King is credited with feeling “fresher” after Christie’s workouts originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It appears the Kings have reached a point in their 2024-2025 NBA season as they look to build on an impressive six-game winning streak.
While the firing of former coach Mike Brown came as a shock to the entire basketball world, Kings players have taken the messages from interim head coach Doug Christie, who has a 6-1 record since taking over.
One notable difference that some players have attributed to the turnaround is practicing less, which they say has helped them stay fresh and ready for game days.
“When I talk to some guys who are playing heavier minutes, they definitely feel fresher coming into games,” Kings guard Kevin Huerter said after the Kings’ 114-97 victory over the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics on Friday night. TD Garden (h/t Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee). “I think mentally, just with the grind of the season, we’re already in January, and when you get to this point in the season you’re playing a lot of games.
“As much as it’s a physical grind, it’s also a mental grind. Being at the halfway point and needing every win, we’re putting on the brakes a little bit in some ways, but we’re still confident that we’ll do our job .It has been well received.”
Malik Monk, who entered the starting lineup this season and is averaging 22.3 points on 42.4 percent shooting with 4.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.4 steals since Sacramento’s coaching change, shared a similar message about the training.
“We don’t do nothing. Save your legs,” Monk said. “Go in and be done in an hour, instead of standing around for two hours and doing a lot.”
It’s no secret that Brown liked to practice much more (and longer) than the players.
The old-school, military coach was fired in his third season with the team after a disappointing 13-18 start to the season.
“Of course,” Kings star center Domantas Sabonis said, “if you can rest, you’ll be fresher for games.”
It seems easy for the players to buy in and identify with Christie, a former player turned coach.
Having that player perspective has helped Christie in several areas.
“I have to understand that even when I was with the Kings, we played a similar style, like super fast, we’re coming,” Christie said. “So when you play that style, you as a coach have to be aware of how to approach practice and make sure they get what they need.
“So it just varies a little bit, to be honest. I just try to observe, keep my ear to the street and get a good sense of who they are and what they need most of all, and get myself out of the way.”
The Kings will take on the Chicago Bulls on Monday night and the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night to conclude their short three-game road trip before returning to the Golden 1 Center for a trio of home games.
“I think collectively everything we’ve been through from December to now has been a 360,” Kings forward Keegan Murray said.
