Doug Christie Will Be Kings’ Interim Head Coach
Kings assistant Doug Christie will be elevated to take Mike Brown‘s spot on the bench following Brown’s dismissal, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that Christie is Sacramento’s new interim head coach.
Christie, a former NBA shooting guard, spent five of his 15 seasons as a player in Sacramento. That five-year stretch from 2000-05 was the most successful run of his career, as he started all 355 games he played and earned Defensive Player of the Year votes for a Kings team that won at least one playoff series in four straight years.
After retiring as a player, Christie spent some time as a color commentator for Kings game before being hired by the franchise as an assistant during the 2021 offseason.
Christie was hired under Luke Walton, remaining in his role as an assistant when the club parted ways with Walton and promoted Alvin Gentry to replace him during the 2021/22 season, and again when the Kings hired Brown in 2022.
Although Christie has never formally held a head coaching position, he has gained some experience on the job, having stepped in for Gentry in December 2021 when the Kings’ interim coach missed time with COVID-19. Christie also coached Sacramento’s Summer League team in 2024.
It’s unclear when the Kings plan to launch their search for a permanent head coach and whether Christie will receive serious consideration for the full-time role.
Jimmy Butler Out At Least Two More Games
Star forward Jimmy Butler remains in Miami and won’t rejoin the Heat until after they return from their current road trip, the team announced today (via Twitter).
That means Butler, who is being listed as out due to return-to-competition reconditioning following an illness, will miss games in Atlanta on Saturday and in Houston on Sunday before rejoining the Heat ahead of Wednesday’s game vs. the Pelicans in Miami. This weekend’s contests will be the fourth and fifth in a row that Butler has missed.
According to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald, the original expectation had been that Butler would travel to Orlando to meet up with the club following Thursday’s game vs. the Magic and would be on the team flight to Atlanta on Friday.
The timing of Butler’s absence is notable, given that ESPN reported on Wednesday he prefers to be traded out of Miami and team president Pat Riley announced on Thursday that the 35-year-old isn’t going anywhere. While there’s no doubt Butler was legitimately sick, it’ll raise some eyebrows that he’ll end up missing three games due to “return-to-competition conditioning” after missing just two due to that illness.
Still, there has been no confirmation from the team or from reporters that Butler’s extended recovery period is connected to those recent trade rumors or Riley’s statement.
We’ll see what the six-time All-Star has to say about the situation during his first media availability after the Heat return home early next week. Until then, it remains possible that things could escalate instead of quieting down, though multiple reports indicated earlier this week that Butler is fine with the idea of finishing out the season in Miami and intends to remain professional.
As Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald tweets, the Heat announced on Thursday that they don’t intend to move Butler for a few reasons: They’re comfortable with their options for Butler next summer, even if he opts out of his contract; they want to win as many games as possible this season and believe Butler helps them do that; and there had been no indication that they were going to receive a trade offer they loved.
Injury Notes: Leonard, Suns, Green, Harris, Banchero
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will not play on Friday against Golden State and he will not travel with the team for its upcoming three-game road trip, writes Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times (subscriber link). Leonard has yet to play this season as he recovers from a right knee injury.
However, the two-time Finals MVP continues to make progress — he went through a 5-on-5 practice on Thursday and he will practice with the G League’s San Diego Clippers while the NBA club is out of town.
“Making sure he’s doing everything so this doesn’t occur again so we can kind of monitor the fluid and see how it’s working,” head coach Tyronn Lue said. “So far it’s been really good and we just want to continue to keep progressing.”
For what it’s worth, Leonard released a vague teaser video (via Twitter) on Friday saying he’ll be back “pretty soon.”
Here are a few more injury notes from around the NBA:
- The Suns will be without All-Star guard Devin Booker for the fourth straight game on Friday when Phoenix faces Dallas, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Booker is recovering from a left groin strain. Grayson Allen (concussion protocol) and Bol Bol (left knee contusion) will also be sidelined for the Suns.
- After previously being listed as questionable, Warriors forward/center Draymond Green has been downgraded to doubtful ahead of Friday’s matchup with the Clippers, tweets Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. An eight-time All-Defensive member, Green is dealing with a contusion on the left side of his lower back.
- Magic guard Gary Harris may suit up on Friday vs. New York after missing the past 13 games with a left hamstring strain. He’s listed as probable, according to Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter links), who notes that while Paolo Banchero is still out, his injury designation has changed from torn right oblique to “return to competition reconditioning.” Banchero, who hasn’t played since Oct. 30, has been ramping up his on-court activities, but he’s not doing contact work yet.
Hawks Sign Daeqwon Plowden To Two-Way Contract
2:13pm: Plowden’s two-way contract is now official, the Hawks announced in a press release.
9:10am: The Hawks are signing free agent wing Daeqwon Plowden to a two-way contract, agent Drew Kelso tells Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Atlanta opened up a two-way spot last week by waiving Seth Lundy, who has yet to play this season as he continues to recover from an ankle injury. Plowden will now take that spot, Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirms (via Twitter).
Plowden, 26, is a Philadelphia native who spent five college seasons at Bowling Green prior to going undrafted in 2022. He is technically an NBA rookie, having spent his entire professional career to this point playing in the G League.
Plowden, who played for the affiliate clubs of the Pelicans and Magic during the 2022/23 and ’23/24 campaigns, was signed by the Warriors on a two-way deal over the summer. While Plowden drew strong reviews for his play in Summer League, Golden State wound up waiving him in September to make roster space for second-round pick Quinten Post.
The College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s NBAGL affiliate, acquired Plowden’s returning player rights a few months ago. After being cut by Golden State, he quickly signed an Exhibit 10 training camp deal with the Hawks, then was waived before the ’24/25 season began.
Plowden has been playing for College Park this season, averaging 14.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 1.0 SPG on .427/.385/.783 shooting in 14 games (27.8 MPG).
And-Ones: Dybantsa, Hartenstein, Samanic, Ratings, Threes
Utah Prep wing AJ Dybantsa is a candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft. When he received his first basketball paycheck — $1,000 for winning Massachusetts Player of the Year as a freshman — he didn’t keep it, instead donating it to a local Boys & Girls Club, as Jared Weiss details in a feature story for The Athletic.
“Don’t take anything for granted,” Dybantsa told The Athletic recently. “People are less fortunate and don’t have what we have. If I continue this route, I’m going to get a lot more money than that. So, I might as well just donate (that check) back to the community.”
Dybantsa reportedly secured a massive name, image and likeness (NIL) windfall when he committed to BYU. According to Weiss, the 17-year-old has kept his focus on basketball despite becoming a very famous — and wealthy — athlete.
“People just gonna talk, but I (didn’t) even know how much I’m getting. They just tell my dad all of that,” Dybantsa said of his father Ace, who negotiated the deal. “I’m trying to make it to the NBA, so wherever they can get me the fastest there with the best development, there’s a whole lot of pillars that come with it. Money’s going to come if I do the work, so I’m not worried about the money in a year.”
Here’s more from around the basketball world:
- Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein has become a minority owner of Ratiopharm Ulm, the German basketball club announced in a press release. “I got involved because I was searching for a German team that I could be a part of — one that, if I were younger and trying to make the next level, would get me there,” Hartenstein said. “I feel like they do a great job of developing young talent and helping them advance in their careers. The team is well-run, and even though they focus on helping players take the next step, they remain competitive. That mix was really exciting for me. And growing up, I always loved the fans they had.” Hartenstein grew up in Germany, where both he and his father Florian played professionally.
- Former NBA forward Luka Samanic is in advanced talks to join Spanish club Baskonia, which competes in the EuroLeague, reports Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com. Samanic, who played for Utah last season, has been playing for Cibona in his native Croatia. Cibona is not a member of the EuroLeague.
- Ahead of the NBA Cup championship game, commissioner Adam Silver discussed the NBA’s declining TV ratings and the increase in three-point field goals, which some fans and observes believe has hurt the league’s appeal. John Hollinger of The Athletic thinks the discourse about ratings and threes “ring hollow.” Marc Stein conveys a similar sentiment in a Substack post, downplaying any concerns about ratings.
Warriors Notes: Payton, Curry, Green, Help
Veteran guard Gary Payton II will miss at least four games after sustaining a “mild” left calf strain in Wednesday’s loss to the Lakers, the Warriors announced (via Twitter). Payton underwent an MRI on Thursday which confirmed the injury. He’ll be reevaluated in a week.
Known for his strong defense, Payton has appeared in 28 games this season, averaging 4.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 13.1 minutes per contest. He has converted an impressive 71.6% of his two-point attempts, but has struggled with his outside shot thus far in ’24/25, going just 5-of-32 from three point range (15.6%).
Payton, 32, will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. He’s also eligible for a veteran extension through June 30.
Here’s more on the Warriors, who are currently 15-14, the No. 10 seed in the West:
- Golden State has a back-to-back on Friday (at the Clippers) and Saturday (vs. Phoenix). Two-time MVP Stephen Curry will miss Friday’s contest to manage bilateral knee pain, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN relays. Draymond Green (left lower back contusion) is questionable for Friday’s game.
- Curry was at his best on Christmas Day, nearly giving the Warriors a comeback victory by recording 38 points — including a couple of clutch three-pointers late — and six assists. However, after he tied the game with a 31-foot three, Austin Reaves made a game-winning layup, sealing a Lakers victory. The Warriors need more performances like that from Curry to have a shot at another deep playoff run, but they also risk running him into the ground if they don’t get him more help on the trade market, according to Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic.
- In case you missed it, the Warriors had a player-led meeting prior to Wednesday’s game, with Curry being especially vocal. Read more details here.
Luka Doncic Out At Least One Month; All-NBA Streak To End
Mavericks guard Luka Doncic will be sidelined for at least one month after suffering a left calf strain in the second quarter of Wednesday’s loss to Minnesota, according to Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Multiple other reporters, including Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News, Dallas-based NBA insider Marc Stein (Twitter links), and Lauren Merola and Christian Clark of The Athletic, have confirmed the news.
As Charania and MacMahon detail, Doncic underwent an MRI on Thursday and consulted with multiple medical professionals to establish a return timeline. ESPN’s duo reported on Wednesday that the Mavs were anticipating Doncic would miss an “extended period of time” with the injury, which caused him to leave the arena on crutches.
Doncic appeared to suffer the injury when he drove into the lane while being defended by Jaden McDaniels (Twitter video links). There was no contact to his left leg on the play.
According to ESPN, this is third time Doncic has strained his left calf in the past few years. He also missed all of preseason action with a left calf contusion and recently returned from a left heel contusion.
Doncic, who has made the All-NBA First Team each of the past five seasons, will see that streak come to an end in 2024/25. He has already missed eight games this season, and Dallas plays 16 games between now and January 25, which is around the time he’ll be reevaluated. That would put him on pace to miss at least 24 games, making him ineligible for major end-of-season awards, including MVP, due to the 65-game rule.
The 25-year-old superstar has averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists and a career-high 2.0 steals in 22 games this season (35.7 minutes per contest). His shooting line is .464/.354/.767.
With Doncic out, star backcourt mate Kyrie Irving will take on additional scoring and play-making responsibilities. Quentin Grimes will likely start in Doncic’s stead, with Spencer Dinwiddie another candidate for more touches and minutes.
The Mavericks have had success without Doncic in ’24/25, going 6-2 to this point. But the reigning Western Conference champions will be tested over the next several weeks without their best player.
Grizzlies Interested In Nets Forward Finney-Smith
The Grizzlies are a “team to watch” as the Nets look to move forward Dorian Finney-Smith, Marc Stein reports in his latest Substack article.
The two teams could be a match because the Nets have interest in the Grizzlies guard John Konchar, league sources tell Stein, who says the Magic and Heat are also looking at Konchar as a potential trade target.
It’s no secret Brooklyn is open for business regarding its veteran players as it tries to stockpile assets. Long noted for his defensive prowess, Finney-Smith is averaging 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season. He’s also shooting a career-best 45.2% on 3-point attempts.
Finney-Smith has missed the last three games with a left calf contusion. He’s pulling in $14.9MM this season and has a player option on his contract for 2025/26 worth $15.4MM.
Finney-Smith could provide depth at the power forward spot for the Grizzlies behind Jaren Jackson Jr. and offer an alternative to rookie Jaylen Wells at small forward.
Konchar has seen his playing time plummet this season. He started 46 games over the previous two seasons but has come off the bench this season and appeared in just 15 contests.
Konchar is in the first season of a three-year, $18.5MM contract. Luke Kennard‘s $9.25MM expiring deal would a logical contract to package with Konchar in a deal for Finney-Smith but there’s a big catch. As Stein notes, Kennard would lose his Bird rights if he’s traded, since he re-signed with Memphis on a one-year contract. That means he would have to approve any trade involving him, and it’s hard to see him agreeing to go to a rebuilding team like the Nets.
And-Ones: Fears, 2025 Draft, 2026 Draft, Graham, Young, Wells
Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears has improved his draft stock with his early season performances, according to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report. In Wasserman’s view, Fears now projects to go anywhere from No. 3 to No. 10 next June after leading the Sooners to a 12-0 start, including a 30-point outing against Michigan.
Saint Joseph’s forward Rasheer Fleming and Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis have also been impressive during the first two months of the college season. Fleming is now receiving first-round consideration, while Jakucionis is solidifying his projected lottery status.
We have more from around the basketball world:
- While the 2025 draft class has received plenty of hype, the top of the 2026 draft could be even more impressive, according to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. Wing AJ Dybantsa is the top player in his class, while Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson have also generated some buzz regarding their futures. One NBA executive suggested to Vorkunov that teams might start positioning themselves for the 2026 draft ahead of this year’s trade deadline.
- Unsigned NBA veteran guard Devonte’ Graham may have earned at least a 10-day deal with his outing in the G League Showcase, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. Graham had a 24-point game for the South Bay Lakers. Graham spent training camp and the preseason on a non-guaranteed contract with the Trail Blazers before being waived. A few other unaffiliated players stood out, Hollinger adds, with Grand Rapids Gold guard Jahmir Young heading that group. He had 50 points in two games. He was waived by the Nuggets during training camp.
- The race for the Rookie of the Year award is wide open, The Athletic’s Fred Katz notes. With the Sixers‘ Jared McCain sidelined, Grizzlies‘ second-rounder Jaylen Wells currently tops Katz’s ballot. He lists Pelicans big man Yves Missi second and Spurs wing Stephon Castle third but any number of players could emerge from the pack in the coming months and challenge for top honors.
Southwest Notes: Wembanyama, Paul, Thompson, Missi
Those who tuned in for the early Christmas game between the Spurs and Knicks saw an overwhelming performance by Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama, even though the Knicks pulled out a three-point win.
Wembanyama finished with 42 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and four blocks in 40 minutes. No previous player had ever turned in a combination of that many points, rebounds, assists and blocks on Christmas Day. Wembanyama also came close to Wilt Chamberlain‘s record of 45 points in a Christmas debut.
However, Wembanyama was more focused on the loss than his big numbers, Joe Vardon of The Athletic writes.
“It’s not my first thought at all, I don’t even know the real history by heart of the best Christmas games in history,” Wembanyama said. “I’m thinking about the game right now and just thinking we’re close, but we lack some attributes at times. You know, we’re right there. It was a really disputed game.”
We have more from the Southwest Division:
- The Spurs are sitting at .500 after losing their last two games. Chris Paul believes the team’s next step is to learn to execute during crunch time, he told Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News. “For us, the next step is winning those games,” Paul said. “We got to get to that point where all that ‘young guy stuff’ got to go out the window. We pros just like everybody else and there’s a grit and a will that you got to have in this league in order to figure out ways to win those games, especially on the road when we are the only ones that’s cheering for us.”
- Klay Thompson has passed Reggie Miller for fifth place on the league’s all-time 3-point makes list. That’s a special accomplishment for the Mavericks guard, “I loved Reggie Miller growing up,” Thompson told Christian Clark of The Athletic. “I watched his film and game-winners my whole life. He’s always inspired me to shoot the ball and be a killer. It’s just surreal. Talk about times I prayed for. I prayed for times like that.” Thompson is wearing No. 31 as a tribute to Miller, who wore the same number in his 18 seasons with the Pacers.
- Due to injuries, Pelicans rookie center Yves Missi has been thrown into the fire this season and he seems to be improving with each game. Messi had 21 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals against Denver on Sunday. “He’s well ahead of the curve,” teammate CJ McCollum told Rod Walker of the New Orleans Times Picayune. “He’s probably surprised himself. The development has been great for him. From the first day he got here to now has been night and day.”