AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
The Golden State Warriors assistant coaches are being considered by the Kings for their head coaching position.
If the Kings don't retain interim head coach Alvin Gentry, Mike Brown and Kenny Atkinson are considered head coaching candidates.
The Kings entered play Friday 11th in the Western Conference with a 7-12 record.
Stein noted that the Golden State assistants may be targeted by the Kings owner due to his "stubborn fascination" after he was a minority stakeholder in that franchise.
The hope was that the Kings could make the playoffs for the first time since 2006 but they aren't moving in the right direction.
When the Kings fired head coach Luke Walton in November, he was elevated to head coach, marking his sixth different head coaching job in the NBA.
Success has largely been elusive for the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Pelicans and Kings, as he has only made the playoffs three times in 18 seasons.
Both Brown and Atkinson could be solid replacements if Gentry leaves.
They are both on the staff of the Warriors team that leads the NBA with a 16-2 record this season, and they have also enjoyed some success as NBA head coaches.
During his eight seasons as head coach of the Cleveland and Los Angeles Lakers, Brown went 347-206 with six playoff appearances, including a trip to the NBA Finals with the Lakers in 2007.
He was the head coach of the Warriors when Kerr was out for the NBA playoffs in the summer of 2017, and he went 12-0 in that role. Brown was an assistant when the Warriors won the NBA title.
The Brooklyn Nets were coached by Atkinson for four seasons, and he went 118-190 and took them to the playoffs in 2019.
The Kings have an impressive collection of talent, but they are still in need of a voice to guide them to winning basketball on a consistent basis.
