Sacramento Kings Narrow Down Three Finalists For Head Coaching Job

The Sacramento Kings announced recently that they have three finalists for the head coaching job. The Kings finished 12th in the 2021-2022 season and are in desperate need of a coach to take them to the playoffs since Rick Adelman in the 2005-2006 season. 11 coaches have tried but failed to revitalize the once "Greatest Show on Court" which hit Sports Illustrated covers in 2001. The three finalists for the next Head Coach of the Kings are Mark Jackson, Steve Clifford, and Mike Brown.

Confirmed that the three finalist for the Sacramento Kings head coaching job are Mark Jackson, Steve Clifford and Mike Brown. The other four candidates have been told that they are no longer in the running. In person meetings are next.
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA) April 30, 2022

Mark Jackson served as the head coach for the Golden State Warriors from 2011-2014. It was right in the midst of the growing Steph Curry and Klay Thompson era who made the playoffs in Jackson's last two seasons. Although he was able to take the Warriors to consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since 1992, he was eventually replaced by Steve Kerr. Jackson, if selected as the next coach for the Kings, would be a good candidate to possibly end the playoff drought as he did with the Warriors.

Steve Clifford last coached the Orlando Magic and before then the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets. In his eight seasons as a head coach, he took his teams to the playoffs in four out of the eight seasons, losing in the first round more recently in 2019-2020 with the Magic. Clifford has playoff experience which the Kings could look to use in the upcoming year.

Mike Brown is the last coach who is considered a finalist for the Kings who are set to have in-person meetings. Brown was named head coach of the year in 2009 in his stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010. He also has won three championships as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003 and twice with the Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Brown will look to win the head coaching position for the Kings and bring his playoff and championship experience to the Kings.

Regardless of who becomes the next coach of the Kings, they will have the tough task of returning the team to a constant name in the Western Conference and into the playoffs.