Tristan Thompson: 'I Don't Need No F--king Coach to Inspire Me' after Kings Loss

Sacramento Kings big man Tristan Thompson is apparently a self-motivator.

"I don't need no f--king coach to inspire me," he told reporters after Wednesday's 107-97 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. "Never that, never have, never will. The day I need a coach to inspire me is the day I'm f--king retiring."

The quote was not a criticism of Kings head coach Luke Walton but more of a suggestion that NBA players should be able to motivate themselves rather than relying on someone else.

Thompson came off the bench in Wednesday's loss and finished with eight points and nine rebounds on 2-of-6 shooting from the field. 

The former Cleveland Cavalier and Boston Celtic was a double-double force when he was in his prime, but he is averaging just 4.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game this season. Both numbers would be career-worst marks for Thompson if they last the rest of the season, although he is part of a crowded frontcourt rotation with Richaun Holmes, Chimezie Metu and Marvin Bagley III.

It appeared as if Sacramento was going to win its second straight when it took a four-point lead into the halftime locker room thanks to a strong second quarter, but Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns directed a comeback as Minnesota seized the lead in the third quarter and never trailed in the fourth.

The Kings are now 6-9 overall and trending in the wrong direction after a solid 5-4 start.

Notably, Sam Amick and Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Walton's job could be "in peril." What's more, the coach "won't be given the same leeway to turn things around as he was last season."

Sacramento went 31-41 last season and missed the playoffs for the 15th consecutive year.

While Walton's job status may be hanging in the balance as the Kings struggle in the early portion of the season, Thompson apparently won't have trouble motivating himself even without the coach on the sidelines.