Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Russell Westbrook and DeAndre Hunter, whom the team acquired in a trade for Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder.
While there have been signs of progress, there has been much left to be desired under Christie. The 55-year-old coach was recently cleared by the NBA of intentionally trying to lose in Tuesday’s 110-105 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Christie motioned to Doug McDermott to intentionally foul Seth Curry, who did not have the ball, with 3:15 left in the fourth quarter. The Kings were leading by one point at the time of the foul. Curry is shooting 90% from the free-throw line this season and has shot 86.4% from the stripe for his career year. Curry went 1-of-2 from the line after the Kings’ foul.
Christie reportedly attempted to use the strategy to foul and call a timeout but did not realize the Kings were in the penalty.
This story will continue to be updated.
Read the full article here
