Category: Basketball

Doug Christie's Kings job reportedly ‘safe' despite historically bad start originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

While the Kings have plenty of questions just 37 games into the 2025-26 NBA season, whether or not coach Doug Christie is on the hot seat reportedly isn’t one of them.

Despite the team’s historically bad start, Christie’s job with the Kings is “safe,” ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported in a story published Wednesday, citing team sources.

Sacramento has an 8-29 record — tied for worst start in franchise history with only the 2008-09 Kings and the 1958-59 Cincinnati Royals — and most recently dropped a game against the Dallas Mavericks in which they led for the majority of the 48 minutes.

Kings general manager Scott Perry and Christie have been on the same page since day one when Christie listened to Perry’s introductory press conference and said he “sounds like me.”

The first-year coach took over for Mike Brown after he was fired in December of 2024 following a 13-18 start to the 2024-25 season and went on to finish 27-24 on the year as interim head coach.

His tenure began with a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers followed by a seven-game win streak that propelled the team to 20-19 on the year.

He officially was hired as head coach in May of 2025 and, so far this season, has struggled with the assignment — not to mention questions surrounding the benching of two key players: Keon Ellis, who many consider the team’s second best defender behind Keegan Murray, and Malik Monk, who has proven to be a significant boost off the bench and has said being benched “confused” him.

Additionally, Christie and the Kings have dealt with a string of injuries to key starters with Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and Zach LaVine all missing at least 12 games on the year.

The trio, all starters on the team’s roster, has yet to play a game together this season all while Sacramento has used 18 different starting lineups – third-most in the league.

Christie, who had plenty of ties to the team before being named head coach, has been a part of Kings history for over two decades.

The 55-year-old played for the Kings from 2000-05 under Rick Adelman and earned four NBA All-Defensive nods during that time. He then went on to work for NBC Sports California as a color analyst before finally landing on the Kings’ bench as an assistant coach in 2021.

Christie became the team’s 13th head coach since 2006 – the year Adelman was fired by Sacramento – when he was hired by Perry and owner Vivek Ranadive.

Now less than half a season through his first year at the helm, the Kings — who are the third-oldest team in the league — are still searching for an identity. While the seat may not currently be hot for Christie, if history is any indication, that could change in the near future.

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Draymond Green hilariously reads the texts his mom sends before Warriors games originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green can live with technical fouls. Disappointing his mom? Not so much.

In the postgame press conference after the Warriors’ 120–113 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, Green was asked which moment in his basketball career had upset his mom the most.

The question followed Green’s recent ejection against the Utah Jazz — and came after Steve Kerr shared his mom’s candid reaction to his own ejection.

Green didn’t miss a beat before picking up his phone and reading her text messages aloud.

”When you are focused, no one can beat us,” Green read to reporters. “She texted me Monday, ‘Remember what you love and stop abusing it.’ “

“She texted me Saturday, ‘Have a great game, stay focused, love you,’ ” Green said. “And then, as I got ejected, she texted me, ‘What happened?’ I texted back, ‘no response.’ So it’s still a common thing. Every game she’s on me about not getting thrown out of games and being locked in and focused and bringing what I can bring to the basketball court without all the nonsense.”

Green added that the messages don’t stop with game-day reminders. His mom recently asked for a “heart-to-heart” conversation — one he’s been actively avoiding.

“I am very much still afraid of my mom — I don’t know if that will ever change,” Green noted. “So, I’m still ducking that heart-to-heart. I’m trying to play a few more good games before we have it. Then the conversation might change a little bit.”

Even for a four-time NBA champion, a mother’s voice still carries weight.

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Why Kendrick Perkins believes Warriors organization has ‘failed' Steph Curry originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

At 37 years old, Warriors star Steph Curry still is playing elite basketball. 

But one NBA analyst believes the team he has played with for his entire 17-year career has not done right by him. 

“Everyone has failed Steph in this organization,” ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins said on “NBA Today.” “We’re talking about an all-time great… I’m talking about Steve Kerr, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, they can’t get right.” 

After a 120-113 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, the Warriors improved their record to 20-18 and remained in eighth place in the Western Conference standings. It’s a less-than-ideal position for Golden State as it approaches the halfway point of the regular season. 

It’s particularly disappointing considering the improved play towards the end of last season when they acquired Jimmy Butler, a move in which would maximize Curry and the Warriors’ championship aspirations as the superstar’s window gets smaller. 

“This man is averaging 28 points on 47-percent shooting right now, damn near 40-percent from the three, and y’all can’t get right,” Perkins said. “We’re talking about a window where he’s trying to max out, meaning, to go win a championship. You didn’t trade for Jimmy Butler last year just to come in and sign him to an extension to be number eight in the Western Conference.” 

The lackluster record is a complete regression from the Warriors’ 23-8 finish to the 2024-25 NBA season after Butler’s acquisition. Time is running out to get back to their winning ways, but Golden State’s 7-3 record in their last 10 games shows some life. 

Perkins called out the organization for not being able to utilize young players such as Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. He characterizes it as a failure of maximizing Curry’s talent. 

“And then what’s up with your player development? Why can’t Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga thrive under Steve Kerr?” Perkins posed. “They are failing Steph Curry to the max right now.” 

Moody is averaging a career-high 10.5 points in 36 games played this season. He has been inserted into a now-consistently used starting lineup, notching 25 games started so far this season. 

Kuminga’s story is different, slipping out of the rotation completely after a hot start to the season. He likely would be an asset offered by the Warriors if the team makes a move before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. 

Perhaps a big trade-acquisition for a second straight year would move the needle. But as of now, for Perkins, the Warriors are not doing enough for their elite superstar.

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Did Jaylen Brown deserve a better whistle in Celtics' loss to Nuggets? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jaylen Brown, who’s been unafraid to speak his mind this season, vented about a lack of whistles Wednesday night after the Boston Celtics lost to the Nikola Jokic-less Denver Nuggets at TD Garden.

Did Brown have a legitimate gripe with the officiating?

Brown was credited Wednesday night with 31 drives, which was one of his highest totals this entire season and nearly 75 percent more than his season average. But he drew just one foul off those drives, a rate of 3.2 percent. For the season, Brown is drawing 1.6 fouls on 17.8 drives per game, a rate of 9.2 percent.

Here’s a look at his season numbers on drives compared to Wednesday night:

Brown shot just three free throws — he missed a pair amid “MVP!” chants at one point in the second half — on a night when the Celtics generated just 15 free throw attempts overall. 

“They were physical and they got away with a lot,” Brown said of the Nuggets’ defense. “The refs allowed them to get away with a lot. I would have loved to get to the free-throw line a little bit more.

“I was physical. I was aggressive. I went up strong. I didn’t flop. But I kind of let the officiating get to my head a little bit. I think their defense was good, but it wasn’t great.”

Brown ranks third in the NBA in drives per game, trailing only Portland’s Deni Avdija (20.4) and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (18.1). Brown is second in drive points per game, trailing only Gilgeous-Alexander (13.5).

Feeling like he wasn’t getting a good whistle earlier this season, Brown repeatedly expressed frustration with officials. His free throws slowly climbed from 6.0 per game in October, to 7.1 per game in November, to 8.7 per game in December.

Denver’s size and physicality clearly disrupted Boston’s offensive flow multiple times Wednesday night, most notably early in the fourth quarter, when the Nuggets went on a 16-3 run over a nearly five-minute span to tear open a game that had previously been tied at 90. 

Brown struggled with ball security, turning the ball over four times on drives and seven times overall. But given his high number of credited drives, it’s easy to understand his frustration after drawing only one whistle.

ESPN outlines potential trade package that sends Trey Murphy to Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

There is one name the Warriors — and certainly their fan base — could become enamored with in the coming weeks. If they haven’t already.

With the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline exactly four weeks away, New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III has been linked to the Warriors on numerous occasions, even dating back to the offseason when young forward Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency was in limbo.

However, the Pelicans reportedly have been reluctant to part with the 25-year-old wing and, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson, a potential trade for Murphy could cost the Warriors three first-round picks.

So, what would a potential trade package for Murphy look like? ESPN NBA insiders constructed a potential three-team trade that would send Murphy to Golden State:

Golden State Warriors get:

– Jordan Hawkins
– Trey Murphy III

New Orleans Pelicans get:

– Jonathan Kuminga
– Moses Moody
– 2026 first-round pick (via Warriors)
– 2028 first-round pick (via Warriors, top-10 protected)
– 2030 first-round pick (via Warriors, if No. 5 to 20)

Utah Jazz get:

– Kevon Looney
– 2031 second-round pick (via Raptors)
– 2032 second-round pick (via Pelicans)
– Cash considerations

The Warriors would part with Kuminga, who already seems all but certain to be traded in the coming weeks, young guard Moses Moody and three first-round picks (one top-10 protected, one if Golden State’s selection lands within pick Nos. 5 to 20 in 2030) for Murphy and Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins.

“There is risk in this trade when considering the uncertain future of Golden State’s roster,” ESPN’s Bobby Marks wrote. “Besides the newly acquired Murphy, there would be no current Warriors under contract when the 2028 and 2030 first-round picks sent to New Orleans get made.

“But similar to Milwaukee’s approach with [Giannis] Antetokounmpo, there is an obligation to maximize the championship window with Curry and Jimmy Butler III on the roster. And three first-rounders is too much of an offer for New Orleans to refuse, even if they have to include Murphy in the trade.”

Murphy, in his fifth NBA season, is averaging a career-high 21.3 points, 6.1 points and 3.5 assists per game on 49.5-percent shooting from the field and 38.2 percent from 3-point range in 35 games this season.

Many believe that Murphy’s 3-and-D skill set is a perfect fit for Golden State, but with a potential high price tag, should the Warriors be willing to give up that much to acquire him?

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 46 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to an overtime win over the Utah Jazz.

The NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player hit the shot to force overtime before helping the defending champions clinch a 129-125 victory.

Chet Holmgren added a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds as the Thunder improved to a 31-7 record and sit top of the Western Conference.

The San Antonio Spurs (26-11) are second in the West having won 107-91 at home to the fourth-placed Los Angeles Lakers (23-12).

Keldon Johnson scored 27 points as a balanced San Antonio attack overcame the individual brilliance of Luka Doncic, with Victor Wembanyama adding 16 points off the bench.

Doncic finished with 38 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Lakers, who rested LeBron James after the veteran shone in Tuesday's win at New Orleans.

The Denver Nuggets (25-12) remain third in the West after claiming a 114-110 win at the Boston Celtics (23-13).

Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic (knee) missed his fifth straight game for Denver, for whom Peyton Watson scored a team-high 30 points while Jamal Murray added 22 and a career-high 17 assists.

The Celtics (23-13) slipped to third in the Eastern Conference as the New York Knicks won 134-111 at home to the Los Angeles Clippers (24-13) to halt a four-game losing streak.

Eastern Conference leaders Detroit are 28-9 after Isaiah Stewart scored a career-high 31 points as the Pistons won 108-93 at home to the Chicago Bulls.

• What is the NBA's controversial '65-game rule' and how is it impacting players?

Draymond Green praises Jonathan Kuminga's professionalism amid trade rumors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga continues to miss game action as trade rumors involving the 23-year-old persist. 

It reasonably would be expected that a player would become visibly disgruntled in response to such a situation. But Kuminga’s veteran teammate, Draymond Green, says that it has not been the case with the young forward. 

“What I will say about JK is — I applaud JK and how he’s handled this,” Green said in the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show.” “Such a standup young man and great person and [he] will be a great player.” 

As a result of Kuminga’s offseason contract extension, he is not available to be traded until Jan. 15.  

Even with the nearing date of a probable departure, Green says Kuminga remains engaged on the bench. He shared a moment involving Kuminga and Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, in which the latter was frustrated about being pulled from the court after a short stint. 

“[Podziemski says], ‘Ah, dang. I just can’t believe they just took me,’ And JK goes, ‘You know, just adjust to it. [You’re] going to go back in. Just adjust to it. Stay ready. You’ll be good,’…” Green recounted. “…No one’s going to highlight that story, but I just wanted to talk about the person Jonathan Kuminga is.”  

“So, a guy who’s not playing, who just signed [a $48.5 million deal]… is sitting at the end of the bench telling another young guy like, ‘No, it’s fine. And here’s why, and here’s why you should move on.’” 

As Green points out, it’s a remarkable moment of poise and professionalism to stay invested in the well-being of a teammate while being in the awkward situation that Kuminga is in himself. 

“I just wanted to tell that story because oftentimes when situations aren’t going right, we start pointing fingers,” Green continued. “And it hasn’t worked as well as anyone would have liked for JK here — for himself or for the organization. It hasn’t worked on both sides. And that happens sometimes in the business that we’re in. But I wanted to point out who that guy is and his professionalism and how he’s dealing with it.” 

Green’s story helps clarify any questions about Kuminga’s morale and character. 

“So, whatever happens at the trade deadline. If Jonathan Kuminga’s moved, whoever gets Jonathan Kuminga, that’s the guy you’re getting,” Green stated. 

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