2008–09 Sacramento Kings season

The 2008–09 Sacramento Kings season is the 64th season of the franchise, 60th in the National Basketball Association (NBA), 24th in Sacramento. After they traded away Ron Artest to the Houston Rockets in exchange for former Kings guard Bobby Jackson, and recently drafted Donte Greene, a 2009 first–round draft pick and cash considerations during the offseason, the Kings have struggled all season and they finished with a franchise–worst 17–65 record surpassed their franchise record mark set in the 1989–90 season of 23–59 record and also team suffered their first 60–loss season in Kings' franchise history.

2008–09 Sacramento Kings season
Head coach	Reggie Theus (games 1–24, fired) Kenny Natt (interim, games 25–82)
General manager	Geoff Petrie
Owners	Maloof family
Arena	ARCO Arena
Results
Record	17–65 (.207)
Place	Division: 5th (Pacific) Conference: 15th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	CSN California, KXTV
Radio	KHTK

After a slow start into the season, on December 15, 2008, just ten days before Christmas, the Kings fired their head coach Reggie Theus and their assistant head coach Chuck Person after an 6–18 start to the season and replaced by assistant coach Kenny Natt on the interim basis for the rest of the season.

At the trade deadline in midseason after the All-Star break they traded away former two–time All-Star Brad Miller and John Salmons to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Andrés Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Michael Ruffin, and Cedric Simmons and future draft picks. Kings' guard Kevin Martin played only 51 games due to ankle injuries and this will be his final full season with the team before being traded to the Houston Rockets, in the trade deadline following the season.

Also, following the season, interim head coach Natt and their four assistant coaches Rex Kalamian, former Kings' player Randy Brown, Bubba Burrage, and Jason Hamm were all fired on April 24, 2009, just nine days after the regular season was concluded with an franchise–low 17–win single season Kings' record and he was replaced by former Phoenix Suns and Seattle SuperSonics (now, Oklahoma City Thunder) head coach Paul Westphal on June 9, 2009.

The team notably set a dubious interconference record, going 1–29 against the Eastern Conference. That lone victory against an Eastern Conference opponent were the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Key dates

• June 26: The 2008 NBA draft took place in New York City, New York.
• July 1: The free agency period started.

Draft picks

Main article: 2008 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	12	Jason Thompson	Power forward	United States	Rider
2	42	Sean Singletary	Point guard	United States	Virginia
2	43	Patrick Ewing Jr.	Power forward	United States	Georgetown

Roster

Sacramento Kings roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 52 Booth, Calvin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Penn State F 3 Diogu, Ike 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Arizona State G/F 32 García, Francisco 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Louisville G/F 20 Greene, Donté 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 226 lb (103 kg) Syracuse C 31 Hawes, Spencer 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Washington G 24 Jackson, Bobby 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Minnesota G 23 Martin, Kevin  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 199 lb (90 kg) Western Carolina G 7 McCants, Rashad 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 207 lb (94 kg) North Carolina F 5 Nocioni, Andrés 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Argentina F 15 Simmons, Cedric 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) NC State F 9 Thomas, Kenny 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 261 lb (118 kg) New Mexico F/C 34 Thompson, Jason 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Rider G 19 Udrih, Beno 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Slovenia

Head coach Kenny Natt (interim) (Northeast Louisiana) Assistant coach(es) Shareef Abdur-Rahim (California) Randy Brown (New Mexico State) Bubba Burrage (Cal Poly) Jason Hamm (South Alabama) Rex Kalamian (Cal Poly) Chuck Person (Auburn) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Roster Notes

• Ike Diogu holds American citizenship, but he represents Nigeria in international play.

Regular season

Standings

Pacific Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div	GP
c-Los Angeles Lakers	65	17	.793	—	36–5	29–12	14–2	82
Phoenix Suns	46	36	.561	19	28–13	18–23	11–5	82
Golden State Warriors	29	53	.354	36	21–20	8–33	6–10	82
Los Angeles Clippers	19	63	.232	46	11–30	8–33	2–14	82
Sacramento Kings	17	65	.207	48	11–30	6–39	7–9	82

#	Western Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Los Angeles Lakers	65	17	.793	—
2	y-Denver Nuggets	54	28	.659	11
3	y-San Antonio Spurs	54	28	.659	11
4	x-Portland Trail Blazers	54	28	.659	11
5	x-Houston Rockets	53	29	.646	12
6	x-Dallas Mavericks	50	32	.610	15
7	x-New Orleans Hornets	49	33	.598	16
8	x-Utah Jazz	48	34	.585	17
9	Phoenix Suns	46	36	.561	19
10	Golden State Warriors	29	53	.354	36
11	Minnesota Timberwolves	24	58	.293	41
12	Memphis Grizzlies	24	58	.293	41
13	Oklahoma City Thunder	23	59	.280	42
14	Los Angeles Clippers	19	63	.232	46
15	Sacramento Kings	17	65	.207	48

Game log

2008–09 game log
October: 0–2 (home: 0–0; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 29 @ Minnesota L 96–98 John Salmons (24) Spencer Hawes (14) John Salmons (8) Target Center 17,820 0–1 2 October 31 @ Miami L 77–103 Quincy Douby, John Salmons (14) Spencer Hawes (11) John Salmons (3) American Airlines Arena 19,600 0–2
November: 5–12 (home: 3–6; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 3 November 1 @ Orlando L 103–121 Kevin Martin (31) Jason Thompson (5) Beno Udrih (5) Amway Arena 16,704 0–3 4 November 3 @ Philadelphia L 91–125 Jason Thompson (17) Spencer Hawes (8) Jason Thompson (5) Wachovia Center 10,100 0–4 5 November 5 Memphis W 100–95 Kevin Martin (33) Mikki Moore (11) Beno Udrih (6) ARCO Arena 13,685 1–4 6 November 7 Minnesota W 121–109 Kevin Martin (26) Brad Miller (10) Kevin Martin (6) ARCO Arena 10,592 2–4 7 November 9 Golden State W 115–98 Kevin Martin (27) Spencer Hawes (11) Brad Miller (6) ARCO Arena 12,090 3–4 8 November 11 Detroit L 92–100 Spencer Hawes (19) Jason Thompson (9) John Salmons (7) ARCO Arena 11,423 3–5 9 November 12 @ L.A. Clippers W 103–98 Beno Udrih (30) Brad Miller, Jason Thompson (11) Brad Miller (8) Staples Center 13,266 4–5 10 November 14 Phoenix L 95–97 (OT) John Salmons (21) Brad Miller (11) Brad Miller (7) ARCO Arena 12,810 4–6 11 November 16 San Antonio L 88–90 John Salmons (31) Brad Miller, Mikki Moore (8) Beno Udrih, Brad Miller (4) ARCO Arena 11,699 4–7 12 November 18 @ Memphis L 94–109 John Salmons (18) Jason Thompson (9) Beno Udrih, Brad Miller (5) FedExForum 10,834 4–8 13 November 19 @ New Orleans W 105–96 John Salmons (29) Brad Miller (8) Beno Udrih (7) New Orleans Arena 15,533 5–8 14 November 21 Portland L 96–117 Jason Thompson (19) Jason Thompson (12) Bobby Brown (7) ARCO Arena 12,056 5–9 15 November 23 @ L.A. Lakers L 108–118 John Salmons (24) Spencer Hawes (8) Bobby Brown, Beno Udrih (7) Staples Center 18,997 5–10 16 November 24 @ Portland L 90–91 John Salmons (20) Brad Miller, Jason Thompson (6) Beno Udrih (8) Rose Garden 20,467 5–11 17 November 26 New Jersey L 114–116 (OT) John Salmons (38) Brad Miller (13) Beno Udrih (10) ARCO Arena 11,650 5–12 18 November 28 @ Utah L 94–120 John Salmons (20) Donté Greene, Spencer Hawes (6) Beno Udrih, Brad Miller (6) EnergySolutions Arena 19,911 5–13 19 November 29 Dallas L 78–101 Beno Udrih (13) Beno Udrih (9) Beno Udrih (7) ARCO Arena 12,650 5–14
December: 3–10 (home: 3–5; road: 0–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 20 December 2 Utah L 94–99 Kevin Martin (22) Brad Miller (9) Spencer Hawes (6) ARCO Arena 10,798 5–15 21 December 6 Denver L 85–118 John Salmons (22) Jason Thompson (15) Beno Udrih (4) ARCO Arena 12,322 5–16 22 December 9 L.A. Lakers W 113–101 John Salmons, Francisco García (21) Spencer Hawes (9) Brad Miller, Beno Udrih (5) ARCO Arena 16,068 6–16 23 December 12 @ L.A. Lakers L 103–112 John Salmons (26) Jason Thompson (8) Beno Udrih (7) Staples Center 18,997 6–17 24 December 13 New York L 90–114 John Salmons (14) Jason Thompson (11) Beno Udrih (6) ARCO Arena 12,155 6–18 25 December 15 Minnesota W 118–103 Francisco García (21) Spencer Hawes, Brad Miller (10) Bobby Brown (6) ARCO Arena 10,593 7–18 26 December 16 @ Portland L 77–109 John Salmons (21) Mikki Moore (6) Beno Udrih (4) Rose Garden 20,005 7–19 27 December 19 @ Houston L 96–107 John Salmons (26) Brad Miller (11) John Salmons, Brad Miller, Beno Udrih (3) Toyota Center 18,271 7–20 28 December 20 @ New Orleans L 90–99 John Salmons (26) Jason Thompson (10) John Salmons (7) New Orleans Arena 16,869 7–21 29 December 22 @ San Antonio L 85–101 John Salmons (22) Jason Thompson, Francisco García, Spencer Hawes, Brad Miller (6) Beno Udrih (4) AT&T Center 18,372 7–22 30 December 26 Toronto L 101–107 John Salmons, Brad Miller (20) Spencer Hawes, Brad Miller (8) John Salmons, Beno Udrih, Bobby Brown (4) ARCO Arena 12,059 7–23 31 December 28 Boston L 63–108 John Salmons (11) Mikki Moore (8) Beno Udrih (3) ARCO Arena 16,029 7–24 32 December 30 L.A. Clippers W 92–90 Kevin Martin (20) Brad Miller (13) John Salmons (6) ARCO Arena 11,420 8–24
January: 2–14 (home: 1–5; road: 1–9) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 33 January 2 @ Detroit L 92–98 Brad Miller (25) Brad Miller (16) John Salmons (4) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 8–25 34 January 3 @ Indiana L 117–122 Kevin Martin (45) Bobby Jackson (10) Kevin Martin, Brad Miller (6) Conseco Fieldhouse 12,765 8–26 35 January 5 @ New Jersey L 90–98 Kevin Martin (36) Kenny Thomas (8) Brad Miller (8) Izod Center 12,314 8–27 36 January 6 @ Chicago L 94–99 Kevin Martin (29) Brad Miller (12) Beno Udrih (5) United Center 18,060 8–28 37 January 9 Miami L 115–119 (OT) John Salmons (29) Brad Miller (16) John Salmons, Brad Miller, Bobby Jackson (4) ARCO Arena 12,587 8–29 38 January 11 Dallas W 102–95 Kevin Martin (21) Spencer Hawes (8) Beno Udrih (6) ARCO Arena 12,294 9–29 39 January 13 Orlando L 107–139 Kevin Martin (30) Francisco García (5) Francisco García (5) ARCO Arena 11,168 9–30 40 January 14 @ Golden State W 135–133 (3OT) Brad Miller (30) Brad Miller (22) John Salmons, Beno Udrih (7) Oracle Arena 19,122 10–30 41 January 16 Milwaukee L 122–129 John Salmons, Kevin Martin (24) Jason Thompson (11) John Salmons (6) ARCO Arena 11,663 10–31 42 January 20 @ Denver L 99–118 Kevin Martin (25) Jason Thompson (11) John Salmons, Beno Udrih (5) Pepsi Center 15,164 10–32 43 January 21 Washington L 107–110 John Salmons, Beno Udrih (24) John Salmons, Shelden Williams, Jason Thompson (5) John Salmons (5) ARCO Arena 10,821 10–33 44 January 24 @ Milwaukee L 104–106 Kevin Martin (20) Brad Miller (13) Brad Miller (9) Bradley Center 15,379 10–34 45 January 25 @ Toronto L 97–113 John Salmons (21) John Salmons (7) Beno Udrih (5) Air Canada Centre 18,127 10–35 46 January 27 @ Cleveland L 110–117 Kevin Martin (35) Kevin Martin (7) Kevin Martin (7) Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 10–36 47 January 28 @ Boston L 100–119 John Salmons (22) Jason Thompson (11) John Salmons (5) TD Banknorth Garden 18,624 10–37 48 January 30 Chicago L 88–109 Kevin Martin (27) Jason Thompson (12) Spencer Hawes, Kevin Martin (3) ARCO Arena 13,356 10–38
February: 3–10 (home: 2–4; road: 1–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 49 February 1 Oklahoma City W 122–118 (OT) Kevin Martin (37) John Salmons (10) John Salmons (8) ARCO Arena 10,817 11–38 50 February 2 @ Phoenix L 81–129 John Salmons (19) Spencer Hawes (9) Spencer Hawes, Donté Greene, John Salmons, Jason Thompson (2) US Airways Center 18,422 11–39 51 February 6 Utah L 107–111 Kevin Martin (37) Spencer Hawes (8) John Salmons (7) ARCO Arena 17,317 11–40 52 February 8 @ Oklahoma City L 113–116 Beno Udrih (29) Beno Udrih, Kevin Martin, Spencer Hawes, Jason Thompson (6) John Salmons (11) Ford Center 18,271 11–41 53 February 10 @ Dallas L 100–118 Kevin Martin (18) Bobby Jackson (6) John Salmons, Beno Udrih (5) American Airlines Center 19,667 11–42 54 February 11 @ Houston L 82–94 Kevin Martin (18) Spencer Hawes (7) Spencer Hawes (6) Toyota Center 15,626 11–43 55 February 18 Atlanta L 100–105 Kevin Martin (32) Spencer Hawes (14) Kevin Martin, Beno Udrih, Bobby Jackson (4) ARCO Arena 11,213 11–44 56 February 20 @ Memphis W 115–106 Kevin Martin (33) Jason Thompson (9) Beno Udrih (6) FedExForum 15,036 12–44 57 February 21 @ Dallas L 95–116 Beno Udrih (18) Spencer Hawes (9) Beno Udrih (7) American Airlines Center 20,223 12–45 58 February 23 New Orleans L 105–112 Kevin Martin (32) Spencer Hawes (14) Francisco García (6) ARCO Arena 11,633 12–46 59 February 25 Charlotte L 91–98 Kevin Martin (27) Drew Gooden (13) Francisco García, Bobby Jackson (4) ARCO Arena 10,439 12–47 60 February 27 L.A. Clippers W 98–86 Kevin Martin (20) Spencer Hawes (15) Francisco García (6) ARCO Arena 12,846 13–47 61 February 28 @ Utah L 89–102 Kevin Martin (19) Jason Thompson (12) Andrés Nocioni, Francisco García, Jason Thompson, Spencer Hawes (3) EnergySolutions Arena 19,911 13–48
March: 3–9 (home: 2–6; road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 62 March 3 Indiana L 109–117 Kevin Martin (21) Spencer Hawes, Jason Thompson, Andrés Nocioni (7) Bobby Jackson (5) ARCO Arena 10,748 13–49 63 March 8 Denver W 114–106 Kevin Martin (26) Spencer Hawes, Bobby Jackson (8) Kevin Martin (8) ARCO Arena 12,678 14–49 64 March 10 Oklahoma City L 98–99 Spencer Hawes (20) Spencer Hawes (10) Bobby Jackson (6) ARCO Arena 10,784 14–50 65 March 13 Cleveland L 123–126 (OT) Kevin Martin (34) Andrés Nocioni (9) Spencer Hawes (4) ARCO Arena 16,317 14–51 66 March 15 @ Washington L 104–106 Kevin Martin (24) Jason Thompson (14) Beno Udrih (7) Verizon Center 15,108 14–52 67 March 17 @ Atlanta L 97–119 Kevin Martin (31) Jason Thompson (8) Beno Udrih (6) Philips Arena 14,226 14–53 68 March 18 @ Charlotte L 88–104 Rashad McCants (30) Jason Thompson (11) Beno Udrih (6) Time Warner Cable Arena 13,594 14–54 69 March 20 @ New York W 121–94 Kevin Martin (30) Spencer Hawes (13) Beno Udrih (7) Madison Square Garden 19,763 15–54 70 March 22 Philadelphia L 100–112 Francisco García (24) Jason Thompson (13) Spencer Hawes (9) ARCO Arena 12,943 15–55 71 March 27 Memphis L 95–113 Kevin Martin (31) Jason Thompson (8) Beno Udrih (5) ARCO Arena 12,987 15–56 72 March 29 Phoenix W 126–118 Jason Thompson (21) Spencer Hawes (10) Beno Udrih (7) ARCO Arena 13,623 16–56 73 March 31 New Orleans L 110–111 Andrés Nocioni (23) Beno Udrih (7) Beno Udrih (6) ARCO Arena 17,317 16–57
April: 1–8 (home: 0–4; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 74 April 1 @ Golden State L 141–143 (OT) Kevin Martin (50) Jason Thompson (19) Beno Udrih (9) Oracle Arena 18,743 16–58 75 April 3 @ Phoenix L 111–139 Francisco García (29) Spencer Hawes (10) Beno Udrih (8) US Airways Center 18,422 16–59 76 April 5 Golden State L 100–105 Bobby Jackson (17) Andrés Nocioni (15) Beno Udrih (6) ARCO Arena 12,975 16–60 77 April 7 L.A. Lakers L 104–122 Spencer Hawes (21) Spencer Hawes (15) Beno Udrih (6) ARCO Arena 17,317 16–61 78 April 9 Houston L 98–115 Spencer Hawes (22) Spencer Hawes (11) Beno Udrih (5) ARCO Arena 12,897 16–62 79 April 10 @ L.A. Clippers L 78–109 Beno Udrih (18) Spencer Hawes (13) Beno Udrih, Spencer Hawes (4) Staples Center 18,232 16–63 80 April 12 San Antonio L 92–95 Spencer Hawes (24) Jason Thompson (11) Beno Udrih (6) ARCO Arena 13,330 16–64 81 April 13 @ Denver L 98–118 Ike Diogu (32) Ike Diogu (11) Bobby Jackson (12) Pepsi Center 15,823 16–65 82 April 15 @ Minnesota W 97–90 Ike Diogu (28) Ike Diogu (13) García, Udrih (5) Target Center 17,333 17–65
2008–09 season schedule

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Calvin Booth	7	0	7.9	.500	.	.750	1.4	.0	.1	.3	2.3
Bobby Brown	47	1	14.4	.381	.330	.765	.8	1.9	.3	.0	5.2
Ike Diogu	10	1	14.2	.600	.500	.758	3.9	.3	.2	.1	9.2
Quincy Douby	20	0	11.4	.341	.270	.933	1.3	.7	.1	.3	4.2
Francisco García	65	36	30.4	.444	.398	.820	3.4	2.3	1.2	1.0	12.7
Drew Gooden	1	0	26.0	.556	.	1.000	13.0	2.0	.0	.0	12.0
Donte Greene	55	4	13.2	.326	.260	.853	1.6	.5	.3	.3	3.8
Spencer Hawes	77	51	29.3	.466	.348	.662	7.1	1.9	.6	1.2	11.4
Bobby Jackson	71	10	20.9	.398	.305	.851	2.8	2.0	.9	.1	7.5
Kevin Martin	51	46	38.2	.420	.415	.867	3.6	2.7	1.2	.2	24.6
Rashad McCants	24	1	19.4	.444	.357	.783	2.0	1.5	.8	.3	10.3
Brad Miller	43	43	31.5	.474	.465	.801	8.0	3.4	.7	.6	11.9
Mikki Moore	46	20	16.2	.521	.	.810	3.3	.6	.3	.3	3.5
Andres Nocioni	23	16	31.0	.448	.441	.763	6.0	1.8	.6	.7	13.7
John Salmons	53	53	37.4	.472	.418	.823	4.2	3.7	1.1	.2	18.3
Cedric Simmons	7	0	3.3	.000	.	.500	.6	.0	.0	.0	.1
Will Solomon	14	0	12.0	.406	.448	.500	1.5	.7	.5	.0	5.0
Kenny Thomas	8	0	7.8	.375	.	.	1.9	.1	.8	.1	.8
Jason Thompson	82	56	28.1	.497	.000	.692	7.4	1.1	.6	.7	11.1
Beno Udrih	73	72	31.1	.461	.310	.820	3.0	4.7	1.1	.2	11.0
Shelden Williams	30	0	10.2	.449	.000	.762	2.6	.3	.4	.3	3.7

Transactions

Free agents

Additions

Player	Signed	Former team
Bobby Brown	July 23	Alba Berlin

Subtractions

Player	Left	New team
Anthony Johnson	July 15	Orlando Magic