According to reports, the Sacramento Kings view Mike Woodson as one of the primary choices to join Doug Christie’s staff as a top assistant coach.
This development comes after a tweet on X, stating that the Kings will not retain lead assistant Jay Triano as part of the staff. Other assistants like Jawad Williams are also confirmed to be departing.
Mike Woodson to the NBA’s Kings?
The Kings organization considers Woodson as their top potential candidate to fill the vacant assistant coaching role due to multiple coaching staff changes and departures.
Sources say Mike Woodson is a leading candidate for the Kings’ top assistant spot under Doug Christie. He last coached in the NBA in 2021, and spent the past four years as the head coach at Indiana. https://t.co/CNrD3mHIj2
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) May 3, 2025
Woodson recently stepped down as the head coach at Indiana University, with plans to pursue a higher-level coaching opportunity. He has held coaching positions at both collegiate and professional levels of basketball.
Following his successful NBA playing days with Sacramento and other teams, he entered into coaching where he worked both as assistant coach and head coach for multiple professional basketball organizations.
During his leadership of the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks coaching positions, he led the New York Knicks to their first playoff success in more than ten years during the 2012–13 season.
The following seasons proved difficult because the team faced inconsistent results and trouble sustaining their recruiting drive. In February 2025, it was announced that Woodson would step down at the end of the season.
The Kings’ Coaching Dynamics
The Kings have experienced significant changes in their coaching staff recently. Assistant coach Luke Loucks departed to become the head coach at Florida State University.
After assuming his role as assistant coach in 2021 with the Kings, Doug Christie stepped into an interim head coach position in December 2024 before officially becoming the head coach in May 2025.
These shifts have opened opportunities for experienced coaches to join the staff.
Woodson is a strong candidate for this position given his deep experience in NBA coaching and his knowledge of the Kings organization. His time with the Kings, both as a player and in his coaching roles across multiple NBA franchises, gives him extensive knowledge and strategic expertise.
Woodson’s appointment would enable him to shape essential elements of player growth and strategic decisions, which would foster the Kings’ Western Conference championship potential.
Mike Woodson’s experience as a veteran coach would benefit the Kings by providing crucial leadership and expertise that can advance both team development and performance.
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If the hire is completed, Woodson’s addition would give the Kings a seasoned basketball mind to support Doug Christie in his first NBA head coaching job.
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