Former Detroit Pistons Player Named To Sacramento Kings Coaching Staff

Right at precisely the same moment in the offseason when many are discussing the Sacramento Kings and their potential interest in Detroit Pistons big man Jalen Duren, the Western Conference organization named two new members to their 2026-27 coaching staff who have deep ties to the Motor City. 

Back in the 2005 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons selected Jason Maxiell with the 26th overall pick in the first round out of Cincinnati, and the big man remained with Detroit for the first eight years of his career. Early on, Maxiell started out as a rotational role player serving as a boost of energy on some very successful Pistons teams, but the 6-7, 260 pounder found more regular playing time in Motown at the turn of the decade. After the 2012-13 season, Maxiell spent two more years in the NBA with the Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Hornets, but the most productive moments of his career occurred in Detroit. 

Following that 10-year career in the association, Maxiell suited up overseas in China, the Philippines and Türkiye before his playing days expired. Once Maxiell transitioned to the coaching ranks, the well-traveled big man initially broke through with the Sacramento Kings’ G-League affiliate, the Stockton Kings, at the start of the 2025-26 season. By all accounts, the Kings were happy with Maxiell’s ability to coach up the squad’s frontcourt since he was named a part of Sacramento’s staff as a player development coach earlier today. 

With Maxiell as part of the coaching staff, the Kings also announced that two-time Pistons assistant coach Brendan Suhr would serve as an assistant for Sacramento for the upcoming season as well. As a high level coach for more than four decades, Suhr was a member of Chuck Daly’s coaching staff from 1988-92 when the Bad Boys Pistons went back-to-back, then he later returned to Motown as an assistant once again for the 2000-01 campaign. 

After going 22-60 last season, the Kings are looking to take a substantial step forward in their rebuild under head coach Doug Christie’s leadership this season. While Christie was in place for all of last year, the Kings were in the midst of a rebuild the entire time and had their sights set on a high draft pick in the offseason. The Kings spent that No. 7 overall selection on Darius Acuff Jr. out of Arkansas, so it will be up to Christie, Maxiell and Suhr to coach up the Detroit native during his rookie season. 

Presumably, Maxiell will focus most of his attention on the Kings’ frontcourt since he made his impact as a power forward and center during his 10-year NBA career, so Acuff might not receive an overwhelming amount of one-on-one instruction from the big man. Domantas Sabonis, on the other hand, is a player who could become very familiar with Maxiell’s tutelage before the 2026-27 season wraps up, though he’s been bandied about as a potential trade package piece in a sign-and-trade for Duren, though the Pistons are not inclined to bite on that hypothetical deal at the moment.