The path from “Light the Beam” to “blow up the team” has been painful for the Sacramento Kings and their long-tortured fans.
And, for that matter, remarkably short.
It has only been nine months since the former franchise centerpiece who helped end their 16-year playoff drought, De’Aaron Fox, forced his way to the San Antonio Spurs in February and left the roster wrecked as a result. Now here the Kings are, with a 4-13 record that has sparked league-wide speculation about a forthcoming overhaul and a dire need to tell their loyalists what the future might hold from here.
To that end, first-year general manager Scott Perry decided to dive headfirst into the disappointment with The Athletic during a 30-minute phone interview on Saturday afternoon. Just hours before the Kings would bring their brutal losing streak to an end, downing the Denver Nuggets in the Mile High City after dropping the previous eight games by an average of 23.4 points, Perry welcomed all the questions that will matter most as he attempts to build a legitimate contender.
Is longtime Kings owner Vivek Ranadive, whose tendency to take over when big decisions are being made has long plagued the organization, truly allowing Perry to run the team? Is first-time head coach Doug Christie, the former King who was given the job full-time in the offseason after replacing Mike Brown in late December, the right man for this coaching job? And with the February trade deadline nearing that will play a pivotal part in Perry’s early tenure, is this, in fact, a full-on rebuild project at this point?
Perry, who knows the Kings’ dynamics well from his productive three-month stint in their front office in 2017 before he took the job as New York Knicks general manager, can’t pretend to know how long this turnaround might take. He’s taking a markedly different approach from past front office regimes, with his “North Star,” as he often calls it, the goal of eventually building a true title contender rather than a perennial playoff team. Case in point: He used the word “sustainable” a total of nine times in our chat.
Yet as Perry is well aware, this daunting venture will require the very thing from the fans that is in such short supply at the moment: patience.
“I totally understand their frustrations to this point,” said Perry, who was hired in April after the departures of then-Kings general manager Monte McNair and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox. “It hasn’t been what they wanted. But again, it’s the old saying that Rome wasn’t built in a day — and that’s a fact.
“If you look at a number of the top teams in the league, they all went through a very tough stretch when they were trying to lay a foundation and create an environment that led to sustainable winning. … All I’ve ever asked from the very beginning is just: buckle up, be patient for the ride. We definitely have a plan in place, and we’ll do this thing together.”
This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
When I spoke to you and your group heading into the preseason, there was definitely a fair amount of optimism that this would be a competitive team right now. From Doug, especially, there was a sense of, “If we do this, and if we do that, then we can make it work.” With that in mind, what has been your reaction to this start?
This season was about evaluation and also creating an environment that could lead to potential sustainable success. And we went into this season laser-focused on (the notion that) we want to compete at a high level and we want to create identity in how we want to play. We wanted to play fast. We wanted to be tough, and we wanted to become a better defensive team. Now, obviously, at this juncture, we have not been successful in that goal or that vision. So has that been disappointing? Yeah, that’s been disappointing. But again, part of the evaluation is that you learn about everyone and everything here. It’s still relatively early, with a lot of basketball left to play, and there’s still an opportunity to work on developing an identity in becoming a much more competitive team. That is what I will continue to do moving forward. So that’s where I’m at right now. And, just for the record, I think it’s important to note that I have the autonomy to do so, and to be able to do those things.
Well, that’s definitely something that people will want to know more about. I’ve reported in the past, before you came back that Vivek played a significant part in the decision to fire Mike Brown last year, that he played a significant part in the decision to trade De’Aaron, specifically, for Zach (LaVine, who was with the Chicago Bulls, in a three-team deal). And there’s been a reality for a long time now that his involvement made things more challenging for people in the front office. So how would you characterize the way that it has functioned so far and your level of confidence that the dynamic can be healthy?
“He didn’t want [Mike Brown] fired, he didn’t want [Doug Christie] to be the coach, he didn’t want Doug to continue being the coach… If left to his own devices, Monte would have built the roster differently.”@sam_amick with @CarmichaelDave & @JasonRoss1140 on Monte McNair: pic.twitter.com/Cf2A6bOm15
— Sactown Sports 1140 (@Sactown1140) April 17, 2025
When I used the word autonomy, I meant that. I’m not someone — and you know me well enough — that I’m not someone who will give lip service or say something that’s not actual truth or fact. So as the fan base examines and looks at moves, they need to look at it … from the time I got here to however long I’m going to be here. I’m going to have the ultimate autonomy and authority to make what I believe are the necessary decisions to give the fan base — this fan base that’s been yearning for winning for so long — an opportunity to have that type of team to cheer for.
But we’re a ways away from that now, obviously. I want them to feel comfortable and confident in my years of experience in this position, as well as a number of the members of my front office, because we do this as a collective. We will eventually get where we want to go, and people (will be) proud of the product that they see on the floor.
First-year coach Doug Christie is passionate about the Kings, who last had sustained success when he played for them in the early 2000s. (Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)
We’re still three months away from the trade deadline. But considering how rough it has been already, how much does that change your calculus with the roster in terms of urgency?
Well, again, part of my job was always to examine what is here and be open to making the necessary changes to improve the roster. That is owed to the organization. That is owed to the fan base. But one of the things I stress is having the necessary patience as we embark upon this journey. If you’re going to build something sustainable, you have to be very candid and open to what you see as it plays out. And then you make the necessary moves. That’s what me and the front office will do. We’re going to do that not only this season, but in subsequent seasons.
You’re always looking for ways to improve the roster, to attract guys that are gonna fit the identity that we want to establish. Historically in the league, when you’re trying to do that and change the culture and build a culture, that takes time. That’s just a fact. There’s no escaping that. There’s no quick fix or quick elixir to doing that if you’re going to try to build it the right way. … Even if the team was playing better, I still would have that same mindset. Obviously, we’re not playing well right now, but that’s just how I’ve always been wired.
Let’s talk about Doug. You were very candid when he was first given the job that you were assessing the roster and him. He has been extremely passionate and intense at times early on when it comes to his own frustrations, and trying to get these guys where he wants them to go. That news conference before the Nuggets game at home (on Nov. 11) certainly got people talking. How would you assess the job that Doug has done so far?
I think the things that are Doug’s strengths, as you talked about, is that he has a lot of natural leadership qualities. He’s very passionate and emotional about the Sacramento Kings. Obviously, he was part of, really, the last team that had that sustainable success we talked about. So this means a great deal to him. And this is his first year as a head coach, so there’s a learning curve for him as well. But I’ve got complete confidence, and the organization does as well, that he’s going to be able to lead this team into better times.
I think he would be the first to say to you that we’re not where we want to be. We have not achieved that consistent competitive product on the floor. We have not consistently started to show the identity that is necessary to create that sustainable winner. But I can tell you, as well as say it to the Sacramento community, that this guy is working extremely hard to push every single button to do so. I’ve been around long enough to know that coaching’s not easy. I’m a former coach, and it’s a difficult, tough task. But I believe he’s up to it. I’m confident that he’s up to it, and we’ll continue to support him, and to help him, like we’re going to do with our young players. … I want to play a part in helping him develop as a head coach, and in him being the one to ultimately lead us towards that sustainable winning that we’ve talked about.
Scott Perry, then the vice president of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons, represents Detroit at the 2010 NBA Draft Lottery. (Jennifer Pottheiser / NBAE via Getty Images)
How do you see the player experience here? We’re not even to December yet, and the frustration level appears to be very high in your locker room. How do you manage that human element when so many people expect this roster to get flipped on its head?
I’ve been in the league 25 years. I’ve been a part of all kinds of teams during that 25 years — from the highest of highs, winning a championship and being a consistent contender in Detroit, to other teams that had some of the worst records when you’re trying to rebuild.
(Note: With Perry working alongside Joe Dumars in the Pistons front office, they went to six consecutive Eastern Conference finals appearances and two consecutive NBA Finals and won the 2004 title. In his one season working with Sam Presti in the Seattle front office, the 2007–08 SuperSonics — having drafted Kevin Durant No. 2 overall — went 20-62. In his six years with the New York Knicks (2017-2023), when the roster was undergoing a major reconstruction, they averaged 32 wins (while making the playoffs twice). During his five seasons in the Orlando Magic’s front office (2012-2017), they averaged 26.4 wins but never made the playoffs.)
Losing brings frustration. That’s nothing unique to this team. That element will exist. But when you go through difficult times and adversities, you learn more about everyone — players, coaches, front office —because adversity doesn’t build character. It reveals character. So that’s my challenge to everybody in the organization, including the players.
(Note: As Perry would share in a subsequent text message that relates to this topic, the culture he envisions building would always include his “Six pillars: Competitive, Tough, TEAM ORIENTED, Professional, Accountable, and Disciplined.”)
What’s your character really about? When things are going well, it’s easy to be at your best. But when things are going difficult, how do we respond? And so that’s what I’m going to be looking for. I see this as a great opportunity to do things the right way and set the foundation from the ground up. It’s tough going through it. But because I’ve had experience going through difficult times, I’m extremely confident that we will navigate these tough waters and we’ll come out on the other side in due time to start showing the necessary improvement that we need to do. But that’s going to take some time. I’m committed to that, and I’m committed to getting the job done for this Sacramento community and fan base.
We’ve got some young players here that I’m excited about and want to develop — and will develop. As we move through the season, that will be an important part too, in terms of our long-term vision of building a winner. It’s important that our younger players develop this season, and we will be working diligently to make sure that that occurs during this season as well.
Nique Clifford, shown here driving against Jalen Johnson on Nov. 12, is one of the young players the Kings plan to build around. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
So could we see some of these older vets see less time on the floor in exchange for developmental priorities?
Look, the mission for Doug and the coaching staff and the players is that we’ve got to compete every night and we have to develop their identity. So whoever’s going to provide that for us on the court on a consistent basis needs to be playing. If that’s the young guys, then yes. If the veteran guys are providing that on a consistent basis, and pushing us forward, then OK. We’ll look at that too. But we’re about doing what’s right for the organization, not just in the short term but more importantly in the long term here. That’s what I’m thinking for. It’s guys like Nique Clifford (the guard who was drafted 24th out of Colorado State in June), and Max Raynaud (the center from Stanford who was taken 42nd), Keegan (Murray, the fourth-year forward who signed a five-year, $140 million extension in October).
Some of the younger players on the roster will get an opportunity to grow and play and put their hands in with the collective and show that they can be part of a group that contributes to sustainable winning. The only way you’re going to find that out is to actually get them out there in game competition. They’ve got to be able to grow and learn from mistakes as well. I think you’ll continue to see that as the season moves forward.
(Note: It doesn’t take a detective’s license to deduce that Murray, Clifford and Raynaud are considered part of the Kings’ long-term future. Yet when it comes to the possibility of them making moves with their highest-priced players, the market might prove to be challenging.
Big man Domantas Sabonis, who is out at least three weeks after suffering a partial tear in his left meniscus, is owed a combined $94 million in the next two seasons. LaVine, who league sources say has no clarity as to whether he’ll pick up his player option for next season ($48.9 million), has hardly been playing well enough to inspire suitors of late.
DeMar DeRozan, the 36-year-old who league sources say has some interest from the LA Clippers, has a partial guarantee on his deal for next season (approximately $10 million of his $25.7 million). Malik Monk, who was part of the Jonathan Kuminga trade talks with Golden State in the summer that are likely to be revisited, has a combined $41.7 million on his deal in the next two seasons (including a 2027-28 player option). The list goes on from there, with fourth-year guard Keon Ellis ($2.3 million expiring deal) widely seen as one of the most coveted Kings players among rival teams.
Regardless of what transpires on that front, it should be noted — for reasons relating to the prospect of an accidental tank job — that the Kings have their first-round pick for next season. They also have the picks that were procured in the Fox trade: three first-rounders (2025 from Charlotte that is top-14 protected and becomes two second-rounders, in 2026 and 2027, if it doesn’t convey; 2027 unprotected San Antonio pick; 2031 unprotected Minnesota first-rounder) and three second-rounders.)
(Sacramento sports radio host) Carmichael Dave already framed it weeks ago that this is a full rebuild. And I know labels can be tricky, but is that an accurate depiction of the state of affairs, or is it more nuanced than that?
(Laughs) Well, look, everybody has their choice of language. Like I said, when I came in here, it was about observing this year and then being able to make the necessary decisions and build from that point. I’m not a big label guy, but I’m just telling you that it’s going to take time to build this the right way. I never kidded myself about that. I always knew coming in here that this was going to be a lift to get this team to become a sustainable winner. Would you like to have it happen without some of the early noise? Sure, but life is never perfect. … I’m as confident as ever that we’ll get there.