General manager Scott Perry and even head coach Doug Christie revealed which team they learned from.
The Sacramento Kings turned to a rare place in the effort to improve their franchise.
Call it a crossover -- as general manager Scott Perry and head coach Doug Christie visited an NFL franchise. Let alone one getting ready for a game this weekend in the postseason.
Anthony Slater of ESPN revealed that members of the Kings' brass took the trip to Latrobe, Pennsylvania...to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"For three nights, Perry, Armstrong and Christie stayed in the dorm rooms at Saint Vincent College and were given unfettered access to coach Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers," Slater revealed.
Christie shared how he sat in the offensive line, defensive back and the quarterback meetings.
Of all places, though, why was the Steelers' facility chosen?
"The reason was simple: Perry, who joined the Kings in April, wants his new team to emulate the Steelers and needs the leaders across his organization to feel that same spirit," Slater said.
Furthermore, Perry shares a "personal connection" with one prominent member of the Steelers franchise.
"Perry, a Steelers fan with a 15-year personal connection to Tomlin, is also a longtime NBA executive who has worked in the front offices of the Detroit Pistons, Seattle SuperSonics, Orlando Magic and New York Knicks," Slater adds.
Perry wants to create a sustainable winner. Tomlin has proven that in nearly two decades in the Steel City. None of his Steeler teams have finished under .500. He has this Pittsburgh team hosting the Houston Texans during NFL Super Wild Card weekend.
Perry's visit helped create the "six pillars" he wants to instill for the Kings.
"That's the language Perry speaks. His plan centers on 'six pillars,' as he calls them -- wanting his employees to be competitive, tough, disciplined, accountable, team-oriented and professional. And he retained Christie, in part, because Christie agrees and drills that messaging daily, projecting a passionate portrayal of what Sacramento and the team are supposed to represent," Slater wrote.
The iconic NFL franchise, however, has delivered far different accolades compared to the Kings. Pittsburgh is eyeing an NFL record seventh Vince Lombardi Trophy in the upcoming postseason. Tomlin is one of only three head coaches in franchise history.
Sacramento owns no championship and at one point, missed the playoffs between 2007 to 2022. Perry and Christie will need lots of time to create a "Steelers" atmosphere.
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