Scott Perry, the newly appointed general manager of the Sacramento Kings, has returned to the franchise with a clear mission: to establish a solid foundation for long-term success. Perry, hired on April 21, 2023, is serving his second tour of duty in this role. He had held it for a short time, but had been forced to leave almost immediately, so he never even got to move into his residence in Sacramento.
Until this season, Perry had a long and storied NBA career with other franchises — most prominently the New York Knicks. He has an affinity for talent, but much more importantly he’s built lasting relationships across the league, including a 40-year connection with Mike Tomlin. He’s got a deep well of experience in sports journalism. He’s worked alongside other talents, including Malika Andrews, Big Perk, Chiney Ogwumike and Richard Jefferson on “SportsCenter” and “NBA Today.”
In his current role, Perry aims to create an identity for the Kings that reflects the values he considers essential for success. He underscores the need to create organizational guardrails that will pave their team’s foundation for organizational transformation into a winning culture.
“If I got an opportunity to go somewhere else, you really got to start creating an organizational identity and some pillars. And I found that these six qualities — competitive, professional, team-oriented, accountable, tough, and disciplined — they permeated in a lot of those successful organizations.” – Scott Perry
To bolster his vision, Perry has already made key strategic decisions, including convincing B.J. Armstrong to join the Kings’ staff as assistant general manager. He understands the significance of surrounding himself with strong talent and is currently working closely with head coach Doug Christie. Finally, Christie’s intensity as a competitor extends to her teaching, according to Perry.
Perry’s assessment of the Kings is based on the first 30 games of the season. He believes in building a team comprised of high-character, versatile two-way players who can contribute on both ends of the court. Perry understands the case for change is urgent and he is determined to put into place changes that will make it a success.
“Stay with us. We’re going to get it done. I know it’s difficult. I empathize with the fans in terms of they’ve been wanting to win here for a long time.” – Scott Perry
His experience and understanding of basketball are clearly displayed through his process. Even in the face of all that is negative in human nature that infests all competitive sports, he maintains a laser focus on the end goal, which is winning.
“You fight human nature. Look, we all want to win.” – Scott Perry
Perry attributes his childhood, and particularly the influence of his father, as a key reason for his understanding. These three influences formed his belief in the need for resilience in pro sports.
“A lot of that goes back really to my upbringing. And I know I talked to you a lot about my father and the impact and influence he had on me. And one of the things I learned at an early age is really never to get too high and never get too low.” – Scott Perry
You couldn’t go wrong either way, but Scott Perry’s new professional life began this year with the Sacramento Kings. His drive to build a firm base bodes well for the franchise’s longterm future. His leadership will be indispensable as we confront the monumental challenges before us. The impatient supporters want instant success, and he needs to please them now.
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