Doug Christie’s postgame press conference after Sacramento’s 124-118 win over Golden State covered a lot of ground — a career night from Devin Carter, a physical game that got genuinely chippy, and two emotional tributes that said as much about the Kings’ culture as any box score.
On the tone his team set against the Warriors — a game that produced two flagrant fouls and two technical fouls in the third quarter alone — Christie was unapologetic about the approach. “We always want to be the aggressor. We want to bomb first. That’s just how we want to be physical and play the right way — protecting each other. And that type of intensity and competitiveness is what it’s all about. These reps for these guys are invaluable. You’re not going to get that anywhere — it’s an NBA game versus the best players in the world,” he said.
The evening also included a tribute to DeMar DeRozan, who spent part of his career in Sacramento and remains beloved by the fanbase despite a relatively short stint. Christie got to the heart of why. “One thing about Sacramento is if you’re a King, they always love you. Our fans appreciate excellence. They appreciate people who go about their job in a really strong, determined way. I told you guys the one that struck me the most — we were on a back-to-back, flew in from somewhere, and he went directly from the plane to get therapy. It was almost 2:00 in the morning. That type of commitment is the type of commitment that should be commended,” Christie said.
Christie was also asked about Sacramento broadcasting legend Grant Napear, who was honored at the arena. Christie shared a personal story that spoke to how much the man shaped him. “I love that man. He is salt of the earth. From when I was working radio and sitting beside him, listening — even when I took over and started doing TV, I’d go talk to Gman and I’d look over and see this sheet, and the sheet was immaculate. It had all the names, all these things. So when it was my turn I didn’t know what to do, I just copied what I saw Gman do. He’s a pro’s pro. To watch him in that moment is spectacular,” he said.
The centerpiece of the night, though, was Carter’s career-high 29 points — a performance Christie framed as the product of sustained, unglamorous development. “His coachability is high. When I’m talking to him, he’s locked in. Learning the point guard position is difficult — it’s the hardest position in the hardest game at the highest level in the world. But when he’s locked in on the defensive end, he has physicality and toughness about him,” Christie said.
He also pointed to Carter’s nine rebounds — four of them offensive — as evidence of a player whose impact goes well beyond scoring. “Coming from the guard position, that’s huge. The confidence continues to grow and I commend him for staying the course. We have to put respect on his name for the things that he’s doing. Super proud of him for that,” Christie said.
Sacramento closes the regular season Sunday at Portland, with Christie’s group looking to finish a difficult year on the right note before a significant offseason of roster evaluation.
