Mike Woodson is reportedly the leading candidate to be the top assistant under Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie, according to Sam Amick.
Woodson last coached in the NBA in 2021 as an assistant with the New York Knicks. From 2021-2025 in the college ranks, he served as the head coach at Indiana. He would bring 25 years of NBA coaching experience to help Christie’s first full season as an NBA head coach.
This wouldn’t be the first time the Kings considered bringing him in: in 2016, the Kings interviewed Woodson for the head coaching position following the departure of George Karl.
Potential Positives
- Veteran Experience: The 67-year-old Woodson tallied a 315–365 career NBA record as head coach. He had 8 years as a head coach (6 years with the Atlanta Hawks in 2004-2010) and two years with the New York Knicks (2012-2014). He has 14 years of experience as an assistant coach, including in 2003-2004 with the championship Detroit Pistons team when Scott Perry was there, as well as in 2020-2021 when they were both with the Knicks.
- Known For Defense: Woodson has had a reputation as a defensive-minded coach throughout his career. This is something the Kings could certainly use help with.
- Locker Room Credibility: Though it sounds like the Kings players this season greatly respected Christie, adding Woodson should further help.
- Respect of Players: Former players have praised Woodson. Check out this video here featuring former Knicks players:
Potential Concerns
- Tactical Stagnation: As an assistant, Woodson won’t be developing the whole game plan, but analysts in the past have noted he had a tendency to stick with predictable, consistent schemes. This isn’t too big of a concern from an assistant, just a note.
- Stuck In Past Eras of Basketball? Some reports, especially from his time in Indiana, identify a lack of willingness to adapt to the modern game, including an aversion to threes and having two bigs clog the paint. At the same time, his Knicks were taking threes at a record rate in 2012.
- Four-Years Removed From an NBA Bench: While with the Hoosiers, Woodson finished with an overall record of 82-53, including two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. However, the team failed to reach the tournament in the last two seasons. He stepped down at the end of this season. Returning to the NBA shouldn’t be a huge deal for a guy with such a long career as a coach and as a player before that (he played on the Kansas City and Sacramento Kings), but things can change a bit in four years.
If Woodson does become the Kings lead assistant coach, Christie would be getting a respected, veteran coach who can bring a level of wisdom and stability to the bench. While there may be a few concerns related to his recent absence from the NBA and rigidity on his coaching schemes, Christie could pair him with other assistant coaches who bring expertise on the modern elements of the league.
Yes please
Welp…thankfully, there’s still a lot of time left this offseason for the organization to make a positive move, I suppose.
This hiring has a whiff of Keith Smart’s substitute teacher tenure.
A not very accomplished but veteran assistent who is well liked but just moderately respected, who can fill the gap when the HC inevitably fails.
A Tyrone Corbin doppelgänger move, for sure.
Or did I mean Alvin Gentry. Or Kenny Natt?
And just like that, the wind has left my sails.
I’m ok with Woody as an Asst Coach.
He’s respectable. He’s an NBA lifer. He’s not Mark Jackson. (wait… that’s still a possibility).
And we may still see Bobby Jackson.
My biggest concern, is that the big defensive coaching guru line: Popovich, Spoelstra, Van Gundy, Thibodeaux
Is not represented. Maybe that doesn’t matter. But we are talking Kangz. Maybe Woodson has the needed defensive chops – I can’t say with confidence that Christie does.
Does a blue collar team defend the corner 3? Asking for a friend.
Defensively, this current roster is light sky blue.
Wasn’t Triano interviewed for the Head Coach job and then became the lead assistant for Brown?
Even if he wasn’t, Triano was also a “retread” on the bench, and he lead the Beam Team to an all-time offense during that season.
Was there as much consternation toward that move, or is everything now “lol kangz”?
I get it, the organization hasn’t shown much positive, and there is plenty to complain about.
**this isn’t directed at you, UTQ**
Jordi was lead assistant that year under Brown.
Triano was 2nd then, wasn’t he the offensive guy and Jordi the defensive guy?
I don’t recall, but Jordi being the defensive guy does ring a bell.
Jordi, as the defensive guy, instituted the DPoG award
When you have the history – 1 playoff appearance in 19 seasons – and we hear year after year about empty promises and misdirected decision making, we have re-entered LOL Kangz territory.
Christie placed as Head Coach with his only credentials that he is a legacy King, and previously forcibly added to Luke Walton and Mike Brown’s staff. No other coaching reumè. It’s ridiculous. And I like the guy,
Therefore, every decision, addition, subtraction deserves skepticism. King Vivek amd Queen Matina have earned it
From what I understand he is described as coming from the Larry Brown coaching tree. This isn’t a bad thing, but it does come from a different era of basketball. I wouldn’t want him helping with the offense, as he is known for his defensive coaching skills, but, IMO, it won’t make much of a difference with this roster as it’s currently constructed. Can’t get blood from that turnip. FWIW, the reports of his time in Indiana were not good, especially his offense.
Sorry, what’s this “defense” you speak of. As a Kings fan I’m unfamiliar.
I should have read down further before posting my comment. You addressed my concerns more cogently, Adamsite.
The offense really broke down after DC took over. Granted, he was trying to “simplify” things, but that turned into alot of iso ball and no movement (or just guys running away from the basket for a DHO). Agree–Woodson isn’t a creative coach, and “old school” isn’t what the Kings need.
Of course, and in fairness, a big part of that was the untimely departure of DeAaron Fox, and the inability of Monk to fill that role effectively.
I got a big sense of “meh” about Woodson from reading this. Maybe Vivek is trying to make the whole coaching bench be former Kings players? Is the return of Reggie Theus far off?
I’m no ageist, but if hired he would be on of the oldest bench coaches in the league. Cool little fact, Woodson would be a year older, at 67, than was Pete Carril when he joined the Kings bench in 1996.
Old coaches to match the old roster. We’re going back to 1990s NBA basketball, baby!
Kings don’t need another coach with a mediocre track record. There’s already a surfeit of respect; we need effective play sets, chemistry, and most of all, teaching and drilling defense. Defense, defense, defense. Like what Jeff Van Gundy brought to the Clippers.
What JVG brought to the clippers was to be good enough for a 1st round playoff exit, the exact thing people complain about as being this team’s potential? But somehow, JVG helping get the clippers there is laudable? That’s laughable. No thanks on any of the VGs, they’re even more old school than Woodson. Why are we doing this…
To be fair to JVG, the Clips had the 16th best defense before he arrived last summer. They finished this year with the 3rd best defense…after they lost PG13 and had Kawhi for only 37 games. I’d give the man his well deserved props.
And JVG had not been an NBA coach for 17 years.
How about an offensive assistant who will at least try to do something with the bad cards he’s been dealt? My first unsolicited idea: Sabonis, elbow passer and short roll guy. My second idea: $1000 fine for Da Bullz going over 3 dribbles. That is so boring! At least go back to Fun-O-No-D, aka The Beam Team. It’s watchable! That’s my glass-half-full offering. We’re stuck with Da Bullz. Nobody’s taking them.
How about allowing time to finish the search and find the other staff? It’s been like 3 or 4 days since Doug was announced as coach.
A big bowl of “meh” from me. I’d prefer someone younger, or at least someone with a proven record of embracing today’s era of play. One of the assistant coaches, sure. Lead Assistant, nope.
introducing Mike Woodson – the next head coach of your Sacramento Kings after DC inevitably gets fired in 1 1/2 seasons…
DC goes 6-14 or some such thing and poof!
Rockets and Magic need some offense:
rockets get monk and ‘26 second
magic get derozan and ‘26 lotto protected first
kings get Jabari smith Jr, Johnathan Isaac, Cole Anthony, jock londale (salary match)
keon/lavine/murray/smith jr/sabonis
anthony/carter/laravia/Isaac/jval
Monk and a first for Smith and Whitmore. Derozan and 2 seconds to Pacers for Nembhard and Walker. Retain LaRavis.
Nembhard/LaVine/Murray/Smith Jr/ Sabonis
Carter/Ellis/LaRavia/Walker/J.V. M. Jones/Whitmore/L. Jones
I swear at this point I’m just fretting that each next day will bring more news of something stupid that the team is thinking to do.
Change “fretting” to “embracing” and enjoy the time you have left.
I see Vivek has reached even further into the “bring back the former Kings player for a coaching/FO role” bag. Maybe bring in LaSalle Thompson as an assistant to help with the front court toughness.
I bet Vivek sees validation in his “skills” as a talent evaluator now that Buddy finally had a big game in a series clincher…
Vivek was part of an ownership group that drafted Steph and Klay so he clearly makes the right personnel decisions.
No
Woody?, meh
not just because it has the path to inappropriate comments (sorry moderators) but who is the best Woody?
Woody Hayes?
Toy Story Woody?
Woody Woodpecker?
Woody Wooderson? (alright, alright, alright)
Woody Guthrie?
Woody Allen?
Woody Wilson (Woodrow, to you)?
Woody Herman (and The Herd)?
Woody Harrelson?
Happy Cinqo de Mayo!
UTQ, I wonder Woody be upset if I said this conversation leaves me stiff?
Happy 5th of Mayonnaise to you too!
It’s Woody Hayes, and anyone who says otherwise is getting punched in the face.
I remember liking him when the Kings first moved here. I also remember being bummed he was moved in the Derek Smith trade. Later I was more bummed by the Derek Smith trade. Stupid knee.
I have no opinion on him as a coach other than I think I’d rather have someone with more recent NBA experience as Doug’s top assistant.
The NBA coaches are a fairly tight community, or so they say. Makes you wonder – because as noted before LOLKangz is now back in every conversation (for me, anyway), if the list of available coaches changes to list of willing coaches.
Maybe adding Mike Woodson opens that list further, but perhaps he is the first step towards credibility. We don’t know if the coaches that left were dismissed or left on their own. I don’t suppose it is a reflection on Coach DC or Scott Perry but more on the organizational history. The respected names who’ve been Kings Head Coaches since King Vivek and Queen Matina have been in place has some noteworthy names: Michael Malone, George Karl, Paul Westphal, Dave Joerger and Mike Brown. NBA coaching is a calling and a committed lifestyle – family life is likely somewhat secondary just based on the time allocation. There are also many assistant coaches who are either on their way up (and you have to start somewhere) or are part of the coaching family that the NBA and G-League produce.
The one big positive for me – and that is ignoring all the Kangz related rumblings – is that Mike Woodson has been a Head Coach for 9 years (Atlanta for 6, NYK for 3). I was mentioning his resumé, and it was pointed out that he was a part of Larry Brown’s Piston championship staff (2004) and collegiately played under Bobby Knight.
Heck, I’m rambling. I don’t know what to think anymore.
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