‘Love it here’: Gentry hopes to keep job with Kings after season ends with win over Suns
Alvin Gentry seemed at ease prior to Sunday’s game against the Phoenix Suns. He joked with the media and soaked up the moment, greeting players and assistants with handshakes, hugs and a smile on what might have been his final night as interim coach of the Kings.
If this was Gentry’s last game, the Kings sent him out with a win, posting a 116-109 victory over the shorthanded Suns at Footprint Center in Phoenix. Gentry acknowledged that he faces an uncertain future in Sacramento with widespread speculation he could be fired as soon as Monday, but he said he believes in the team and hopes to return next season.
“Obviously, I have a desire (to stay),” Gentry said. “I love it here and I think we’re on the right path. We’ve got some good pieces. We’ve got good people from our medical staff all the way up to the top. It has been done here before. It’s not something that’s impossible to do. It’s been done here before, so you just have to wait and see, but all of those things, I don’t make those decisions, so whatever happens, if it doesn’t work out, then I’ve had a great two years here. Love the people here. Love the franchise.”
Justin Holiday, Damian Jones and Donte DiVincenzo scored 19 points apiece for the Kings (30-52), who missed the playoffs for an NBA-record 16th consecutive season. Rookie guard Davion Mitchell had 18 points and 15 assists.
Landry Shamet scored 27 points for the Suns (64-18), who sat starters Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder and Deandre Ayton as they prepare to enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
Gentry, 67, joined former coach Luke Walton’s staff as associate head coach in October 2020. He was named interim head coach in November when Walton was fired after the Kings went 6-11 to start the season.
“I think it’s unfortunate, the situation how I became the head coach here,” Gentry said. “I don’t wish that on anyone and I’ve had it happen both ways to me, where I’m the one who’s been relieved of the duties or I’m the one who’s taking over. I don’t think anybody gets a big kick out of getting a head job that way.”
The Kings hoped to salvage their season and made bold moves at the trade deadline, most notably the acquisition of two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis, but they failed to reach the play-in tournament after going 24-41 in their last 65 games under Gentry.
Gentry has 34 years of NBA coaching experience, including 18 seasons as a head coach with the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Suns, New Orleans Pelicans and Kings. During his pregame news conference, Gentry was asked about his longevity and all the ups and downs he has experienced in the NBA.
“I think if you have a love for the game, it’s easy,” Gentry said. “You deal with the downs and you celebrate the ups, and you just try to, the main thing, I think, is you have to have a steady equilibrium where you’re never too high and never too low. I love being around the team. I love being around the people. I love being around the media, believe it or not. I still don’t know why.”
Gentry was also asked if there were any common themes in winning and losing environments he has experienced over the course of his career.
“I think stability would probably the thing,” Gentry said. “If you look around the league, teams that have been very successful, you look at San Antonio. You look at Miami or you look at Dallas when Rick (Carlisle) was there for all those years. I just think when you’re in an environment where there is stability, and there’s going to be ups and downs, but teams are together and the coaches and the players grow together. That seems to be a recipe for success in our league when you look around.”
Gentry went on to praise Kings general manager Monte McNair, assistant general manager Wes Wilcox and the rest of the basketball operations staff in Sacramento.
“I like the guys we have,” Gentry said. “I think Monte and Wes and all the basketball ops people have done a good job of drafting the way they have. … The groundwork has been laid and I think what everybody wants to see is sustainable winning. I don’t think anybody wants to be great for a year and then go back, so I think that takes a lot of work and you’ve got to be prepared for the long haul to set up a situation for sustainable winning.”
