The Kings see the headlines, too.

They saw how Toronto head coach Sam Mitchell was fired Wednesday, and how Oklahoma City's P.J. Carlesimo and Washington's Eddie Jordan were shown the door just weeks ago. And they are well aware their own coach, Reggie Theus, is under increasing scrutiny as his hot seat grows hotter every day.

But with a seven-game losing streak to worry about and the prospect of being fully healthy for the first time just days away, most of the team's veterans came out in support of Theus after Thursday's practice. Shooting guard Kevin Martin was chief among them, calling it "unfair" that this team and this coach have been judged so harshly by fans and the media in light of the numerous injuries suffered this season.

"It's not (the coaching staff) losing games," said Martin, whose left ankle injury kept him out 12 games before his return Tuesday. "They're putting their hard hours in, giving us their scouting report night in and night out and they're not playing the games. It's on us.

"This talk about (Theus) being gone whenever just needs to go out the window, because we're all excited about playing for him. I want him here, Brad (Miller), the vets, they want him here. He's our coach."

Miller, whose five-game suspension to start the season was among the many challenges Martin repeatedly referenced, concurred.

"I told Reggie I'll stick with him; I'll ride or die with him with the relationship I have with him," said Miller, who added he's planning a hunting trip with his coach in the near future. "I love Reggie, and he's a friend and everything."

Asked if most of his teammates were supportive of Theus, Miller said: "It's hard telling. I hope so. I mean, it's too early in the season (for a change). Obviously they made a change in Toronto, (but) I think their expectations are a little bit different."

Point guard Beno Udrih, whose relationship has been at times testy with Theus in his two seasons in Sacramento, praised his coach for the way he has handled his situation.

"He knows where he's at right now," Udrih said by phone. "It's a lot of pressure on him. He's dealing with the pressure, and I think he's handling it pretty well. He's here. If they're going to make any move, it's on them, on the Maloofs and (Kings basketball president) Geoff (Petrie).

"He's trying to do his job, and we're trying to do our job. I think he's focusing on that. He knows that he has a difficult situation, but if somebody else doesn't see that, then that isn't his fault."

The players' support adds a new element to the state of affairs, as Theus' popularity among fans already was being heavily considered by the front office and ownership in regards to his future. With attendance on a steep decline and the organization having suffered through numerous public relations gaffes in recent years, there is significant concern over the impact of making an unpopular move in these lean economic times.

And while management's motivation to fire Theus stems from issues on and off the floor, it appears there is no designated interim coach in place who would have a certain long-term hold on the position. Numerous sources close to the team said some team officials simply desire smoother times, with a combination of competitive play and consistent development of the young talent, so a coaching change won't be necessary during the season. The injuries and absences – which add up to a combined 39 games missed between Miller, Martin, Mikki Moore, Francisco García and John Salmons – have been taken into account as well.

Veteran guard Bobby Jackson has been the most outspoken in regards to Theus' ways, taking exception to the coach questioning the team's leadership last week and questioning the late-game use of Quincy Douby after Tuesday's loss to Utah. He repeatedly has said he has grown tired of the injury excuses, that the Kings' problems go beyond the medical charts. But even Jackson said the onus of the recent slide falls as much on the players as it does the coach.

"When you're not winning, it's unfortunate that somebody has to be to blame," Jackson said. "Coaches can't go out there and play for us. It's bad that coaches get that stigma, but somebody has to take the pressure. At the end of the day, decision making, substitutions, that all comes into play so they're just as much to blame as we are. Everybody is to blame when you're in a situation like this."

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