There’s more than one NBA coaching vacancy in California.
Monday’s news cycle has focused on the Los Angeles Lakers, who fired Frank Vogel after failing to reach the play-in tournament. But the Sacramento Kings are also seeking a reset at head coach, as they are not retaining interim coach Alvin Gentry.
The Kings aren’t wasting any time commencing an extensive search.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Kings are considering multiple candidates. Yet Mark Jackson’s inclusion stands out among the pack.
Sources: Kings search is expected to wide-ranging, including candidates with history of turning lottery teams into playoff teams. Among those expected to be considered: Kenny Atkinson, Steve Clifford, Mark Jackson, Mike Brown, Bucks assistants Charles Lee and Darvin Ham, more. https://t.co/BnfYC0klyr
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 11, 2022
Jackson has not had a coaching job since the Golden State Warriors dismissed him in 2014. It seemed like a harsh decision at the time since the team was coming off a 51-31 campaign that marked the franchise’s most successful season in two decades.
However, Steve Kerr took Golden State to the NBA Finals in each of the next five years.
Jackson returned to ABC’s broadcast booth as a commentator alongside Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy. After an eight-year hiatus from coaching, he’d certainly face a steep challenge in Sacramento.
The Kings have not made the playoffs since 2006, the NBA’s longest playoff drought by a full decade. They haven’t even won 40 games in any of those 16 seasons.
Shannon Sharpe wants the Lakers to hire Mark Jackson as their new head coach. https://t.co/BuI2vj46yc
— The Big Lead (@TheBigLead) April 11, 2022
Then again, the Warriors were experiencing a similar organizational malaise before Jackson arrived. They made the postseason in one of 17 seasons before hiring the former New York Knicks point guard in 2011-12.
As Wojnarowski noted, the Kings are eyeing coaches who have helped turn around a lottery team’s misfortunes. It’ll be interesting to see how seriously they’re considering giving Jackson a long-eluded second chance.
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