Report: Mike Woodson set to make NBA return, join Sacramento Kings staff

Mike Woodson has an NBA return in his sights. He is set to join the Sacramento Kings coaching staff as the associate head coach under Doug Christie, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported.

Woodson spent his entire career coaching in the NBA until 2021 when Indiana brought him back to Bloomington to replace Archie Miller. The Hoosiers made the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two seasons at his alma mater, but missed the big dance in 2024 and 2025 before stepping down at season’s end. All told, Woodson had an 82-53 overall record at IU, including a 19-13 mark this past season.

Before accepting his first college coaching job, Woodson was a longtime coach in the NBA. He had two head-coaching stints with the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks as he amassed a 315-365 record between the two. Atlanta made three playoff appearances under his watch, including two Eastern Conference semifinals, while New York headed to the postseason twice.

Woodson played at Indiana from 1976-80 under the late Bob Knight before going No. 12 overall in the 1980 NBA Draft. He played in the league from 1980-91 before getting into coaching as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1996.

Woodson then left the Bucks for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1999, and after stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons, took over as the Atlanta Hawks’ head coach in 2004. He led the franchise to playoff appearances before his contract expired in 2010.

The Knicks then hired Woodson as an assistant in 2011 and he took over as head coach in 2012, making the playoffs in his first year and leaving after the 2013-14 season. He latched on with the Los Angeles Clippers as an assistant until 2018 when he again returned to the Knicks from 2020-21. That’s when he headed to Indiana to replace Archie Miller as his first-ever college coaching job.

Christie took over as the Kings’ interim head coach this past season after the franchise parted ways with Mike Brown. Sacramento went 27-24 under his watch to make the NBA Play-In Tournament, which ended with a loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round.

Mike Woodson marks Christie’s first major hire after taking over as full-time head coach, and he will continue building out the staff. The Kings are also turning their attention to the NBA Draft Lottery, which will take place May 12.