December 15, 2008
Reggie Theus fired
BLOG UPDATE (10:40 a.m.): The news has been confirmed by the Kings media relations staff.
(10:10 a.m.)
A Kings head coaching position that has been a musical chairs post in recent years changed once again around 10 a.m. on Monday morning, when - according to two sources close to the team - Reggie Theus was fired along with assistant Chuck Person and assistant Kenny Natt was given the role of interim head coach.
While Theus entered the season with a hot-seat status because the option for his third season (2009-10) had not been picked up by the team, the seat had grown hotter by the day during the Kings' atrocious start. They have lost 14 of the last 16 games, yet quite clearly Sunday's blowout to the Knicks was one defeat too many for Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof and team basketball president Geoff Petrie. The Kings fell behind 43-21 after the first quarter and did it much the same way that had incensed ownership early this season, giving up a barrage of three-pointers (13 of 27) and allowing 100-plus points for the ninth time in the last 11 games.
While Natt will have 58 games to prove himself and perhaps earn a chance of retaining the job beyond this season, the Kings are expected to begin a coaching search for the third time in the last four summers. Unemployed coaches Flip Saunders and Eddie Jordan, should they still be available, will likely be pursued. Theus did not immediately return a phone call for comment. Stay tuned for more... - Sam Amick
Reggie Theus fired
BLOG UPDATE (10:40 a.m.): The news has been confirmed by the Kings media relations staff.
(10:10 a.m.)
A Kings head coaching position that has been a musical chairs post in recent years changed once again around 10 a.m. on Monday morning, when - according to two sources close to the team - Reggie Theus was fired along with assistant Chuck Person and assistant Kenny Natt was given the role of interim head coach.
While Theus entered the season with a hot-seat status because the option for his third season (2009-10) had not been picked up by the team, the seat had grown hotter by the day during the Kings' atrocious start. They have lost 14 of the last 16 games, yet quite clearly Sunday's blowout to the Knicks was one defeat too many for Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof and team basketball president Geoff Petrie. The Kings fell behind 43-21 after the first quarter and did it much the same way that had incensed ownership early this season, giving up a barrage of three-pointers (13 of 27) and allowing 100-plus points for the ninth time in the last 11 games.
While Natt will have 58 games to prove himself and perhaps earn a chance of retaining the job beyond this season, the Kings are expected to begin a coaching search for the third time in the last four summers. Unemployed coaches Flip Saunders and Eddie Jordan, should they still be available, will likely be pursued. Theus did not immediately return a phone call for comment. Stay tuned for more... - Sam Amick
