After Atlanta didn't re-sign him to a new contract following the 2009-10 season, Woodson joined the New York Knicks coaching staff as an assistant for two years before taking over as head coach in 2012 following Mike D'Antoni's resignation. He led the Knicks to two playoff appearances before being fired in 2014.

After the Sacramento Kings decided to fire Mike Brown back in December, they elevated Doug Christie as interim head coach. With the Kings now in offseason mode having not made the playoffs, their first order of business was to remove the interim tag from Doug Christie and make him full-time head coach.