Stockton Kings' Lindsey Harding makes history, named NBA G-League Coach of the Year
After less than a full season at the helm of the Stockton Kings, head coach Lindsey Harding was named the 2023-24 NBA G League Coach of the Year on April 2. Harding is the first woman and African American woman in G League history and the first Stockton Kings coach to win this award.
Harding took over the Sacramento Kings’ G League affiliate team in June 2023, replacing Bobby Jackson who took a job with the Philadelphia 76ers. She took the Kings and G League by storm, leading the team to a 24-10 overall record — the best in the league this year.
The Kings' successful season helped them lead the Western Conference and clinch the No. 1 overall seed in the program’s third playoff appearance in Stockton history. With Harding’s transparent and business-like approach mixed with the Kings' fast-paced, unselfish offense, she was selected for the honor by votes from NBA G League coaches and general managers.
The Stockton Kings are led by forward Kessler Edwards who is averaging 20.3 points per game while shooting close to 46% from the field. Nine other players are averaging double-digit scoring per game in Colby Jones, Deonte Burton, Jalen Slawson, Jaylen Nowell, Jeremy Lamb, Jordan Ford, Mason Jones, Skal Labissiere and Stanley Johnson.
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As a team, they led the NBA G League in three-point field goal percentage (38.3%) and ranked seventh in assists per game (26.9). The Kings have solidified themselves as one of the best offenses in the league this season thanks to standout leadership from Harding. They will look to carry this success over to the postseason as they kick off the 2024 NBA G League Playoffs on Thursday against Santa Cruz Warriors.
Harding will be presented with the Dennis Johnson Trophy during a pregame presentation at Adventist Health Arena by NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim before 7 p.m. Thursday.
Record reporter Shannon Belt covers sports. She can be reached at sbelt@recordnet.com or on Twitter @ShannonBelt3. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton Kings' Lindsey Harding named NBA G-League Coach of the Year
