Sacramento Kings Part Ways With General Manager Monte McNair

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings have mutually agreed to part ways with general manager Monte McNair following a disappointing end to the season. The decision was reached shortly after the Kings concluded their campaign with a loss in the play-in tournament.

McNair spent five seasons leading the Kings, a tenure marked by significant improvements. Notably, he was named NBA Executive of the Year in 2023 after steering the team to a 48-34 record and ending a 16-year playoff drought—the longest in NBA history. Under his leadership, the Kings achieved three consecutive seasons with at least 40 wins, a feat that had not been accomplished since the 2005-06 season.

The team’s overall win percentage during McNair’s management stood at .488. Prior to his arrival, the Kings faced struggles with a mere .362 win percentage from 2006-07 to the 2019-20 season, ranking as one of the worst in the NBA during that period. However, the latest season concluded with the Kings finishing the year with a disappointing record, unable to progress past the play-in round.

McNair’s departure follows that of assistant general manager Wes Wilcox, who recently accepted the position of general manager for the University of Utah men’s basketball team. During his time with the Kings, Wilcox also served five seasons in Sacramento’s front office.

League sources indicate that Scott Perry, a former general manager for the New York Knicks and vice president of basketball operations with the Kings, is a leading candidate to succeed McNair. Perry previously worked closely with Kings owner Vivek Ranadive and general manager Vlade Divac during his short stint with the organization in 2017.

Another potential candidate for the role is Calvin Booth, who was previously the general manager of the Denver Nuggets. Booth was recently let go alongside head coach Michael Malone, with reports suggesting he could be considered for the Kings’ top front office position as well.

The next general manager will play a crucial role in determining the future of the Kings and their head coaching situation. Currently, interim coach Doug Christie is a strong contender to retain his position, although he has indicated that he has not received any formal assurances from the organization. “None,” Christie said, emphasizing his desire to continue with the team. “But this is where I want to be. You guys know that. I need to finish what I started.”

McNair’s tenure as general manager will be remembered for the highs of playoff contention and the lows of recent struggles. His inability to make impactful roster upgrades has been cited as a factor in the team’s recent failures. Although McNair aimed to solidify the roster by signing star DeMar DeRozan, the team faltered early in the season, leading to the firing of head coach Mike Brown.

As the Kings look to rebuild, McNair’s future remains uncertain. Sources suggest he may have opportunities to return to the Houston Rockets, where he spent 13 seasons prior to joining the Kings. Additionally, he could explore prospects with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he has connections through former Rockets president Daryl Morey.

After their play-in elimination, McNair addressed the Kings players about the future before informing them of his exit from the organization, signaling a new chapter ahead for the franchise.