General manager Vlade Divac reported to have signed contract extension
Friday 12 April 2019 08:36, UK
Sacramento Kings head coach Dave Joerger was fired on Thursday after three seasons in charge, the team announced.
Joerger led the Kings to a 39-43 record this season, which saw them finish ninth in the NBA's Western Conference. It was their best record since 2005-06 - the last time they qualified for the playoffs.
The Kings started this season at 30-26 and were in the playoff hunt until a 9-17 finish left them nine games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the final spot.
"After evaluating the season, I determined that we need to move in a different direction in order to take us to the next level," general manager Vlade Divac said.
"On behalf of the entire Kings organisation, I want to thank Dave for his contributions to our team and I wish him all the best."
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Joerger, 45, has six years of NBA head coaching experience, the first three with Memphis (2013-16) and the next three in Sacramento. His overall coaching record is 245-247 and 98-148 with the Kings.
His dismissal came on the same day that Divac and the Kings agreed to a four-year contract through the 2022-23 season, according to The Athletic.
Divac, who became GM in early 2015, has built a nucleus of promising young players that includes Marvin Bagley III, Buddy Hield, De'Aaron Fox and Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Divac, 51, played 16 seasons in the NBA for the Kings, Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets. He will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September.
