Kings guard De’Aaron Fox injures finger, doubtful for Game 5 vs. Warriors

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox underwent X-ray imaging that revealed an avulsion fracture of the left index finger.

The injury was sustained during the fourth quarter of Game 4 versus the Golden State Warriors.

Fox will be listed as doubtful for Wednesday’s game versus the Warriors

Kings coach Mike Brown wins 2022-23 NBA Coach of the Year award

The NBA announced yesterday that Sacramento Kings Head Coach Mike Brown has been named the unanimous 2022-23 NBA Coach of the Year. Brown is the third head coach in franchise history to win the yearly award, joining Cotton Fitzsimmons (1978-79) and Phil Johnson (1974-75) and is the first to receive the honor in the Sacramento era.

Brown received (500) points (100 first-place votes) from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. The honor marks the second time Brown has been named Coach of the Year during his coaching career, including his first since the 2008-09 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since the award’s inception in 1962-63, Brown is the 11th coach in NBA history to receive the Coach of the Year award at least twice in his coaching career.

In his first season as head coach of the Sacramento Kings, Brown led the club to one of the best seasons in franchise history. Brown guided Sacramento to the seventh-best record in the NBA this season and helped the Kings secure the third seed in the Western Conference, marking the Kings best finish in the West since the 2002-03 season. Behind Brown, Sacramento finished with the third-most wins in the Western Conference (48-34) and matched a franchise record for most wins on the road (25-16), which also ranked first in the Western Conference. He is the second coach in the Sac era to finish above .500 in a single season, joining Rick Adelman.

Brown coached the Kings to the highest offensive rating in NBA history (118.6) with the team scoring the most points per game by an NBA team in 40 years, which was last done by the Denver Nuggets (1983-84). For his efforts, Brown was selected as the Michael Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year after the Kings earned its first Pacific Division title since 2003.

Among league leaders, the Kings led the NBA in offensive efficiency and points per game while finishing second in field goal percentage (49.4%), third in assists (27.3), fifth in three-pointers made (1,128) and ninth in three-point percentage (37.3%). Sacramento also ranked first in true shooting percentage (60.8%), second in effective field goal percentage (57.2), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.02), eighth in net rating (2.6) and seventh in assists percentage (62.6%).

In February, Brown was named the NBA Western Conference Coach of the month as the Kings led the NBA with seven games where they scored 120+ points, which included a 176-175 win in double overtime against the LA Clippers on Feb. 24, marking the second-highest scoring game in NBA history. During the stretch, the Kings ranked first in the NBA in points per game (125.8) and offensive rating (121.2) and went a perfect 7-0 in February in games where they scored 120 points or more.

Kings guard Kevin Huerter day-to-day

Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter underwent MRI imaging on Friday, March 17. MRI imaging revealed a mild strain of the popliteus muscle and no hamstring injury.

The injury was sustained during the first quarter of Thursday’s game versus the Brooklyn Nets.

Huerter is expected to be day-to-day and will be listed as questionable for Saturday’s game versus the Wizards.

Kings forward Trey Lyles suspended, Bucks center Brook Lopez fined

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles has been suspended one game without pay and Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez has been fined $25,000 for their roles in an on-court altercation, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

The incident began when Lyles fouled and then pushed Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo in the back. Lopez escalated the situation by confronting Lyles. Lyles further escalated the situation by striking Lopez in the face and grabbing and holding Lopez around the neck area.

The incident, for which Lyles was assessed two technical fouls and ejected and for which Lopez was assessed one technical foul and ejected, occurred with 15.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Bucks’ 133-124 win over the Kings on Mar. 13 at Golden 1 Center.

Lyles will serve his suspension on Wednesday, March 15 when the Kings play the Chicago Bulls at United Center.

Kings sign PJ Dozier, waive KZ Okpala

The Sacramento Kings have signed PJ Dozier to a contract, according to General Manager Monte McNair.

And in a related move, Sacramento waived KZ Okpala.

Dozier signed two 10-day contracts with Sacramento earlier this season, appearing in four games with the Kings. He has played in 11 regular season games for the Iowa Wolves, the Minnesota Timberwolves G League affiliate, averaging 20.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 33.1 minutes per game.

The 26-year-old has seen action in 109 regular season NBA games and 12 NBA playoff games. Dozier, a Columbia, South Carolina, native played for the Denver Nuggets from 2019-2022.

Okpala appeared in 35 games for Sacramento this season. The fourth-year forward was selected 32nd overall in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Stanford.

Nets trade Kessler Edwards to Kings for David Michineau

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired the draft rights to David Michineau in a trade with the Sacramento Kings for forward Kessler Edwards and cash considerations.

Michineau was originally drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans in the second round (39th overall pick) of the 2016 NBA Draft. His rights were later acquired by the Los Angeles Clippers and then Sacramento via trade. The 28-year-old guard currently plays for Napoli Basket in Italy’s Lega Basket Serie A and previously played professionally in France.

Edwards was originally selected with the 44th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft by Brooklyn and signed a two-way contract with the team on Aug. 16, 2021. He then signed a standard NBA contract with the Nets on April 10, 2022, and re-signed with the team on July 6, 2022. In 14 games with Brooklyn this season, Edwards averaged 1.1 points and 1.0 rebounds in 5.7 minutes per contest.

Kings sign Deonte Burton to 10-day contract

The Sacramento Kings have signed Deonte Burton to a 10-day contract.

Burton joins the Sacramento Kings from the Stockton Kings (11-3), the Kings G-League affiliate, where he’s averaged 12.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 54.5 percent from the field through the regular season.

The 28-year-old has seen action in 71 regular season NBA games. Burton, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native played for the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2018-2020.

Sacramento Kings sign General Manager Monte McNair to contract extension

The Sacramento Kings have agreed to a multi-year contract extension with General Manager Monte McNair.

The contract for Kings Assistant General Manager Wes Wilcox has also been extended.

“This has been an exciting season and I’m proud to have the opportunity to continue building a winning franchise in Sacramento,” said Kings General Manager Monte McNair. “I am especially grateful to Vivek, the entire Kings organization and the fans for supporting me every step of the way. I’d like to thank our players and coaches for their hard work on and off the court. And I’m excited to have Wes Wilcox’s continued counsel and partnership, along with the rest of our fantastic front office and staff. We recognize we have more work to do, and I look forward to what’s ahead.”

“Monte is an integral part of this organization, and I am thrilled to announce his extension,” said Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “Since joining the Kings, Monte and Wes have proven to be thoughtful and strategic decision makers who have shown their ability to execute a long-term vision for the team. The work continues, and I have confidence in this front office to keep driving our efforts forward.”

Since becoming General Manager of the Kings prior to the 2020-21 season, McNair has made several moves to bolster the roster. McNair extended De’Aaron Fox in 2020 before drafting Davion Mitchell with the ninth selection in the 2021 NBA Draft. McNair went on to add two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis, who currently leads the league in rebounding and double-doubles, and Trey Lyles via trade in February 2022. Additionally, McNair hired Head Coach Mike Brown in May 2022 and selected Keegan Murray fourth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft before adding Kevin Huerter via trade and signing Malik Monk in free agency. The Kings currently sit third in the Western Conference (27-19).

With those moves, McNair has orchestrated one of the most prolific offensive teams in the NBA this season and helped guide Sacramento to their best start since the 2004-05 season. Offensively, the Kings rank first in scoring (120.3 PPG), second in efficiency (117.9), third in field goal percentage (49.5%), fourth in assists (27.2 APG), seventh in made 3-pointers (630) and ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (37.1%). Sacramento has scored 130 points or more in 11 games, leading the NBA, and made 20+ 3-pointers in four games this season, including a franchise record 23 triples versus Orlando on January 9, 2023.

Before taking the helm in Sacramento, McNair was a member of the Houston Rockets front office since 2007, which included a promotion to Assistant General Manager in 2018. Throughout his 13 years in Houston, McNair was involved with all aspects of player evaluation, including trade, free agency and the Draft.

Kings sign PJ Dozier to second 10-day contract

The Sacramento Kings have signed PJ Dozier to a second 10-day contract.

Dozier signed a 10-day contract with Sacramento on Jan. 9 and has appeared in three games for the Kings. Prior to joining the Kings this season, Dozier played for the Iowa Wolves, the Minnesota Timberwolves G-League affiliate, where he averaged 18.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 36.8 minutes per game in the regular season.

The 26-year-old has seen action in 108 regular season NBA games and 12 NBA playoff games. Dozier, a Columbia, South Carolina, native played for the Denver Nuggets from 2019-2022.

Kings sign PJ Dozier to a 10-day contract

The Sacramento Kings have signed PJ Dozier to a 10-day contract.

The 6-6/205, 26-year-old Dozier had been playing for the Iowa Wolves, the Minnesota Timberwolves G-League affiliate, where he averaged 18.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 36.8 minutes per game in the regular season.

Dozier has played in 105 regular season NBA games and 12 NBA playoff games.

The Columbia, South Carolina, native played for the Denver Nuggets from 2019-2022. He played two years of college basketball at the University of South Carolina, helping the Gamecocks reach the national semifinals in 2017.