The Sacramento Kings mutually parted ways with their general manager, Monte McNair, late Wednesday after their season-ending loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA’s play-in tournament, according to multiple reports.
The Kings had previously fired head coach Mike Brown on Dec. 27 after starting the season 13-18. Sacramento went 27-24 under interim coach Doug Christie, an assistant on Brown’s staff, but was routed 120-106 at home by the Dallas Mavericks in Wednesday’s play-in game.
McNair headed Sacramento’s front office for five seasons and was named the NBA’s executive of the year in 2023 after the Kings ended a 16-year playoff drought. Brown was also named the league’s coach of the year that season.
McNair’s exit completes a stunning housecleaning for a franchise that appeared to be on the rise just two years earlier. The Kings took a 2-0 series lead over the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2023 playoffs before ultimately losing the series when Stephen Curry scored 50 points in the decisive Game 7.
Sacramento went 46-36 last season and beat the Warriors in its initial play-in game before losing to the New Orleans Pelicans in the second game to miss the playoffs. Struggling to find traction this season, the Kings fired Brown then later traded franchise point guard De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in a deal that netted guard Zach LaVine.
Neither move was enough to keep the Kings from again missing the playoffs.
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