The Kings fired coach Reggie Theus on Monday, but it may not have been solely because of their poor start.

There were often complaints from the front office and players that Theus was constantly late to team buses or slow to arrive to games. Players were also reportedly irked by his candid nature with the media, and there were stories of him answering his personal cell phone during practice.

"If they've got to reach that far, if that really has any credence to it, that's ridiculous," Theus said. "I answered my cell phone one time last year. I don't know if it was the beginning of practice or what, but I was expecting a very important phone call. ... I haven't even worn my cell phone this year. So even to bring it up is such a reach.

"I've not been late to a bus, not one time. ... I told Geoff when it was brought up that I never (wanted) to be there before the bus was ready to go because if one of the guys were late, I didn't want to have to fine them or leave them. It's the way I did it in college because you don't want to have to sweat the little things like that.

"Don't judge me by one or two mistakes that I made last year as a first-year coach. The second year going in, that's when they would've been mistakes on my part because now I know."