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. 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 Roster Roster Notes Ike Diogu holds American citizenship, but he represents Nigeria in international play. Regular season Standings Game log |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | October 29 | @ Minnesota | | John Salmons (24) | Spencer Hawes (14) | John Salmons (8) | Target Center17,820 | 0–1 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | October 31 | @ Miami | | Quincy Douby, John Salmons (14) | Spencer Hawes (11) | John Salmons (3) | American