5:36pm: Jackson, Brown and Clifford are the three finalists for the job and will all have in-person meetings with the Kings’ front office, tweets James Ham of ESPN 1320.
The other four candidates — Mike D’Antoni, Celtics assistant Will Hardy and Bucks assistants Darvin Ham and Charles Lee — are no longer under consideration.
4:19pm: ABC/ESPN announcer Mark Jackson is a finalist to become the next head coach of the Kings, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic, who adds that general manager Monte McNair has started notifying the candidates who will receive in-person interviews.
Warriors assistant Mike Brown and Nets consultant Steve Clifford are finalists as well, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Jackson, who is among the candidates that LeBron James reportedly wants the Lakers to consider, hasn’t coached since the 2013/14 season and is currently employed as an ABC/ESPN broadcaster. He compiled a 121-109 record in three seasons with the Warriors and reached the playoffs twice.
Brown has been an assistant on Steve Kerr‘s staff since the 2016/17 season. He has a 347-216 record as a head coach with the Cavaliers and Lakers and was named Coach of the Year in 2009.
Clifford spent three years as head coach of the Magic before he and the team decided to part ways last summer. He also served five seasons as head coach in Charlotte and has a career record of 292-345.
Kings need a top tier GM. Coaches are not the main problem
Same applies for Lakers
Glad for Mark Jackson though, surprised he didn’t get a coaching gig for so many years
There’s a reason he hasn’t coached again. It’s because he’s Mark Jackson.
Doesn’t every team need a top tier GM? Let Monte do his own thing. He has a hell of a mess to clean up from Divac still. And with Vivek finally letting a GM do the work, I think McNair has a chance to be that GM. Or the Kings can just keep replacing GM’s like they do coaches and never gain any consistency aside from losing year after year.
Kings been rebuilding for last 15 plus years
Oops wrong comment wasn’t for your my bad lol
Kings like the coaches who have Warriors experience because the coaches don’t need to relocate?
Kings need a better owner first.
Need a new owner who will pick a good GM and stay out of his or her lane, neither of which are traits Vivek possesses.
3 retreads and more of the same
Kings want to run it back every year
Lakers started to learn from Kings
Lakers plan to keep draft picks
After giving a max extension to a PG who can’t shoot and trading away a potential superstar for an overrated big, retreads is all the Kinks are going to get.
I would say Haliburton is more potential good starter on a championship contender than potential superstar!
The problem with the trade was that he was cheap for how good he already is so he is exactly what you need to build a roster around. He will also be controllable for 4-5 more seasons than Sabonis for far less than Sabonis will make if they manage to extend him.
Dealing Fox, HB, Heild, and Holmes for whatever value you could so you empty the cap sheet over the next two years and tanking into better draft odds would have been better. Then you can build around this pick Hali/Davion and can sign FA with a ton of cap room to build a more usable roster around them. Hope to make the playoffs next year if you can or really make a run the year after once you signed some pieces and the young guys develop more.
King been rebuilding last 15us years
Lol Kings…
I would have liked to see Christie in that list, but it is what it is, of those 3 names only Clifford is kind of decent, the other 2 are just bums to keep well away from!
Why? This offers little to no upside.
Ripping on fox’s shooting isn’t some hot take nor is it remotely a issue for what he brings to the table. Halliburton was/is/will be a good player for along time but to say possible/probable superstar is a bit over the top. Sabonis is awesome and as long as the kings lock him up I think that trade was worth it especially considering who we also moved off the team finally. Jackson doesn’t make me think oh wow that’s going to be awesome! He should have gotten another chance by now though for sure and if the kings go that route then fine … they go that route…. Clifford seems like a guy they would go for .
Not sure why Sabonis would want to stay in this dumpster fire of an organization. They will need to take a step forward to have a chance. And if they don’t, they trade will be another one in a long line of boneheaded decisions.
If Jackson gets this, we shall see if he is half as smart as he seems to think he is – already questionable by considering Kings. At least I won’t have to hear his pointless colorless color announcing any more.
Kings need to be saved. Those three are not the coaches they should be looking at. They need a young coach to grow with the team, who can relate and lead. Hit up the college ranks.
Or, how about a coach that’s grown already. It’s the top level, not a developmental league.
What the hell, just pick Mark Jackson so SAS and the rest of the ESPN folks can finally shut up.
These are the KINGS, god forbid that they hire top young assistants of known successful programs Pops/Budenholzer e.g. Hardy, Lee, Ham
I want them to hire Jackson too. If the team is going to stink anyways then at least help all fans by getting him off the broadcast.
Kings should just forfeit the upcoming season if this is the best they can do coaching wise. Spare your constantly abused fans.
Mark Is from my area of Queens. His views did not go over well in SF. He needs another chance. Kings need help. Personally I think DAntoni is a better call. But I believe Jackson is ready for another shot. Sacramento is a good place for redemption.
I’m a big Sabonis guy. And Kings have a great pick this yr. Imo they are ready to become a good young team. The playoffs are definitely a reality with right coach.
Mark is from my area as well, along with Kenny. Mark needs to chill on the on/off court rhetoric and focus on being a coach rather than a stern hardass persona he was back at GS. His perception of the way he sees things doesn’t always translate. Wouldn’t mind seeing him take an assistant role first before taking over a team. Many have done it, so can he. And if it’s beneath him, then so be it – keep at the mic.
Speaks volumes about a franchise, when it has Mike Brown as a head coaching candidate. Sheesh.
They need an offensive minded coach imo. Kings pick 7 they will get an impact player who can start. Murray, Mathurin, Agbaji, Duren. All can start for them. If they get Murray or Mathurin. They can then move Barnes for value.
Kings will be over .500 next season
Yup, they’ll probably start next season by going 2-1, then it’s a slow downhill drive from there.
Going to be an odd thought why not Frank Vogel ?
Mark Jackson should stay away from the drama of being Lebron’s and Lakers coach. Take the Kings job if they offer it.