The Sacramento Kings moved fast to shake up their front office, hiring veteran NBA executive Scott Perry as their new general manager Thursday, April 17, just hours after parting ways with Monte McNair. Perry, who ran the New York Knicks for six years, steps in to steer a team desperate for a fresh start.
The Kings, coming off a 46-36 season but a play-in tournament loss, let go of McNair after five years, despite his 2023 NBA Executive of the Year award. Perry, 61, brings 25 years of experience, including stints with the Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Orlando Magic. He briefly served as Sacramento’s vice president of basketball operations in 2017 before jumping to New York.
“He’s a proven winner,” said Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé. “Scott’s got the chops to get us back to the playoffs.”
Perry’s track record shines brightest in Detroit, where he helped build the 2004 NBA championship team that topped the Lakers. As Knicks GM from 2017 to 2023, he drafted RJ Barrett and signed Jalen Brunson, turning a struggling franchise into a playoff contender. But his tenure wasn’t flawless—some trades, like one for Cam Reddish, flopped, and he left when his contract expired.
“It’s a big move,” said Marcus Tate, a bartender near Golden 1 Center. “I’m hyped, but he’s gotta fix this roster quick.”
The Kings face tough choices. Star guard De’Aaron Fox was traded earlier this season, and head coach Mike Brown is out, leaving Perry to hire a new coach and rebuild around players like Domantas Sabonis. Fans, stung by a 16-year playoff drought that ended in 2023, want results.
“He knows how to build,” said NBA analyst Vince Carter on ESPN. “But Sacramento’s a pressure cooker. He’s got work to do.”
Perry starts immediately, with the NBA draft and free agency looming. The Kings, stuck at a .488 win percentage under McNair, hope Perry can push them past mediocrity.