Is Kings’ Coach Christie Mismanaging the Young Talent?

Nique Clifford and Alex Karaban received early DNPs during the Sacramento Kings' three-game losing streak, and Doug Christie's rotation management caught criticism from fans.

Christie kept Clifford on the bench, switching to second-round pick Emanuel Sharp in last Friday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. It was his first DNP in 78 games.

The 2025 first-round pick played 75 games last season and started 28 after season-ending injuries to Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis opened more minutes.

Clifford averaged 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 33.4 minutes per game when the stars went out. He showed the two-way versatility Sacramento needed this season to boost its shooting and defense.

Struggling performances in summer league and preseason suggest he's regressed entering his second year. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 7.4 points in five preseason games, but his 23-point opener against the Los Angeles Lakers inflated that average.

He shot 20% from three, and that's a key reason Christie chose Sharp over him. Sharp is shooting 50% from beyond the arc at 6-foot-3.

Karaban collecting DNPs is a bit surprising, given the lack of depth at forward. Ben Simmons tore his Achilles before last Wednesday's road opener, and Maxime Raynaud is still out with a right patellar subluxation.

He played five minutes against the Los Angeles Clippers and did not touch the court in the past two games.

Sacramento traded up from the second round to pick the UConn legend with the 29th pick. A five-year college player who shot 37.4% from three in his career was an appealing selection.

His intangibles and experience make him NBA-ready, paired with the front office jumping into the first round when he would've likely been available in the second.

Karaban shot 44.4% from beyond the arc and tallied five steals in the preseason. He didn't have one notable performance, but was a consistent floor spacer and turnover generator.

The two young players collecting DNPs show the roster's imbalance. Christie is stuck between relying on veterans to win games, which isn't happening, and developing the young talent.

Prioritizing wins has squeezed Clifford and Karaban out of the rotation. The Kings need to pick a direction, and at their losing pace, it should be to develop the young core.

Christie is struggling to put the talent together, and LaVine said the team hasn't built strong chemistry, and it'll take a long time for the players to learn each other's strengths.