The Sacramento Kings have fired coach Reggie Theus, the National Basketball Association website nba.com reported on Monday.

Sacramento, in last place in the Pacific Division with a 6-18 record, said that assistant coach Kenny Natt would take over as interim head coach.

Along with Theus, who steered the club to a 38-44 record last season after being named coach in June 2007, the Kings also fired assistant coach Chuck Person.

Theus became the sixth coach fired during the early portion of the season following the dismissals in Washington (Eddie Jordan), Philadelphia (Maurice Cheeks), Toronto (Sam Mitchell), Oklahoma City (P.J. Carlesimo) and Minnesota (Randy Wittman).

(Agencies via China Daily December 17, 2008)