Scott Perry isn’t handing Doug Christie a free pass heading into this season, but he’s also not slamming the door on the Kings coach.
For Christie, the pressure is real. He’s in the final guaranteed year of his deal, with the last season on the contract set up as a team option for 2027-28.
That means this season isn’t just about players like Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, and De'Andre Hunter proving themselves. Christie has to do that too.
Speaking on Sactown Sports 1140, Kings general manager Scott Perry laid out exactly what he wants to see from his head coach.
"Growth in the position," Perry said about Christie. "Last year was his first year as a full-time head coach in this league.
The interim tag was gone, and I think Doug learned a ton last year. But the one thing I've consistently said about him as I observe him during this growth path is he's a hard worker, and he's open to trying to figure things out.
He's not a guy who thinks he has all the answers, but he's always in search of the right answers."
That’s the through line here: Perry likes Christie’s approach, but he wants the results to catch up. The work ethic is there.
The willingness to adjust is there. Now comes the harder part - showing that the growth is real.
Christie’s first full season at the helm ended with just 22 wins, and while he wasn’t the only reason for that number, the Kings were dealing with injuries and a roster that didn’t give him much to work with. This year, those excuses don’t carry the same weight.
"I'm expecting more experience from him this year in terms of what he's learned from last year, and have more presence in the position and really attack this head-on like he did when he was a player with the Kings," Perry continued. "He's excited about the season coming up. Doug always brings positive energy to the court."
There’s a fit here that makes sense for Sacramento. The Kings are rebuilding, and Perry appears willing to let Christie grow alongside the group instead of chasing a veteran coach for a short-term bump.
That doesn’t mean the leash is unlimited. Christie has to show he can turn progress into wins, and the second half of the 2025-26 season already offered a hint that he can move in the right direction.
For now, Perry’s message is pretty clear: he believes in Christie’s work, but belief alone won’t keep him in the job. The Kings should win more than 22 games, and Christie has a season to show Perry he deserves to stay in Sacramento beyond this contract year.
In Other News...
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Lloyd also raised questions about whether newcomers Darius Acuff Jr. and DeAndre Hunter will live up to the expectations attached to them, which only adds to the uncertainty around Sacramentos next step. And if the Kings do decide Domantas Sabonis is part of the answer they want to move off of, Lloyd suggested they may have to be more realistic about the trade return than they would like. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Final Two-Way Spot May Be Down To One Young Guard
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For a roster still sorting out its final developmental spot, Newton is the kind of player worth a long look: young, experienced in the G League grind, and familiar enough to the organization through the Stockton connection. He also went on to earn All-NBA G League First Team honors in 2026, which only adds to the intrigue around whether the Kings see him as the right fit for that last two-way slot. [Read more 🡒]