# 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.
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

| 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
### Roster Notes

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

## Regular season
### Standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | 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 Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | 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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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
### 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 |