The Sacramento Kings have short listed candidates for head coach
In desperate need of change, the Kings have been at the bottom of the pile for sometime, could that be about to change?
As the search for a new head coach intensifies there are now just a handful of names which have been short listed for the top job.
Will the Kings choose Mike Brown, Steve Clifford, or Mark Jackson?
If you’re a Sacramento Kings fan you’ll probably be very happy to know that you won’t have to wait much longer before knowing who the team’s new head coach will be. Indeed according to reports, the franchise has whittled down their list of potential candidates down to three names in particular. Who are they? There’s Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown, the Brooklyn Nets’ consultant Steve Clifford and then former Warriors head coach Mark Jackson. While no specific date has been given, it’s expected that an announcement will be made in the coming weeks.
How did the Sacramento Kings get here?
Its now been a few weeks since the Kings and former head coach Alvin Gentry decided to part company. Incidentally, Gentry was actually appointed the Kings’ interim coach’s interim head coach following the dismissal of Luke Walton in November. Gentry would go on to lead the team to a 24-41 record in the remainder of the season, which of course was not good enough to clinch a playoff spot with the team finally finishing on a 30-52 record on the season.
“We’re going to run a comprehensive and very process-driven coaching search,” general manager Monte McNair said after the season. “We’re going to let that run its course and we’re going to take as long as we need to find the correct person to lead this organization, lead the team on the floor, and I’m excited to see the people that we talk to and what their vision is for the team as well.”
What next for the Sacramento Kings
Having not made an appearance in the playoffs since way back in 2006, the Kings are in true need of change. As if to punctuate that point, the last time the participated in the playoffs was also the last time that the franchise registered a winning season. Indeed, the Kings 16 seasons without seeing the post season is the longest by any team in the NBA. In the time between now and then the team has seen a total of 11 coaches, which means they will definitely be hoping that with the appointment of one of the above mentioned candidates, the winds of change can blow through the team.