Chris Webber sees something special in Doug Christie’s Kings despite gloomy NBA predictions

Matthew NeschisWed, October 14, 2026 at 5:15 PM UTC

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Chris Webber stopped by the Kings’ first training camp practice -Credit:Getty Images (Getty Images)

Long after the Sacramento Kings’ first training camp practice ended, Hall of Famer Chris Webber was still in the gym, feeding balls to Dylan Cardwell during a short-range shooting drill before chatting with Nique Clifford in the paint.

More than two decades earlier, Webber and Kings head coach Doug Christie had also stayed late at the team’s training facility, trading moves and bouncing ideas off one another while the rest of their teammates headed to the showers.

The long nights and extra work paid off. While sharing the NBA court from 2000 to 2005, Webber and Christie propelled the Kings to multiple playoff appearances, including three consecutive Pacific Division titles and a trip to the 2002 Western Conference Finals.

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“He came to this city and did something that hadn’t been done," Christie said of Webber, who was formally invited by Kings general manager Scott Perry to attend the practice. "That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Though their glory days are now a distant memory, Webber quickly realized that little had changed with Christie. The 56-year-old halted practice multiple times to reset drills, repeatedly demanding perfection from his players — just as he had from his teammates.

“When I saw Doug Christie in practice, it was like watching him on the court,” Webber told Mirror U.S. Sports at the 41st Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner. “He was a coach on the court, and he's definitely a coach now. So it was great to learn from him, to also watch him do his thing and be the leader he is.”

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As Webber spent more time around Christie and this new version of the Kings, he couldn’t help but think back to his early days in Sacramento, when expectations outside the facility hardly matched the belief within it.

“There's a different energy, and I noticed there's a different focus than what I'm used to,” the five-time NBA All-Star noted. “So I'm really excited. Whether it's a guy like Ben Simmons coming back, or a guy like Zach LaVine continuing to do his thing, or watching a young rookie in [Darius] Acuff, who I have big expectations for and I'm so proud of.”

The Kings finished the 2025-26 NBA season 22-60, tied with the Utah Jazz for the league's fourth-worst record. Fans and pundits alike expect little improvement from Sacramento, with ESPN projecting Christie’s squad to go 19-63 this year.

According to Webber, however, the 2026 Kings already possess the most important ingredient for a return to dominance: self-belief. “What I would hope people understand about the groups that I was blessed to be a part of is that we had belief in ourselves when no one did,” he said.

“You have to have that first, no matter what the journey is. And so I'm glad in Sacramento you see that belief, that camaraderie, because it has to start there before expectations. It has to start with your energy, and I think that that's really what [Christie] brought to Sacramento. To be selfless, to play for each other, and to have great energy.”

Webber believes Doug Christie has what it takes to turn the Kings around -Credit:Getty Images

At the heart of the Kings’ identity is unrelenting resilience, with each player in the starting five having overcome significant obstacles to reach this point. For Webber, those distinct journeys are a key reason to believe Sacramento can make its mark this season.

“I think when you look at the individual stories, it starts with perseverance,” Webber explained. “Ben Simmons is incredible, and he's going to do some incredible things, and it's going to be fun to watch his resurgence.

“Zach LaVine coming off injuries and being the player that he is, that's inspiring. And then young Acuff, coming from 7-mile, East Side of Detroit. I know where he's from, what he's been through, and this is a dream for him and his family. So it's going to be fun watching him embrace that energy because he has it.

“Those different stories come together collectively, because you usually bond through those instances, and I think they'll bond because of what they've all gone through. And that's going to help them prepare to go up against some teams and hoop.”

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Source: “AOL Sports”