http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14271469p-15082056c.html
Feeling like home for Kings staff
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Saturday, June 24, 2006
The workload is still heavy for new Kings coach Eric Musselman.
Now he can finally share it.
The Kings officially announced Musselman's coaching staff Friday. As The Bee reported Thursday, the staff consists of former Denver assistant Scott Brooks, former Kings aide T.R. Dunn, ex-New York Knicks assistant Brendan O'Connor, former San Diego State aide Mark Hughes and ex-Memphis video scout Jason Hamm. Clay Moser, a former Continental Basketball Association head coach who was an advance scout in Golden State for one season under Musselman, was hired as an advance scout.
The hiring is a homecoming of different sorts for two assistants. Dunn, of course, is the lone returning member of the staff that was dismissed with head coach Rick Adelman on May 9.
"The continuity is important," Musselman said of Dunn. "In Golden State, (assistant) Phil Hubbard had been there the year before, and I thought he did a great job of helping us get acclimated to the way things were, gave us insight into the players. And I know T.R. has already done that, just giving us his feel and input on players."
But for Brooks, whose luring away from Denver after three seasons stalled the hiring process, it is a return of a truer kind. Brooks, who will be Musselman's lead assistant, first made his name as a Northern California legend, a 5-foot-11 point guard for East Union High in Manteca who overachieved his way into a 10-year NBA career and a championship in 1994 with the Houston Rockets. He played at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton and UC Irvine.
"The guy is easily the most self-made player ever," said Brian Katz, Delta's coach for the past 13 years and a coach at Center High School during Brooks' senior season. "The stories down there in Manteca are unbelievable, about him staying until 2 or 3 in the morning in the gym, working on his game, shooting.
"If you saw this kid all the way up to his senior year, you'd think, He'd be a nice (community college) guy. You never looked at him and ever, ever saw (NBA potential). It was just an amazing thing to watch."
Brooks said his love for the game is something that resonates with players.
"I think players love (a coach) who cares about the game as much as they do," Brooks said. "Players love a guy that can compete, that is committed to their passion. All players are competitive, and they want the same as their coaches."
Musselman didn't watch Brooks until 1988, when Brooks' first professional season came under Eric's father, Bill, with the CBA's Albany Patroons. When Eric Musselman was an assistant for the Minnesota Timberwolves and his father was the head coach during the 1990-91 season, Brooks was a reserve.
"I talked to (Nuggets point guard) Earl Boykins … and Earl just raved about him," Musselman said.
Despite Brooks having one year left on his Nuggets contract, Musselman said the Kings did not have to give Denver any financial compensation.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Feeling like home for Kings staff
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Saturday, June 24, 2006
The workload is still heavy for new Kings coach Eric Musselman.
Now he can finally share it.
The Kings officially announced Musselman's coaching staff Friday. As The Bee reported Thursday, the staff consists of former Denver assistant Scott Brooks, former Kings aide T.R. Dunn, ex-New York Knicks assistant Brendan O'Connor, former San Diego State aide Mark Hughes and ex-Memphis video scout Jason Hamm. Clay Moser, a former Continental Basketball Association head coach who was an advance scout in Golden State for one season under Musselman, was hired as an advance scout.
The hiring is a homecoming of different sorts for two assistants. Dunn, of course, is the lone returning member of the staff that was dismissed with head coach Rick Adelman on May 9.
"The continuity is important," Musselman said of Dunn. "In Golden State, (assistant) Phil Hubbard had been there the year before, and I thought he did a great job of helping us get acclimated to the way things were, gave us insight into the players. And I know T.R. has already done that, just giving us his feel and input on players."
But for Brooks, whose luring away from Denver after three seasons stalled the hiring process, it is a return of a truer kind. Brooks, who will be Musselman's lead assistant, first made his name as a Northern California legend, a 5-foot-11 point guard for East Union High in Manteca who overachieved his way into a 10-year NBA career and a championship in 1994 with the Houston Rockets. He played at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton and UC Irvine.
"The guy is easily the most self-made player ever," said Brian Katz, Delta's coach for the past 13 years and a coach at Center High School during Brooks' senior season. "The stories down there in Manteca are unbelievable, about him staying until 2 or 3 in the morning in the gym, working on his game, shooting.
"If you saw this kid all the way up to his senior year, you'd think, He'd be a nice (community college) guy. You never looked at him and ever, ever saw (NBA potential). It was just an amazing thing to watch."
Brooks said his love for the game is something that resonates with players.
"I think players love (a coach) who cares about the game as much as they do," Brooks said. "Players love a guy that can compete, that is committed to their passion. All players are competitive, and they want the same as their coaches."
Musselman didn't watch Brooks until 1988, when Brooks' first professional season came under Eric's father, Bill, with the CBA's Albany Patroons. When Eric Musselman was an assistant for the Minnesota Timberwolves and his father was the head coach during the 1990-91 season, Brooks was a reserve.
"I talked to (Nuggets point guard) Earl Boykins … and Earl just raved about him," Musselman said.
Despite Brooks having one year left on his Nuggets contract, Musselman said the Kings did not have to give Denver any financial compensation.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
