The Sacramento Kings seem to have reached a breaking point in the eyes of head coach Doug Christie. After suffering a 33-point loss at home to the Hawks, Christie is fed up with how his team is playing. He is tired of what the starting lineup has given him.
So far this season, the Kings are 13th in the Western Conference standings. This isn’t a team that has suffered a myriad of injuries, either. The Kings have been mostly healthy this season. That’s part of the reason why Christie was so fired up after the game.
During Christie’s postgame press conference, he ripped his team, vowing that there would be changes to the starting lineup.
GettyPHOENIX, ARIZONA – MARCH 14: Head coach Doug Christie of the Sacramento Kings reacts during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at PHX Arena on March 14, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Sacramento Kings Coach Doug Christie Rips Team After Embarrassing Loss
Christie was furious with his team’s effort against the Hawks, and let everyone know it.
“You’re professionals. You’ve signed up for this…You are not going to represent the Sacramento Kings. Not while I’m here. And you know how that goes. I’m a realist. It’s part of our business. But nah. Put on the jersey, represent it properly. I’m F—ing embarrassed. Unacceptable, period.”
Christie was clearly unhappy with the way his team performed in this game and the way they have been playing over the last few games. Sacramento has now been blown out in four straight games, and Christie vowed changes were coming to the starting lineup.
“You got to. You got to. Those guys are -31, -38, -34, -20. Like, you got to…that’s not anything acceptable.”
GettySACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 07: Interim head coach Doug Christie of the Sacramento Kings complains about a play during their game against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at Golden 1 Center on March 07, 2025 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Doug Christie Vows Changes to Kings’ Starting Lineup
While Christie said there will be changes to the starting lineup, he didn’t indicate what those changes might look like. With Zach LaVine out, it makes it harder to shuffle the lineup. Russell Westbrook could find himself coming off the bench again.
The Kings have the fifth-worst net rating in the NBA, sitting at -10.3. Christie is trying to find a way to get his team to respond to this adversity and play better basketball before they fall too far behind in the West. Sacramento is in danger of digging too deep a hole to get out of.
With LaVine’s injury not a long-term concern, he will likely be back in the starting lineup soon. Christie might look at moving multiple players out of the starting lineup after this performance.
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