Kings’ patience with Doug Christie may come down to Darius Acuff Jr.

The Kings are 1-10, but another coaching change may create a problem they’re trying to avoid.

Namely, making rookie Darius Acuff Jr. learn from a revolving cast of head coaches.

According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Sacramento would prefer to keep Doug Christie in place throughout the season, with Acuff’s development factoring into that thinking.

“The messaging is, preferably for them, would be no move all season long,” Amick said during a Sactown Sports appearance. “Then, we’ll just see how ugly it gets and whether or not they can kind of withstand that pain.”

That’s a preference, of course, rather than a guarantee. Ten losses in 11 games will test any organization’s patience.

But Amick indicated that promoting assistant Mike Woodson isn’t necessarily an appealing solution, either.

“The issue in the spot they’ve put themselves in is that it does not seem like there’s much appetite to just move Mike Woodson over as the top assistant, being the head coach,” he said. “They are sensitive to the idea that Darius Acuff Jr. potentially would have three different head coaches in his first season. They don’t want that.”

Acuff has provided Sacramento with something worth protecting amid the losing. The No. 7 overall pick is averaging 26.2 points, 7.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds, emerging immediately as the team’s leading scorer.

Keeping some consistency around him makes sense. So does asking whether the current arrangement is helping the Kings establish anything beyond his individual production.

Christie took over after Mike Brown’s dismissal during the 2024-25 season and received the permanent job in May 2025. The results since then have offered little relief.

Still, firing a coach is only the first step. Sacramento would need a replacement it believes can improve the situation, both for Acuff and everyone around him.

Amick’s reporting suggests the Kings would rather give Christie time than rush into another temporary answer. The losses will determine how difficult that becomes.