{"id":690765,"date":"2026-03-31T23:09:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T23:09:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/690765\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T23:09:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T23:09:44","slug":"should-doug-christie-return-as-sacramento-kings-head-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/690765\/","title":{"rendered":"Should Doug Christie return as Sacramento Kings head coach?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The future of the Sacramento Kings\u2019 bench remains one of the organization\u2019s most important decisions, and on Sactown Sports\u2019 The Matt & Kayla Show,<\/a> Matt George and Kayla Anderson made a compelling case for why head coach Doug Christie deserves an opportunity to return next season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m pretty firmly in the camp of I think Doug Christie deserves to keep his job,\u201d George said.<\/p>\n

Rather than focusing on wins and losses or playoff success, George framed the decision in terms of a more immediate, practical question for the front office.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess the main question that [Kings general manager Scott Perry] needs to ask himself\u2014not Doug\u2014Scott needs to ask himself, am I confident in Doug Christie being the first head coach and the first coaching influence on whichever rookie I draft? If the answer to that question is no, then you know what you have to do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"SACRAMENTO,<\/p>\n

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

More on Doug Christie & the Sacramento Kings<\/p>\n

But based on what the Sacramento Kings have seen internally, George struggled to find a reason to move on.<\/p>\n

Anderson echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that expectations should be realistic given where the franchise currently stands.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not asking the question about winning playoff series with Doug Christie at this point,\u201d she said. \u201cOr can he be the coach to win a title\u2014we\u2019re not asking those. We\u2019ll cross that bridge. We\u2019re a long way off from that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, both hosts pointed to tangible progress, particularly in the second half of the season. Player development has become the measuring stick, and in that regard, Christie has delivered.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s strictly talent development,\u201d Anderson added, noting that the team\u2019s growth has been visible and meaningful.<\/p>\n

George agreed, highlighting how that development has changed the conversation around the team.<\/p>\n

Sacramento has struggled as a whole this season (19-57, owners of the worst record in the Western Conference), but first-year players like Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell have thrived under Christie, with rookie Nique Clifford and second-year guard Devin Carter also showing flashes of improvement down the final stretch.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way this season\u2014the second half of the season\u2014has gone, in particular, I think, is a major credit in a lot of ways to Doug,\u201d he said. \u201cAt least in that sense, like making something for us to talk about that wasn\u2019t, \u2018Oh, they\u2019re losing.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SACRAMENTO,<\/p>\n

(Photo by Eakin Howard\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

That shift matters. For a Kings team still building toward contention, progress isn\u2019t just measured in the standings, but in growth, buy-in, and identity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were able to talk about development and literally have seen it before our eyes with some of these players happening,\u201d George said.<\/p>\n

Christie is under contract for the 2026-27 season, with a team option for 2027-28. If Christie returns next season, he will become the head coach of a top-ten pick from a loaded 2026 NBA Draft class that includes the likes of AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and more.<\/p>\n

Check out the full conversation at the top of the page or by heading over to the\u00a0Sactown Sports YouTube channel.<\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to and watch Sactown Sports\u2019\u00a0The Matt & Kayla Show<\/a>\u00a0with Matt George & Kayla Anderson, airing weekdays from\u00a010 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT on Sactown Sports.<\/p>\n

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports<\/p>\n

Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season<\/p>\n

Wednesday, April 1st @ Toronto Raptors \u2013 5:00 PM PT
\nFriday, April 3rd vs. New Orleans Pelicans \u2013 7:00 PM PT
\nSunday, April 5th vs. Los Angeles Clippers \u2013 6:00 PM PT
\nTuesday, April 7th @ Golden State Warriors \u2013 7:00 PM PT
\nFriday, April 10th vs. Golden State Warriors \u2013 7:00 PM PT
\nSunday, April 12th @ Portland Trail Blazers \u2013 5:30 PM PT<\/p>\n

Thank you for reading\u00a0SactownSports.com<\/a>. Follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Google News<\/a>, and subscribe to our\u00a0YouTube<\/a>\u00a0channel.<\/p>\n

Follow @FCartoscelli3<\/a><\/p>\n

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