OCTOBER 7: The Kings’ hiring of Gentry is now official, the team announced in a press release.
“I’m excited to add Alvin’s valuable experience and leadership to the team,” Walton said in a statement. “His veteran coaching perspective will be a great addition and I look forward to working with him again to continue developing our group.”
OCTOBER 6: The Kings have reached agreement with former Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry to make him an associate head coach on Luke Walton’s staff, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets.
The Sixers were interested in adding Gentry to Doc Rivers’ staff in the same role, Stein adds. Walton and Gentry worked together on Steve Kerr’s staff with the Warriors.
Sacramento’s interest in Gentry was revealed last week. He was Buddy Hield‘s first head coach. Hield’s four-year extension begins next season and he reportedly wasn’t returning Walton’s phone calls.
Gentry was fired in mid-August after the Pelicans played poorly during the restart and failed to make the playoffs. Gentry spent five seasons as the head coach in New Orleans, compiling a 175-225 (.438) record and making the playoffs just once. He’s also been a head coach with the Clippers, Pistons and Suns.
Sacramento had an opening after former Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov left Walton’s staff in July to become the head coach of EuroLeague team Fenerbahce.
Well, I guess that Hield trade we’re all expecting is still a ways out.
You really think bringing in an ast. Coach he MAY favor makes that much of a difference?
He still won’t start until Walton says so.
Sounds more like Gentry will be replacing Walton if/when the team decides to shake things up, and that always leads to the head coach getting fired.
Luke isn’t a good coach. Hate to admit that but his offensive schemes are terrible, to complex and leads to over-rotating and players lost on floor. Did it with lakers doing the same with kings. The spread offense only works if you got curry and klay
Why