Dec 13, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) reacts to a foul during the third quarter of the game against the Detroit Pistons at Sleep Train Arena. The Detroit Pistons defeated the Sacramento Kings 95-90.
Dec 13, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) reacts to a foul during the third quarter of the game against the Detroit Pistons at Sleep Train Arena. The Detroit Pistons defeated the Sacramento Kings 95-90. REUTERS

The Sacramento Kings have surprisingly fired their head coach Mike Malone despite the positive start to the season. The Kings have an 11-13 record despite losing centre DeMarcus Cousins to viral meningitis that has sidelined the big man for almost 10 games now. They have lost 8 of the last 10 games and General Manager Pete D'Alessandro has appointed assistant coach Tyrone Corbin on the interim.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports was the first to report the firing, which comes as an unexpected development in NBA circles given that the Kings have surprisingly fared well in the second toughest schedule to start the season. While they have lost to some lacklustre teams as of late, the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Lakers, to name a few, they have done so without their best player and most of the games were competitive.

This is the second time that Corbin has sort of lucked into a head-coaching gig given that he was handed the mentoring job at Utah when Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan resigned amidst a tumultuous season. Now, he is again given the reigns to a Kings squad that is pressed by the ownership to push the pace and produce baskets. Owner Vivek Ranadive wants a run-and-gun style and even is suggesting employing cherry-picking defence by leaving out a 4-on-5 stance with a guy behind always looking to steal a basket.

This is not the first time that reports of management and coaching styles have been prominent as the team was looking into adding mercurial power forward Josh Smith from the Pistons in the summer. Malone clashed with the said direction and it is only coincidental that Kings management relented when the Pistons asked for picks instead of the smorgasbord of contracts to match the massive pay of the former Atlanta Hawks player.

It is unclear if D'Alessandro will look into hiring a new coach or work with Corbin on the interim. There have been suggestions that the team will look into some names such as former Denver Nuggets coach George Karl, but to date, no confirmation has been made.