Doug Christie Addresses Kings Hot Seat Buzz Amid 1-12 Start to NBA Season

Sacramento Kings coach Doug Christie indicated he doesn't feel any less secure about his job than usual following his team's 1-12 start to the 2026-27 season.

"I think this seat is hot, always, so it doesn't really matter," Christie said when asked Saturday about his confidence in his position (h/t Sactown Sports 1140's Brenden Nunes).

Christie continued, "Obviously, we want to win the games. Nobody wants to win more than me, from the standpoint that the record doesn't go on players' numbers, the record goes on coaches' numbers.

"As we get all these guys back, and get them healthy, then we continue down the path of trying to put together what we thought we would be putting together when we started this process."

Christie is currently in the second guaranteed year of his contract with the Kings, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick. He would receive a raise if the franchise picks up his third-year option, per Amick.

Amick recently reported the Kings' front office had "an expectation that they would take a step forward" in Christie's second year after he led an injury-limited team to 22 wins in his first full campaign as head coach.

The stakes are even higher this season for a better finish in the standings. Amick noted the Kings own their 2028 first-round pick and would be penalized under the NBA's new draft lottery rules for finishing the season among the bottom three teams in the league.

The Kings' roster was thinned earlier this season by injuries to players including Dylan Cardwell and Keegan Murray.

Murray is currently listed as questionable due to illness ahead of Sunday's home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Once Murray is back in the lineup on a full-time basis, Christie might be under even more pressure to get his team out of the NBA's basement.