Kings begin their interviews
They talk to Eric Musselman, and Mario Elie is expected to be seen today in Las Vegas.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14260098p-15074088c.html
The Kings began the interviewing process for a new coach Wednesday when Memphis assistant and former Golden State Warriors head coach Eric Musselman met with co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof and president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie, The Bee has learned.
Musselman, who was 75-89 with the Warriors from 2002 to 2004 before being fired, will be followed by Mario Elie, with both candidates staying at the Maloof family's Palms Casino Hotel in Las Vegas. Elie, a current Warriors assistant coach, is due in today to meet with the Maloofs and Petrie.
According to Gavin Maloof -- who did not disclose the names of the candidates -- these are the only scheduled interviews as yet.
The Maloof family is unfamiliar with Musselman and Elie, meaning the interviews were and will be as much a getting-to-know-you session as a chalk talk.
The Maloofs chose Las Vegas over Sacramento for the family's convenience. George Maloof, who is the Palms' president, will drop in to chat with the candidates, as will the youngest Maloof brother, Phil, and mother, Colleen. Petrie and Joe Maloof did not return calls for comment.
"I think we'll be talking coaching philosophy, how he sees our team moving forward, what his opinion is, and then maybe some X's and O's that I probably won't understand," Gavin Maloof said. "As owners or business people, we always pick the right people.
That's one thing we've done our entire lives. We have a background in picking the right people. So the person that we'll find will be the right person."
San Antonio assistant P.J. Carlesimo would be interviewed, according to a source close to team officials. But Carlesimo, whose Spurs season ended Monday, does not appear to be a leading candidate.
If that title belongs to anyone, it still appears to be Monarchs coach John Whisenant.
Gavin Maloof said he would have no reservations hiring a coach such as Whisenant, who won last season's WNBA title with the Monarchs but has no NBA experience.
"We don't care (about perceptions)," Gavin Maloof said. "We have to make our own decision. We can't be concerned with what other people around the league are thinking about.
"Remember one thing: we're on an island. They all want us to lose. They don't want us to win. And the media's the media. We can't listen to the media.
(Whisenant) wins. He knows how to win. I don't care if it's (coaching) boys, girls, men, ladies, it doesn't matter. He knows how to win."
The Maloofs' family ties with Whisenant go back more than 30 years, but Gavin Maloof said an interview with Whisenant, the Maloofs, and Petrie present would be necessary nonetheless.
Elie, who was a small forward for 11 seasons in the NBA, won three championships as a player -- two with Houston (1994 and 1995) and one with San Antonio (1999). He also served as an assistant coach with the Spurs during the 2003-04 season. Until Elie headed for Golden State in 2004 as part of head coach Mike Montgomery's staff, he had made the playoffs in all 12 seasons as a player and coach.
Musselman was an assistant in Atlanta from 1996 to 1998 and Orlando from 1998 to 2000. In seven seasons as head coach of the CBA's Florida Beach Dogs, Musselman was 270-122 (.688), marking the second-highest winning percentage in league history behind Denver head coach George Karl, who coached for five seasons in the CBA.
Gavin Maloof said Saturday the list of candidates was "less than 10," and numerous candidates have been eliminated publicly. Among them are Larry Brown, the New York Knicks coach who reportedly is on the verge of being fired; former Miami coach Stan Van Gundy, who reportedly has no interest in the Kings position; and former coach Don Nelson. Former Kings assistant Elston Turner, who lives with his family in Roseville, has not been contacted about the job.
They talk to Eric Musselman, and Mario Elie is expected to be seen today in Las Vegas.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14260098p-15074088c.html
The Kings began the interviewing process for a new coach Wednesday when Memphis assistant and former Golden State Warriors head coach Eric Musselman met with co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof and president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie, The Bee has learned.
Musselman, who was 75-89 with the Warriors from 2002 to 2004 before being fired, will be followed by Mario Elie, with both candidates staying at the Maloof family's Palms Casino Hotel in Las Vegas. Elie, a current Warriors assistant coach, is due in today to meet with the Maloofs and Petrie.
According to Gavin Maloof -- who did not disclose the names of the candidates -- these are the only scheduled interviews as yet.
The Maloof family is unfamiliar with Musselman and Elie, meaning the interviews were and will be as much a getting-to-know-you session as a chalk talk.
The Maloofs chose Las Vegas over Sacramento for the family's convenience. George Maloof, who is the Palms' president, will drop in to chat with the candidates, as will the youngest Maloof brother, Phil, and mother, Colleen. Petrie and Joe Maloof did not return calls for comment.
"I think we'll be talking coaching philosophy, how he sees our team moving forward, what his opinion is, and then maybe some X's and O's that I probably won't understand," Gavin Maloof said. "As owners or business people, we always pick the right people.
That's one thing we've done our entire lives. We have a background in picking the right people. So the person that we'll find will be the right person."
San Antonio assistant P.J. Carlesimo would be interviewed, according to a source close to team officials. But Carlesimo, whose Spurs season ended Monday, does not appear to be a leading candidate.
If that title belongs to anyone, it still appears to be Monarchs coach John Whisenant.
Gavin Maloof said he would have no reservations hiring a coach such as Whisenant, who won last season's WNBA title with the Monarchs but has no NBA experience.
"We don't care (about perceptions)," Gavin Maloof said. "We have to make our own decision. We can't be concerned with what other people around the league are thinking about.
"Remember one thing: we're on an island. They all want us to lose. They don't want us to win. And the media's the media. We can't listen to the media.
(Whisenant) wins. He knows how to win. I don't care if it's (coaching) boys, girls, men, ladies, it doesn't matter. He knows how to win."
The Maloofs' family ties with Whisenant go back more than 30 years, but Gavin Maloof said an interview with Whisenant, the Maloofs, and Petrie present would be necessary nonetheless.
Elie, who was a small forward for 11 seasons in the NBA, won three championships as a player -- two with Houston (1994 and 1995) and one with San Antonio (1999). He also served as an assistant coach with the Spurs during the 2003-04 season. Until Elie headed for Golden State in 2004 as part of head coach Mike Montgomery's staff, he had made the playoffs in all 12 seasons as a player and coach.
Musselman was an assistant in Atlanta from 1996 to 1998 and Orlando from 1998 to 2000. In seven seasons as head coach of the CBA's Florida Beach Dogs, Musselman was 270-122 (.688), marking the second-highest winning percentage in league history behind Denver head coach George Karl, who coached for five seasons in the CBA.
Gavin Maloof said Saturday the list of candidates was "less than 10," and numerous candidates have been eliminated publicly. Among them are Larry Brown, the New York Knicks coach who reportedly is on the verge of being fired; former Miami coach Stan Van Gundy, who reportedly has no interest in the Kings position; and former coach Don Nelson. Former Kings assistant Elston Turner, who lives with his family in Roseville, has not been contacted about the job.
