Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie is the lowest-paid coach in the NBA for the 2026 season, according to recent reports. Christie's contract situation and the team's performance have become central topics as Sacramento's season winds down.
Doug Christie signed a three-year deal when he was officially named the Kings' full-time head coach in May 2025. However, the final season of that contract is not guaranteed. Reports indicate his salary is in the range of $1 million to $2 million annually. For context, top NBA assistant coaches are said to make more per year than both Christie and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Micah Nori.
Nori's own three-year deal with Portland, which only guarantees the first season, has drawn criticism from peers. But Christie's pay package is viewed as even less favorable. The 56-year-old has spent his entire coaching career with Sacramento, first as a color commentator before moving to an assistant role under Luke Walton and then Mike Brown.
Since taking over as interim head coach in December 2024 after Mike Brown's firing, and having the interim tag removed in May 2025, Christie's record stands at 49 wins and 84 losses. That's a winning percentage of just .368. He has largely been viewed as one of the weakest coaches in the league during this stretch.
Even after a 22-60 campaign, Kings owner Vivek Ranadive opted to retain Christie. That decision was reportedly driven significantly by financial considerations, with Brown's salary still on the books.
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The future for Doug Christie with the Kings appears uncertain. Sacramento is widely projected to be one of the two worst teams in the NBA for the upcoming season. Given that his final contract year is not guaranteed, it is relatively safe to assume the 2026-27 campaign could be his last as the team's head coach.
The organization's commitment appears limited, tied directly to his below-market salary. This creates a challenging environment for building a competitive roster and instilling a long-term system. The focus may soon shift to who might replace Christie and what kind of investment ownership is willing to make in the next coaching hire.
For now, the Kings must finish the current season. Their immediate task is to develop young talent and build some positive momentum, however difficult that may be. The combination of low coaching investment and poor on-court results paints a clear picture of the franchise's current struggles. Fans hoping for a quick turnaround might need to temper expectations.
