Report: Alvin Gentry No Longer Kings' Interim HC; SAC to Hold 'Comprehensive' Search

Scott Polacek @@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVApril 11, 2022

Sacramento Kings head coach Alvin Gentry shouts to an official over a call during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Saturday, March 26, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

AP Photo/John Raoux

The Sacramento Kings are reportedly looking for a new head coach.

Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported the Kings told Alvin Gentry he is no longer the interim head coach now that the team's 2021-22 campaign is over without a playoff appearance.

Yet Gentry could remain with the team in a different role:

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
The Kings and Alvin Gentry are discussing a front-office role and a resolution is expected sometime this week, sources tell ESPN. Gentry has a year left on his contract.

The plan is to "commence a comprehensive coaching search immediately," per Charania and Amick.

Gentry was in the interim position to close the season because Sacramento fired Luke Walton after a 6-11 start. The 2021-22 campaign was set to be Walton's third as head coach after he went 31-41 in each of his first two, but the Kings wasted little time making a move after a slow start in November.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported at the time: "The Kings are discussing potential benchmarks of success for Gentry the rest of the season that could serve as possible parameters on keeping the job on a long-term basis."

But Sacramento went just 24-41 under Gentry's watch and failed to qualify for the playoffs or play-in tournament. It is the 16th straight season the Kings have missed the playoffs, which is a far cry from when they made the postseason eight times in a row under Rick Adelman from 1998-99 through 2005-06.

Gentry has also been a head coach for the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans and has a 534-636 career record with three playoff appearances.

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While the Kings have been among the league's worst teams of late, they have some talent in place.

De'Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes and Domantas Sabonis could be the core of a playoff squad with the right surrounding pieces, and rookie Davion Mitchell flashed his potential after Sacamento selected him out of Baylor with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.

Giving up a potential young star in Tyrese Haliburton in the deal that brought Sabonis to the Kings may not have been the best move for a rebuilding club, but the correct coaching hire could help them turn things around in the Western Conference.