It may be tough to get a veteran head coach to step into an organization generally viewed as unstable.
Midway through his third season, Mike Brown has been fired as head coach of the Sacramento Kings.
Inside the organization — at least at the highest level — this was seen as necessary to turn around a 13-18 team that has lost five straight and should be better. The fact that rumors are flying around the league that De’Aaron Fox may ask for a trade out of town certainly added to concerns. Outside the organization, the Kings firing the only coach who has led the team to the playoffs in the last 18 seasons — primarily due to a flawed roster — is exactly on brand for the franchise.
Where do the Kings turn for their next coach? It might be next summer before anyone is named permanently, but here are four names to watch.
Two quick notes on this list. First, after firing Brown — and Michael Malone a few years back, and George Karl — it may be challenging to get a veteran coach to come into what is viewed as an unstable situation around the league. The Kings may have to overpay if they want a coach with other options. Second, the reality of the NBA is that the best coach is the one De’Aaron Fox wants — as long as he is willing to re-sign with the team. Talent still wins in the league.
Doug Christie
Doug Christie is a 15-year NBA veteran player who spent five seasons in Sacramento and has been an assistant coach there for years, has been promoted to be the interim head coach.
He might be the best guy to keep the job, and he’s got more than 60% of a season to prove he can get the players to buy in and do it. He takes over a team that has been unlucky this season, and if that luck turns — if the Kings can start winning close games rather than giving up game-winning four-point plays — Christie can look like the right guy to get the job full-time. Christie should be able to connect with Fox, Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan and the rest. He is getting his chance in the big chair to prove he is the right man for the job.
Micah Nori
The Timberwolves’ lead assistant to Chris Finch — the guy who has taken over the big seat when Finch has been away from the team — is at the front of the line of top assistants around the league who deserves a shot in the big chair. Nori was an assistant with the Kings under Michael Malone, so he is familiar with the organization.
The Lakers and Cavaliers both interviewed Nori after last season for their head coaching jobs, and has been in the mix for previous head coaching jobs before that. He deserves one and the Kings would be wise to bring him in and talk.
Sam Cassell
Another long-time assistant coach, who players love and deserves his chance — and GMs around the league seem to agree (at least on paper). Sam Cassell, currently the lead assistant for Joe Mazzulla in Boston, was voted the best assistant in the NBA as part of the 2024-25 NBA GM survey. Cassell has interviewed for multiple head coaching jobs over the years (including with the Lakers last offseason), leading to speculation by some that he struggles in those interviews. Whatever the reason, Cassell has not landed in the big chair yet but deserves his chance.
David Adelman
David Adelman, like Nori and Cassell, is a proven assistant coach in the NBA — currently the assistant lead coach of the Nuggets under former Kings coach Michael Malone — who deserves his chance. He has earned the respect and endorsement of Nikola Vucevic, who said of Adelman, “I really think that DA’s a guy who’s gonna be next head coach because he has that, I’m gonna say ‘head’ for a head coach.”
Last summer the Lakers, Cavaliers and Hornets all interviewed Adelman before going another direction but someone will give him a chance. He could be the man for the Kings, his father Rick Adelman was the head coach in Sacramento during the best seasons in the organization’s history.
