John Salmons' locker room exit challenges Reggie Theus

When Reggie Theus was hired as the Kings' coach in June, he promised discipline.

He harkened back to his playing days under notorious tyrant Jerry Sloan in Utah, and discussed how San Antonio's Gregg Popovich only knows the blunt approach.

He wasted no time laying down the rules – the Reggie Rules, as they're known – in an attempt to change the culture with a method he knew might not be popular.

"Nobody has complained so far," he said in early October. "Of course, we won't be able to tell how sincere (the players') trust is until a couple of grenades are launched. We'll find out then."

Then is now.

The John Salmons incident after Wednesday night's loss at Minnesota merely reflected the growing frustration inside the Kings' locker room, in part because of the team's slow start but also because of Theus' style.

Salmons, who was replaced by Ron Artest in the starting lineup despite averaging 20.7 points and leading the team in assists (four per game) during Artest's seven-game absence, had enough after the Kings fell 108-103 to the Timberwolves.

According to numerous sources close to the team, Salmons took Theus' criticism of the team personally, and a personal challenge of sorts from Theus led to Salmons' early exit from the locker room before the coach was done addressing his team.

Salmons walked the Target Center hallways for about two minutes with Artest and the team's security staff trailing him, while – according to the sources – Theus said in the locker room that Salmons would be fined for his actions.

Theus wouldn't confirm the fine after Thursday's practice, saying it was "an internal thing."

"It's over," he said. "I told him how I felt this morning in my office, told him what I was going to do about it. It's over. That's it. It's just over."

Salmons said he was told Tuesday that he would not start, a decision that surprised some. Theus had considered starting Artest as the power forward, a move that would have left room for Salmons in the lineup.

The decision, Salmons admitted, wasn't pleasing to hear.

"As soon as I heard the news, I wasn't jumping for joy or was happy about it," Salmons said. "It took awhile for me to get my head clear. Maybe last game I wasn't all the way in it.

"I'm going to get over it, to continue to go out there and play basketball and help the team win."

Salmons still played significant minutes against Minnesota (27), but he took just four shots and scored four points. Theus said he has elected not to play Salmons and Artest side by side partially because they are both known to dominate the ball.

Meanwhile, an adjustment is needed for Salmons to produce coming off the bench.

"He's going to have to adjust to us not just throwing him the ball and saying, 'Hey, go score,' " Theus said. "It's not all up to me to get your shots. You've got to learn to run the floor and get layups, get offensive boards.

"This team didn't run plays for you before, either. ... But I will (run plays for him) because what he has to offer, I think, is a great thing – the ability to put it on the floor and get to the basket."

Salmons has struggled with the notion of a new coach since the offseason, when Theus' hiring made it official that he would play under the seventh coach in his six-year career. There is no other solution, Salmons said, than finding a way to make it work.

"I've been through it before, and I don't know how much easier that makes it," he said. "It probably makes it harder because you're going through the same thing again. But you've just got to.

"It's one of those things where you don't have any choice to get over it. There's nothing I can do."

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