The Sacramento Kings have parted ways with interim coach Alvin Gentry after missing the playoffs again. Some names for the successor are already circulating.
The 67-year-old Gentry took over as head coach in November from Luke Walton, who started the season 6-11. But even with the experienced man on the sidelines, the Kings missed the playoffs for the 16th year in a row. Sacramento finished the season in twelfth place in the West with a 30-52 record.
The Kings have already announced the split from Gentry in an official statement, according to information from Adrian Wojnarowski (ESPN), the former head coach could remain in a front-office role for the franchise. Gentry’s original contract had one more year to run.
According to Woj, the Kings want to install a successor with experience turning a lottery team into a playoff team. Among others, the following names are traded as candidates: Kenny Atkinson, Steve Clifford, Mark Jackson, Mike Brown and the assistant coaches of the Bucks Charles Lee and Darvin Ham. Marc Stein also named Terry Stotts or Mike D’Antoni as potential candidates.
The Kings last reached the postseason under Rick Adelman in 2006, and since then twelve different head coaches have attempted the task. Since Michael Malone was fired in 2014 alone, six coaches have been on the sidelines in Sacramento.
