After five transformative seasons at the helm, the Sacramento Kings and general manager Monte McNair are mutually parting ways, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania. The decision comes just one year after McNair earned NBA Executive of the Year honors for guiding the Kings to a 48-34 record in 2023 and ending the franchise’s record 16-year playoff drought.
📈 A Turnaround Worth Applauding
When McNair took over in 2020, the Kings were stuck in a cycle of mediocrity. But under his leadership, they won 40 or more games in three straight seasons, a feat Sacramento hadn’t accomplished since the 2003-2006 Chris Webber–Peja Stojaković era. Prior to McNair’s arrival, the Kings had not won 40 games in a single season since 2005-06.
In his five-year tenure, the Kings posted a .488 win percentage, a stark improvement from the .362 win percentage they endured over the previous 15 years.
🏆 Building the Beam Team
McNair’s bold moves helped lay the foundation for Sacramento’s recent resurgence:
- He hired Mike Brown, the 2023 NBA Coach of the Year.
- He traded for and extended Domantas Sabonis, pairing him with De’Aaron Fox to form an All-Star duo.
- He bolstered the roster with key supporting pieces like Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter.
- And most importantly, he changed the culture, turning the Kings into a must-watch team that brought playoff basketball back to Northern California.
🤝 What’s Next?
This move comes as a surprise to many around the league, especially considering McNair’s recent success. However, with Sacramento dealing with a roller-coaster 2024-25 season—including a midseason trade that sent De’Aaron Fox out in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Jonas Valančiūnas—the front office appears to be headed in a new direction.
The Kings now enter an important offseason without the executive who helped bring the franchise back to relevance. With expectations rising and a hungry fanbase behind them, Sacramento must find a new leader to continue what McNair started.
Follow BallersCulture.com for more NBA front office news and playoff coverage.
