Kings fire interim coach Alvin Gentry, miss playoffs for 16th year

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The Sacramento Kings fired interim coach Alvin Gentry on Monday, a day after the franchise missed the playoffs for an NBA-record 16th straight season.

The 67-year-old Gentry was promoted from associate head coach to interim coach when the Kings fired Luke Walton in November following a 6-11 start. Sacramento finished the season at 30-52.

Gentry had most recently served as head coach for the New Orleans Pelicans (2015-20). He has also made head coaching stops with Miami, Detroit, the Clippers and Phoenix. He has a career record of 534-636.

"The entire Kings organization is grateful for the leadership of Alvin Gentry, who stepped up when he got the call mid-season," general manager Monte McNair said in a statement. "We appreciate his leadership on and off the court."

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Sacramento Kings coach Alvin Gentry argues a call with referee Justin Van Duyne (64) during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 5, 2022. The Pelicans won 123-109. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

Gentry’s dismissal comes following another turbulent season for the Kings. Sacramento traded away budding star Tyrese Haliburton and former No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III in hopes of shaking things up, yet the season ended with the same familiar results.

The Kings finished 12th in the Western Conference and extended a postseason drought that began in 2006 after the last of eight consecutive playoff appearances.

What owner Vivek Ranadive had hoped would be a turnaround campaign for his club instead turned into another frustrating year for a once-loyal fan