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Reggie Theus has been fired as coach of the Sacramento Kings, according to NBA coaching sources.
Assistant coach Kenny Natt will be elevated to interim coach, sources said.
Theus is the sixth NBA coach to be fired before Christmas this season, joining Philadelphia's Maurice Cheeks, Minnesota's Randy Wittman, Toronto's Sam Mitchell, Washington's Eddie Jordan and Oklahoma City's P.J. Carlesimo.
Sources said that one of Theus' assistants, Chuck Person, was also dismissed with the Kings mired at 6-18, although star guard Kevin Martin has been limited to nine games because of injuries.
The Kings exceeded most external expectations in 2007-08 with a 39-43 record in Theus' first season as an NBA head coach following a successful stint coaching New Mexico State.
But Theus' relationship with management has been strained for months. An upset of the Los Angeles Lakers last Tuesday night without Martin appeared to ease the pressure on Theus, but the calm didn't last when the Kings were never competitive in a 24-point home loss to the Knicks.
The Kings are the second team to make a coaching change immediately after losing to New York. Washington dismissed Jordan on Nov. 24 after a loss at Madison Square Garden.
Assistant coach Kenny Natt will be elevated to interim coach, sources said.
Theus is the sixth NBA coach to be fired before Christmas this season, joining Philadelphia's Maurice Cheeks, Minnesota's Randy Wittman, Toronto's Sam Mitchell, Washington's Eddie Jordan and Oklahoma City's P.J. Carlesimo.
Sources said that one of Theus' assistants, Chuck Person, was also dismissed with the Kings mired at 6-18, although star guard Kevin Martin has been limited to nine games because of injuries.
The Kings exceeded most external expectations in 2007-08 with a 39-43 record in Theus' first season as an NBA head coach following a successful stint coaching New Mexico State.
But Theus' relationship with management has been strained for months. An upset of the Los Angeles Lakers last Tuesday night without Martin appeared to ease the pressure on Theus, but the calm didn't last when the Kings were never competitive in a 24-point home loss to the Knicks.
The Kings are the second team to make a coaching change immediately after losing to New York. Washington dismissed Jordan on Nov. 24 after a loss at Madison Square Garden.
