A few weeks ago, Scott Perry was named the successor to Monte McNair as general manager of the Sacramento Kings. This week, he made his first significant move in that role, officially naming Doug Christie as the team’s head coach for the 2025-26 NBA season, removing his interim tag.
Some have speculated that this decision was influenced by a desire to satisfy team chairman and co-owner Vivek Ranadive, a longtime believer in Christie’s coaching potential. However, it seems Perry had additional motivations for retaining Christie beyond simply appeasing ownership.
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Why Perry decided to keep Doug Christie
On Thursday, Scott Perry addressed the media and explained his rationale for retaining Doug Christie as the Kings’ head coach instead of launching a broader search for a new hire. In his official statement, Perry said:
“Doug has earned the respect of our players, staff, and front office through his leadership, communication, and competitive spirit. He stepped into a tough situation and handled it with professionalism and poise. As we look to build a culture rooted in accountability and growth, I believe Doug is the right person to lead this group forward. His connection with the team and his understanding of what it means to represent Sacramento made this a clear decision for us.”
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“After careful consideration, I am excited to announce Doug Christie as the next head coach of the Sacramento Kings. I’ve known Doug a long time and have been impressed with his leadership, presence, and ability to connect deeply with his players,” Perry said.
“He embodies the core values we believe in — toughness, discipline, professionalism, a defensive mindset, and a selfless, team-oriented approach on offense. Our goal is to support him fully and help set the stage for his long-term success. We’re excited to move forward with Doug as our leader.”
Christie’s appointment also carries emotional and historical weight. As a cornerstone of the franchise’s golden era, he was instrumental in the Kings’ early 2000s success, helping the team to at least 55 wins in each of his four full seasons and five playoff series victories overall. Renowned as their premier three-and-D weapon, Christie earned three All-Defensive Second Team selections and one First Team nod in 2002–03, while shooting 36.2% from three over 355 games with the team.
It’s likely Perry hopes Christie can help mold Keegan Murray into a similarly impactful two-way force for this modern version of the Kings.
Christie also held his own during a tough interim stint. After the team’s 13–18 start under Mike Brown, Christie led the Kings to a 27–24 finish. Though Sacramento still struggled defensively—ranking 23rd in defensive rating—they were ninth on offense and a middle-of-the-pack 16th in net rating during his tenure.
With a lopsided roster and limited financial flexibility, the road ahead won’t be easy. But if anyone has the resilience to navigate this uphill climb, it’s Doug Christie.
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