Report: Kings retaining Christie on multi-year deal

The Sacramento Kings and interim head coach Doug Christie are finalizing a multi-year contract to make him the full-time bench boss, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Christie took over for Mike Brown after the former Coach of the Year was fired in December. He went 27-24, helping the team finish with a 40-42 record. The Kings lost in the play-in tournament to the Dallas Mavericks.

After the defeat, the club and general manager Monte McNair mutually agreed to part ways. The Kings hired former New York Knicks executive Scott Perry as McNair's replacement shortly after.

Christie joined the franchise as an assistant under Alvin Gentry in 2021 and was retained by Brown the following season. The Kings went 48-34 and 46-36 in two campaigns with Brown and Christie on the coaching staff.

Christie also played five of his 15 NBA seasons with the Kings between 2000 and '05. He averaged 10.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in Sacramento. Christie made four All-Defensive teams, including a first-team nod in 2003.