After 16 years without a playoff, the Kings returned to the postseason in 2023, after a 48-win regular season. This year, yes, there were no playoffs because of a play-in loss to New Orleans, but still 46 wins. These 94 wins in two seasons bear the mark of one man: Mike Brown.
The arrival of the coach on the Sacramento bench in 2022 changed everything. “We had our best defensive season in a while and I know that's important to him. He's so good at knowing when to push players, when to hug them, when to give them confidence.”, list the GM Monte McNair.
Objective: second round of playoffs
By making the Californian franchise an attractive destination, which can win games and go to the playoffs, Mike Brown helped convince Malik Monk to extend or DeMar DeRozan to come.
“The coach is essential for this,” continues the leader. “He and his staff have done a remarkable job. Plus, these players want to win. That's the main thing: if we win, the players will want to stay or come. Trey Lyles, Alex Len, Malik Monk want to continue what's been built here.”
The negotiations were long, but in the end, Mike Brown got what he wanted and extended this summer.
The core group, between the coach, De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, is therefore confirmed and will go back on the attack in order to achieve a feat never seen in Sacramento since 2004: to get through a round of the playoffs.
“We still have a long way to go. We don't just want to be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs like two years ago, we want to move forward,” announces Monte McNair. “It was a good thing for the group to beat the Warriors in the play-in, after losing Game 7 at home in 2023. But the Pelicans always managed to dominate us last season. We're going to have to bounce back.”
