For some players, it is hard to let go of the sport that has defined their entire lives once their playing career is over. While some turn to broadcasting or appearances as analysts on TV, others become coaches.
Going from playing to coordinating a team from the sidelines is not always an easy transition, but many make it successfully. Some of the most notable examples are Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, and Steve Kerr.
There have also been plenty of Kings players who became coaches, so let’s look at seven of them.
7. Dough Christie
Drafted seventeenth overall in the 1992 NBA Draft, Dough Christie quickly established himself as a great defender, making four All-Defensive teams in the early 2000s.
During that time, he was a starter for the Sacramento Kings and left the team second all-time in total steals. As a King, he played in four consecutive playoff runs and helped to turn Sacramento into a force in the Western Conference alongside Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Jason Williams, and Peja Stojakovic.
Despite his popularity in Sacramento, Christie was traded to the Orlando Magic in 2005 in exchange for Cuttino Mobley and Michael Bradley. Unhappy about the trade, the shooting guard only played a handful of games before being sidelined with an injury and being released by the Magic.
Struggling with the same ankle injury and recovery from surgery, Christie had short stints with the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers before leaving his playing days behind in 2007.
Not totally ready to part ways with the Kings quite yet, Christie became a color commentator for Sacramento on NBC Sports in the 2018-19 season but then left to become an assistant coach with the team in 2021. He has been on Mike Brown’s staff ever since.