Sacramento Kings Let Go Of Assistant Coaches, Retain Bobby Jackson

Jan 18, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Sacramento Kings assistant coach

talks to guard

(22) during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum. Memphis defeated Sacramento 85-69. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

While few tears will shed over the vast majority of the Sacramento Kings assistant coaching staff, the same can not be said for former King great and now former assistant coach, Bobby Jackson, who was not retained on the coaching staff today but thankfully will stay on in a different capacity.

A fan favorite during his five year playing tenure with the Kings, Jackson returned to the organization in 2008 as an assistant coach but according to Jason Jones, he will not be retained on the new staff, headed by the recently hired Mike Malone.

Per Jones:

"New #nbakings coach Michael Malone will not retain any assistant coaches from Keith Smart‘s staff."

Alex English, Jim Eyen and Clifford Ray were the most notable names to not be retained.

It’s widely expected that Malone will bring in his father, Brendan Malone, namely known for being the right hand man of Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly, to be an assistant. That said, filling out the assistant coaching staff isn’t atop the priority list and the Kings aren’t expected to do so until things calm down with the NBA Draft.

Update: Bobby Jackson will remain with the organization, but not as an assistant coach.