Doug Christie enters this season with the kind of pressure that tends to get louder by the week. He’s in his second full season as the Sacramento Kings’ head coach, and he’s also in the final year of his contract.
The record doesn’t help. Christie has gone 49-84 since taking over for Mike Brown on Dec.
27, 2024. He finished 27-24 over the remainder of the 2024-25 season, then watched the Kings slide to 22-60 last year.
That downturn came with a catch: season-ending injuries to Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray forced Christie to lean on rookies and deeper bench pieces. The extra minutes gave younger players a chance to grow, but they also came with the usual rough edges.
Now the roster looks different again. LaVine, Sabonis and Murray are healthy, and Sacramento added Darius Acuff Jr. with the seventh pick. That leaves Christie trying to manage two timelines at once - veterans who are expected to win now and a rookie who needs real developmental reps.
That tension showed up right away in Wednesday’s 121-96 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Acuff struggled badly, going 5-for-24 and repeatedly missing wide-open teammates. LaVine was the team’s top scorer with 28 points.
On Thursday’s episode of the “ Carmichael Dave Show,” Sam Amick of The Athletic said it’s still too early to make Christie’s job security the main story. He tied Christie’s situation to general manager Scott Perry and said the spotlight would move toward Perry if the coach is dismissed.
Amick pointed back to Perry’s predecessor, Monte McNair, who was relieved of his duties in April 2025.
McNair had already made major moves before that, firing Brown when the team opened 13-18 and later trading De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs at last February’s trade deadline. Those choices drew fan criticism because they included firing a Coach of the Year and dealing away a franchise superstar.
Amick also said Christie lasting through the season is still possible, even if Sacramento keeps struggling. The Kings want to improve their lottery standing under the new reform rules while also developing Acuff as a possible franchise cornerstone.
That’s where the squeeze comes in. If Sacramento leans too hard toward the veterans, Acuff loses on-ball opportunities.
If the Kings tilt too far toward the rookie, the wins could dry up. And with the roster built the way it is, a midseason change wouldn’t be a shock if Perry can line up new homes for Sabonis and LaVine.
In Other News...
Kings Loss Raised A Bigger Question Than Darius Acuff Jr. Answered
Darius Acuff Jr. gave the Kings plenty to build around in their 128-120 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Golden 1 Center, and he did it in style for his home debut. The rookie guard led all scorers with 33 points, while Domantas Sabonis added a triple-double with 27 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists in a game that kept Sacramento close but never quite let it fully flip.
Even with Acuff and Sabonis carrying the load, the bigger concern coming out of the night was the deeper look at the rotation, especially with Malik Monk back in action for his season debut. Monk played 12 minutes and did not score, leaving the Kings with a little more to sort through after their second straight loss to open the 2026-27 season and an uneven night that raised more questions than answers. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Showed Fight But One Early Problem Is Already Back
The Kings had enough offense to make this one feel salvageable for long stretches, with rookie Darius Acuff Jr. pouring in 33 points and Domantas Sabonis turning in a triple-double in the loss to Portland. Sacramento showed the kind of fight that can keep a team from spiraling early in a season, especially after trailing by double digits and working its way back into the game.
Still, the 128-120 defeat left Sacramento at 0-2, and the old issue that haunted plenty of recent Kings nights was back in the spotlight. A rough third quarter put them in a hole, and the three-point shooting never really gave them the lift they needed to finish the comeback, leaving another familiar early-season frustration hanging over a team trying to find its footing. [Read more 🡒]
Keegan Murray's Slide Is Becoming A Real Kings Problem
Keegan Murrays offensive slide has become one of the more uncomfortable subplots around Sacramento, especially for a player the Kings still view as part of their long-term core. His shooting efficiency has dropped well off the pace he set during a record-breaking rookie season, and the recent struggles have shown up again in a loss to the Clippers, where he could not give the offense the kind of steady scoring the Kings have come to expect from him.
The concern is bigger than one bad night. Injuries have interrupted his development, and the churn around the roster and front office has not helped create the kind of stable environment young players usually need to settle in. Even with trade speculation floating around, Sacramento has kept Murray in place and committed to him with a five-year extension, which only sharpens the pressure for his production to catch back up to the role the Kings have carved out for him. [Read more 🡒]