Two days after being fired by Grizzlies, Dave Joerger is hired to coach Kings

Two days after being fired by the Memphis Grizzlies, Dave Joerger has landed in Sacramento as the latest coach looking to end the Kings’ decade-long playoff drought.

Joerger replaces George Karl and becomes the Kings’ ninth head coach since the team went to the playoffs in 2006 under Rick Adelman.

“He is a strong and passionate leader with a proven track record of producing results,” General Manager Vlade Divac said Monday. “Dave shares our focus on creating a long-term culture of winning and I look forward to a bright future ahead for the Kings with his leadership on the court.”

Joerger will get a three-year contract worth $4 million per season, a person with knowledge of the agreement told the Associated Press. The deal includes a team option for the fourth season.

Joerger went 147-99 in three seasons with the Grizzlies and took them to the playoffs each year. He led the injury-ravaged team to 42 wins this season, pushing them to the playoffs, where they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.

Despite the success he achieved with the Grizzlies, he never was able to get on the same page with Memphis owner Robert Pera. Joerger was hired to replace Lionel Hollins after spending six years as an assistant in Memphis, but Pera never seemed to warm to him.

Etc.

San Antonio Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford was selected as the NBA’s executive of the year, beating out Portland’s Neil Olshey and Golden State’s Bob Myers in voting by fellow executives.

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Duke men’s basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski, 69, had hernia surgery and said he would be in “great physical condition” when he coaches the U.S. national team in the Olympics this summer.