Monte McNair

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

McNair grew up in Oak Park, California, and attended Oak Park High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Princeton University in 2006. While attending college, he was a wide receiver on the football team. From 2006 to 2007, he was a sports programmer and researcher at STATS LLC. In 2007, he joined the Houston Rockets as the basketball operations senior analyst, later promoted to director of basketball operations in 2013, VP of basketball operations in 2016, and assistant GM in 2018. On September 17, 2020, the Sacramento Kings hired him as general manager and president of basketball operations. On January 24, 2023, he signed a multi-year contract extension. On May 3, he was named NBA Executive of the Year after leading the Kings to a 48–34 record and their first playoff berth since the 2005–06 season. He hired Mike Brown, the 2022–23 NBA Coach of the Year. On April 17, 2025, McNair and the Kings mutually parted ways. On June 16, 2025, he was hired as an advisor for the Los Angeles Clippers.

In Their Own Story

The arena buzzed with anticipation as Monte McNair stepped onto the court for his first game as head coach. The familiar scent of polished wood and the roar of the crowd reminded him of his playing days. He gathered the team, his voice steady yet filled with fire, reminding them that every possession mattered. As the tip-off approached, he knew this was more than a job—it was a homecoming.

Reader's Guide

Monte McNair is an advisor for the Los Angeles Clippers. He previously served as general manager and president of basketball operations for the Sacramento Kings, and before that as an executive for the Houston Rockets. He has never been a head coach or an NBA player.

Did You Know?

• McNair was a wide receiver on Princeton's football team, not an NBA player.
• He earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Princeton University.
• He was named NBA Executive of the Year in 2023 after the Kings made the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
• He hired Mike Brown, who became the first unanimous NBA Coach of the Year in 2022–23.