Coach Retained Sacramento, California -- The Sacramento Kings announced on Sunday that they will continue with head coach Doug Christie for the 2026-27 season, despite the team's dismal 22-59 record, placing them at the bottom of the Western Conference. Christie first took the helm as interim coach in December 2024 after the Kings dismissed Mike Brown. New general manager Scott Perry arrived last summer and awarded Christie a permanent three-year contract. Struggles in First Full Season The opening month of Christie's first full season proved disastrous. Sacramento lost starting wing Keegan Murray before the season began due to a torn thumb ligament, while starting center Domantas Sabonis missed time with a partially torn meniscus in November. The team stumbled to a 3-13 start and finished with a 12-46 record. Injuries and Revamped Approach Perry and Kings management argued that Christie never received a fair opportunity with the current squad, as their projected starting five never took the floor together. Sabonis played only 19 games before requiring season-ending surgery, while scoring guard Zach LaVine appeared in just 39 games before also undergoing season-ending surgery. In response to the franchise's shift toward younger talent, the Kings have won 10 of their last 23 games. A key factor in keeping Christie is the progress shown by rookie centers Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell, along with first-round draft pick Nique Clifford. Draft Lottery Implications Sacramento's improvement came at the expense of their lottery positioning, dropping from the league's worst record to the fourth-worst, tied with the Utah Jazz at 22-59 entering the season's final game. The franchise's next major moment arrives on May 10 during the NBA Draft Lottery, where they will learn their exact top-eight selection in a highly anticipated draft pool.