Hours removed from a fifth consecutive loss and one that saw them blow a 16-point fourth quarter lead, the Sacramento Kings are parting ways with head coach Mike Brown, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Just In: The Sacramento Kings are parting ways with head coach Mike Brown, sources told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/mNdn5EOv4U
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 27, 2024
Charania also reports that assistant Doug Christie is expected to serve as Sacramento’s interim head coach.
Doug Christie is expected to be the Sacramento Kings’ interim head coach, sources tell ESPN. Christie has been an assistant with the Kings since 2021-22 and played in Sacramento for five of his 15 NBA seasons. pic.twitter.com/FukvFNTHRN
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 27, 2024
After a splashy offseason headlined by the acquisition of DeMar DeRozan, the Kings are just 13-18, 12th in the Western Conference and have lost 12 of their past 17 games. Their five-game losing streak includes losses to the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers (x2) and, most recently, a fourth quarter collapse against the Detroit Pistons at home.
Sacramento snapped a 17-year playoff drought during Brown’s first year as head coach in 2022-23 by winning 48 games and nabbing the No. 3 seed out West. Brown earned Coach of the Year for his efforts. The Golden State Warriors defeated Sacramento in a thrilling seven-game, first-round series that year. It lost in the Play-In Tournament a season ago and was aiming to return to the playoffs this time around.
Yet rather than build upon the promise of 2022-23, the ensuing 1.5 seasons have seen the Kings stagnate and decline, beset by some shaky roster moves and rotational decisions, and uneven play from much of the team’s supporting cast behind its stars. Brown amassed a 107-88 record throughout his tenure guiding the Kings.
The offensive mojo that defined Brown’s first year as lead man in Sacramento has dissipated. After pacing the NBA in offensive rating two seasons ago, the Kings have been a middling offense (ninth in 2024-25, 14th in 2023-24). That regression hasn’t been accompanied by the defensive upswing Brown, his coaching staff and the front office are seeking.
Some of that can be attributed to Brown himself. The Kings too frequently look disorganized on both ends and he confoundingly hasn’t handed their stoutest perimeter defender, Keon Ellis, a full-time rotation spot this season. But the Kings are also a severely undermanned roster, particularly on the wings, and the move to land DeRozan hasn’t paid off through two months. While a coaching shakeup could be the change Sacramento needed to salvage its season, the front office must recognize much more is required to build this team into a true contender out West.
The Kings return the floor Saturday night to face the Lakers.
