The state of the Stockton Kings has been in flux since COVID-19 decimated the 2019-20 G-League season.
The NBA put together a short, optional G-League bubble in Orlando back in February, but the Stockton Kings did not participate. Then-Stockton Kings GM Anthony McClish was let go in a round of COVID cuts in September, and head coach Ty Ellis did not have his contract renewed in the offseason.
The Kings’ G-League squad has been essentially dormant for a year, but with a new G-League season approaching, it was time for the Kings to restock Stockton with new leadership.
News10’s Sean Cunningham reported earlier this week that the Kings were considering three internal candidates for Stockton’s head coach position: Bobby Jackson, Lindsey Harding, and Jonah Herscu. It appears that the Kings have made their decision.
According to The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears, the Kings are hiring our old pal Bobby Jackson to run the team.
The Sacramento Kings are hiring former guard Bobby Jackson as head coach of the G League Stockton Kings, a source told @TheUndefeated. Jackson was previously an assistant coach and player development for the Kings. #nba
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 27, 2021
Bobby Jackson has a long and storied history with the Kings that started way back in 2000 when he first arrived in Sacramento. He went on to win Sixth Man of the Year in the only era of Kings basketball worth celebrating, and returned to the Kings as an assistant coach in 2011.
Despite the incredible front office and coaching staff turnover in Sacramento during the Vivek Ranadive era, Jackson has seemingly survived the madness. He’s been in or around the organization off and on in various capacities since the Paul Westphal days, and it looks like that longevity and familiarity is being rewarded here.
I have no idea what kind of head coach Bobby Jackson will be for Stockton, but it’s a great opportunity for the former King, and with his experience in player development, hopefully we’ll start to see some improvement from the fringe NBA players on the main roster.
Good for Bobby! I hope he does well.
Also, he walked past me once at the PF Changs in Roseville. His family went to sit and walked behind them, all slow and like a G.
Has nothing to do with his coaching, but still, he’s cool.
I saw him at the galleria as well, years ago, he must be there often.
I am happy for Jackson, but hope he is the right choice. He has been part of some pretty meh coaching staffs. I hope he can do more now that he is the lead dawg. This franchise needs a good farm system.
Also, I wonder if Jackson’s place on Walton’s staff will be filled by someone else. If not, it would be another confirmation of how cash-strapped this organization is.
Also, congrats to Jackson. Hope he does great.
I have no idea if this is the right move, but I’m going to give the Kings the benefit of the doubt and assume this will be a complete disaster.
This logo is multi-functional.
Hey Vivek, this is NBA 3.7!
Bobby is smart, took the first chance to get away from Walton and won’t have Vivek meddling in his business with the G league. Hope he gets the glory he deserves.
Are you under the impression that the NBA organization’s head coach doesn’t hold a ton of sway on the direction of its farm teams?
I’m under the impression that Walton has very little leverage or influence when it comes to who coaches the G League team.
That’s not really what I was addressing. Assuming that Walton has a coaching philosophy (ass of you & me, etc.), wouldn’t the farm team use that as guidance if the purpose is to create viable players for the NBA team?
That is not how it has remotely translated in the past, but I’m up for something new.
I can’t present any data to back it up, but my impression is that the Kings have been less adept than other teams in using the farm to build players into useful pieces for the majors. The whole D-League is a low risk/low return venture, but some great players have managed to use it as a springboard to bigger things, in the US and elsewhere.
I don’t have much expectation that a guy with as much Kings-stink on him as Jackson does is likely to be the person who can transform the program down there.
Walton has very little leverage or influence while coaching games.
Three months from now, Vivek’s accountant to Vivek:
“Yes sir, you can write off the mileage for trips to Stockton. Yes, I will look for an apartment for you in Stockton as well, sir.”
I hope that he does well, but he comes from the same barrel of rotten apples that has produced so many missteps for the Kings organization. Sometimes, it’s just better to get them right off of the tree.
Speaking of which, Lindsey Harding has demonstrated coaching ability, albeit in the limited context of summer league. Has Jackson even had experience of that sort?
If you’re an organization like the Spurs, it makes sense to give strong consideration to people already in-house. Sacramento, with its decades-long losing culture, doesn’t have that sort of luxury. Former players are generally great for memories and not a hell of a lot else.
It’s the G League team, honestly who cares who’s coaching it.
Good organizations. That’s who cares who’s coaching their G League team.
It’s a tool, but how much a tool is a matter of opinion.
you’re a tool!
That’s my opinion, as well.
I mean, you just left it for him there, Pook.
Note to self: Next time you see Sims, stab him. With your machete.
Also note to self: Purchase a machete.
I’ve got, like, a dozen of them laying around the house. Let me know, I’ll hook you up.
It’s a trick.
It sounds like I should learn from you. I’m clearly doing it wrong.
As long as it means I’m a double bevel 45 degree 12″ mitre saw from Dewalt, I’m good with it.
But the Kings should be trying to optimize every tool at their disposal.
In theory, I’d agree. But what does optimizing your G League team really achieve?
Ask the teams that developed Chris Boucher or Robert Covington or Dinwiddie or Nunn or House or Niang or¦.
It’s another avenue to develop and assess players. And a team like the Kings needs every Avenue possible.
I don’t think it’s the first priority, but developing role players is how it’s used best IMO. Which is why I said in theory in my response to you. I don’t think we disagree on value, I think we only disagree on where it should rank on the to-do list.
But the Kings issues are deeper than that and I think there are more important areas to address before that.
That said, maybe they are addressing it.
it definitely isn’t first priority, but attempting to optimize their G League production doesn’t preclude them from addressing other issues. I would like to think the Kings FO is capable of working on more than one thing at a time. Though, admittedly, they haven’t really earned that.
I think the real issue is resources. And investment in Stockton is a resource the Kings haven’t used wisely.
Also, congrats to Vivek for having a new best friend to shaka with!
Eh, whatever. Not surprising or inspiring, but whatever. Probably doesn’t matter that much either way.
Exactly. People getting worked up over a league and team that has very little effect on the Kings.
I see…nobody getting worked up. I see people chatting!
FYI, it takes almost no effort to bitch about the Kings now, it’s like breathing.
It takes effort for me. This franchise just isn’t important enough to get that angry over. They are just too much of a clusterfuck on too many levels (outside of a few places).
I was hoping that if the Kings fired Walton BJ would have been giving the opportunity.
God damn…this franchise refuses to let go of the “golden era.” It’s absolutely pathetic.
So much truth to this.
Last week while 4 out of the top 5 picks from 2018 were getting press about their playoff contributions, SAC sports radio went all in on the glory years. It is epically S A D.
Part of me wonders if they even replace Jackson’s vacant seat on the Kings bench. Yeah, I’m still under the mindset that this franchise is desperate to save money.
Looks like they’re moving Jonah Herscu from Advanced Scout to Asst Coach, among other internal promotions. I seem to recall at least one previous report that McNair had beefed up the scouting staff.
https://twitter.com/James_HamNBCS/status/1398096848854798336
Already an assistant coach so just move him to Stockton and save the money of having to pay someone outside the org. Vivek’s business sense is light years ahead of ours.
The reason Bobby Jackson was so loved by fans during the glory years was he always hustled and never gave up on the play. He was the hardest working player every time up the court. And he’s been loyal to the kings ever since Petrie traded to get him. He’s going to bring that ethic as a coach and I’m happy he’s getting this opportunity. Congrats B-Jax!!!
Thanks for this. I don’t care that much who the GLeague coach is and I’ve always liked Bobby as a player. I don’t expect much to come of it, but whatever. We’ve got bigger fish to fry on this team and if this is what Bobby wanted, good for him.
Also, moving to the GLeague now may let Bobby off the hook if Walton and/or McNair get fired at the end of next season.
That’s literally showing him the love..3 kisses on one dive out of bounds. Don’t know if I’ve seen that before until this.
Used to see him coaching his daughter’s team at Hardwood Palace a few years ago when my daughter was on her travel team.
wish him well in Stockton. Hope he focuses on development rather than wins. It’s amazing how he’s survived all these years in the organization.
Former Bighorns supporter here…we miss the team in Reno. If the team can play as well as Bobby did, they’ll be a success. Next up: bring Doug Christie in to teach the real Kings how to play defense.
Typical Kangz off season moves. What the team really needs is an NBA roster instead of the G league roster they have. To fix this problem they have kept the coach with the worst defense in recorded history and are creating some drama about who is going to coach their minor league team.
They stay relevant in the local press by playing their stupid games.
Focusing on minor league teams will not change the reality of the Kangz.
You’re hilarious.
The organization put a guy with no real experience in charge of the farm team, mostly because he already has a parking space, and you’re complaining that the parent club is too focused on the D-League.
And great observation! An NBA team would do better with a roster of NBA players than they would with a bunch of D-Leaguers!
Have you any thoughts in regard to the wetness of water?
The reality is they have done absolutely nothing to change the garbage fire that is their NBA team.
They pretend to be making great changes by publicizing the coach selection for the minor league team.
Well, since the Kings can’t make any moves right now, because the season is still happening, what big announcement about the parent club would you have liked to happen yesterday, in order to properly minimize the Jackson announcement?
Other than firing Luke Walton, of course.
Season is still happening for teams that are in the playoffs. This is the Kings off season.
No announcement would be best. Not many NBA teams publicize a three way competition for a minor league coach.
Time to move beyond the garbage that has been the Kings for almost two decades.
I already said that the reason no moves could be made right now is because the season is still in progress. Not sure why you reiterated it, but I appreciate your support.
Thank you for keeping your farewell speech brief. It will always be a treasured memory.
Wow
Badge Legend