Oddsmakers tap favorites for Sacramento Kings coaching vacancy; next NBA coach to be fired
Oddsmakers who spent the past year speculating how much longer Luke Walton would last in Sacramento have to find someone else to pick on after the Kings fired their coach on Sunday. They also have to determine which coach is most likely to be brought in as Walton’s replacement.
Walton was at times considered the favorite to be the next coach fired in the NBA. Now, that attention has shifted to Detroit Pistons coach Dwane Casey, who is considered a 2-to-1 favorite to be the next coach to get a pink slip, according to sportsbetting.ag. Casey is followed by Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel (3-1), Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas (5-1) and New Orleans Pelicans coach Willie Green.
As for possible replacements in Sacramento, the website lists Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson as a 4-to-1 favorite to land the job. The site is also laying odds on former Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts (5-1), San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon (6-1), Kings interim coach Alvin Gentry (7-1), Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham (8-1), Kings assistant Doug Christie (10-1), New Orleans Pelicans coaching advisor Mike D’Antoni (10-1) and Stockton Kings coach Bobby Jackson (12-1).
The Kings promoted Gentry to interim head coach on Sunday after making the decision to fire Walton, who was in the third year of a four-year contract. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Kings were discussing potential benchmarks for Gentry that could serve as possible parameters for him to keep the job on a long-term basis. Gentry, who is under contract as an assistant through the 2022-23 season, has a 510-595 record as a head coach over 17 seasons with the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans.
Atkinson compiled a 118-190 record as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-20. He also had assistant coaching stints with the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks and Clippers.
Stotts has a 517-486 record over 13 seasons as head coach of the Hawks (2002-04), Bucks (2005-07) and Blazers (2012-21). D’Antoni is 718-555 over 16 seasons as a head coach with the Denver Nuggets, Suns, Knicks, Lakers and Rockets.
This story was originally published November 23, 2021 at 4:00 AM.
