Bobby Jackson is on his way out of Sacramento again, closing another chapter with the franchise that made him a fan favorite and later kept bringing him back in different roles.
Sources told The Sacramento Bee that Jackson is parting ways with the Kings after one season as an assistant on Doug Christie’s coaching staff, matching a report from KCRA’s Sean Cunningham. Jackson is still on staff for now, but the plan is for him to leave at the end of the summer.
The Kings acknowledged Jackson’s impact in a statement to The Bee, saying: “Bobby will always be a Kings legend, and we are grateful for everything he has contributed to our organization,” the Kings said in a statement issued to The Bee. “We look forward to supporting him in his next chapter.”
Jackson, 53, played for Sacramento twice during his 12-year NBA career and has spent the past 15 years working in different coaching roles with the organization. His most recent run came as one of Christie’s top assistants.
His first Sacramento stint began in 2000, when he signed with the Kings as a free agent. He spent five seasons there during the team’s peak under Rick Adelman and quickly became one of the most popular players in the city.
That Kings group featured Christie, Jason Williams, Mike Bibby, Peja Stojakovic, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac and Brad Miller, and Jackson was part of the 2001-02 team that won 61 games before falling in a seven-game Western Conference finals series to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jackson’s best individual season came in 2002-03, when he was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals.
He later returned to Sacramento for the final stretch of his NBA career after being acquired in the trade that sent Ron Artest, now known as Metta World Peace, to the Houston Rockets.
Jackson’s coaching path with the Kings started as an assistant from 2001-13. He came back in 2019, then served as head coach of the G League Stockton Kings from 2021-23. After a stint as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers from 2023-25, he returned to Sacramento last summer to focus on the team’s defense under Christie.
In Other News...
Scott Perry Just Sent A Clear Message About The Kings Direction
Scott Perry made it sound like Sacramentos offseason is less about patching holes and more about changing the feel of the roster. The Kings GM said the plan is to build around toughness, athleticism and defense, with culture and identity carrying more weight than simply chasing positional needs. Its a notable shift for a team that has already started reshaping the group with rookie additions and the return of Precious Achiuwa, while also leaning into conditioning and the kind of work habits Perry wants to define the next few seasons.
The bigger question now is how that philosophy translates to the rest of the roster, because Sacramento still has to sort out what the team actually needs most. Perry has left the door open on whether the next move should be a backup point guard, another wing or more frontcourt depth, and that uncertainty sits alongside the usual offseason noise around some of the Kings biggest names. For now, the message is clear enough: the front office wants a harder, more defensive team, even if the final shape of it is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans Get A Big Hint Before Vegas Debut Tonight
The Kings open Las Vegas Summer League against the Clippers with a little more clarity around their roster plans, and Alex Karaban is set to make his debut after getting past an ankle issue that kept him out earlier in camp. For a team using Summer League to sort through combinations and build out its rotation, getting a first look at Karaban matters, especially with Sacramento still trying to see how its newer pieces fit together.
Maxime Raynaud, meanwhile, will sit out while he continues recovering from the travel grind after playing with the French national team. Sacramento would like to keep layering in its players and find a better rhythm as the week goes on, and there is at least a chance the Kings can get a fuller look at Karaban and Raynaud together later in Summer League. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Just Sent A Telling Message About Russell Westbrook's Return
Scott Perrys latest comments offered a pretty clear look at where Sacramento stands in the market for Russell Westbrook. The Kings general manager said he still has admiration for the veteran guard, but the teams financial picture remains tight after a summer of roster trimming and reshuffling, including the decision to waive DeMar DeRozan and bring back Precious Achiuwa on a new deal.
Westbrook is a free agent again after spending last season on a minimum contract, and his level of play still makes him an interesting fit for a team looking for backcourt help. But Sacramentos cap reality has been a recurring theme, and with trade chatter still swirling around the roster, Perrys tone suggested the Kings are balancing respect for Westbrooks resume with the limits of what they can realistically put on the table. [Read more 🡒]