NBA GM Scott Perry Reveals the Truth About Building the Sacramento Kings
NBA GM Scott Perry joins the Hoop Genius podcast for a rare, unfiltered deep dive into what it actually takes to build a winning NBA franchise – and why fans consistently underestimate how hard the job really is.
Perry takes listeners inside the Sacramento Kings organisation, breaking down the realities of modern roster construction under the new CBA, the impact of the first and second apron, and why team-building today is fundamentally different from even a decade ago. He explains why patience, internal development, and alignment between ownership, front office, and coaching staff matter more than splashy moves or unrealistic timelines.
The conversation covers Perry’s transition from media back into the GM chair, how stepping away gave him a league-wide perspective, and what that taught him about trends shaping the NBA’s future – from the return of size and two-big lineups to the growing importance of multiple ball-handlers and half-court execution in clutch moments.
Perry also gives candid insight into:
Building culture versus chasing optics
Why the draft remains the most sustainable competitive advantage
Developing young players in a results-obsessed league
The real value of veterans like Russell Westbrook in establishing standards
How front offices actually think about timelines, expectations, and pressure from fans
This episode strips away fan myths, social-media narratives, and NBA 2K logic — replacing them with the grounded reality of how winning franchises are built, maintained, and protected over time.
If you want to understand the NBA beyond box scores and trade machines, this is a masterclass straight from an active NBA general manager.
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0:00 Intro
2:02 The fanbase in Sacramento
3:55 How NBA GMs manage manpower today
6:57 Transitioning from media to running an NBA team
9:31 Scott’s competitive advantage is…
11:59 “Winning is life support for coaching”
14:12 Scott Perry on the rebuild
17:42 Scott on roster construction
23:00 Maxime Raynaud has been great
25:45 Scott on Keegan Murray’s development
29:15 Working with Vivek
31:12 Scott on organizational culture
34:24 Russell Westbrook is an amazing addition!
37:11 Trends for the future
