Sacramento's struggles run deeper than their coach. See why head coach Doug Christie deserves credit, not blame, amidst roster turmoil and a lost season.
Doug Christie is in a tough spot.
A real tough spot.
You see it's no fault of the Kings' first-year (full-time) head coach that Sacramento, 6-17 entering the Monday evening game in Indianapolis vs. the Pacers, is not only one of the worst teams in the NBA, but they are lacking any real direction.
Remember: It was Christie, bumped up to interim head coach midway through the 2024-25 season, who managed to get the Kings to finish 27-24, even after Sacramento traded away De'Aaron Fox last February.
That should count for something. Christie, is known, in part, for his defensive principles and motivational tactic. Those are the big factors on why he landed the full-time gig last May after being hired as an assistant coach in 2021.
He has been able to make good, if not survive, with a roster that is currently missing star center Domantas Sabonis, who is out with a partially torn meniscus in his left knee.
The Kings, with no real shot at making the playoffs this season and/or any NBA season in the immediate future, have also reportedly given general manager Scott Perry the go-ahead to trade anybody not named Keegan Murray or Nique Clifford.
Dec 6, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie reacts against the Miami Heat during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn ImagesThat means DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and even Russell Westbrook could soon be packing their bags out of town. So, it's quite easy, or really unfair. to solely point the finger nowadays at Christie - as the Kings sink further and further down the Western Conference standings.
For anybody interested: Sacramento is 13th in the West and 16.5 games from the top.
With a .261 win percentage, which includes just four conference victories and a 3-10 road record three weeks before Christmas, there's clearly plenty of work to be done in Sacramento.
Credit Christie or not, the Kings have shown signs in recent weeks that all is not that bad.
Sacramento has won three of their last seven games, including one as a road underdog in Miami Saturday night. Additionally, the Kings won consecutive games in late-November vs. the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectfully.
The Kings have also been relatively competitive in most of their games over the past two weeks - although, they begin a crucial five-game stretch against Western Conference opponents, which will include home dates vs. the Nuggets and Rockets. that could help determine their fate the rest of the way.
Regardless, Christie, a former Kings player and by all accounts a strong communicator who has a good handle on the locker room, in addition to being a vocal leader, all in on the Kings' long-term plan, should be being celebrated.
Christie should not be getting ready for an exit out of Sacramento. Given the state the Kings' franchise currently finds itself in, no coach could do much better, especially if they gut the roster as projected.