http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/450684.html
By Martin McNeal - mmcneal@sacbee.com
As a professional basketball player, Clinton Renard Moore has been many places and done many things.
The Kings big man is better known as "Mikki" (MY-key) because of his childhood affinity for Life cereal. In an early-1970s commercial, a picky eater named "Mikey" eagerly consumed the cereal when it was placed in front of him.
Though he looks as if he could still use a few bowls of Life himself, Moore says he eats voraciously, yet retaining weight always has been tough.
Moore – who says he weighed 210 pounds in 1997 at the start his NBA career, 218 last season with New Jersey and 226 now with the Kings – claims he has gained 15 pounds since the start of training camp despite the "long, long practices that have a lot of running, a lot of running."
There are different ways one can perceive a player who is with his 10th NBA team. He wasn't good enough to stick with one team or he was impressive enough for another team to want him. Clearly, the 7-foot Moore brings determination with his long, slim frame. He has had a long career despite being undrafted out of Nebraska in 1997.
Moore is a high-jumping human reason for a transaction list. He has been to Minnesota (twice), Fort Wayne (Continental Basketball Association), Greece, Detroit (twice), San Antonio, Roanoke (NBA Development League), Boston, Atlanta, Seattle (twice), New Jersey, Utah and the Los Angeles Clippers. He never made the regular-season roster with Minnesota, but there's little doubt he knows a couple of good restaurants there.
Moore – who signed a three-year, $18 million deal as a free agent during the summer – has impressed his Kings teammates with hustle, a wealth of basketball knowledge, a willingness to lead and teach, as well as an ability to make 15-footers. Last season, Moore became the first undrafted player to lead the NBA in field-goal percentage (60.9).
Moore said he likes the offense of first-year Kings coach Reggie Theus.
"The offense we're going to play is perfect for me," Moore said after a 3 1/2-hour workout Tuesday before the team left for Los Angeles to play the Clippers tonight. "We run and gun, baby. That's it."
Theus said Moore must continue to improve his conditioning but that he's not concerned about it.
And Moore says he already has a feeling about Theus, a rookie NBA coach but a former 13-year NBA player.
"Reggie is a good coach," Moore says. "He demands a lot of us because he expects a lot from us. After last year, this is a team that needed somebody to regulate and bring discipline. I respect him a lot."
Moore said his personal goals include becoming "an NBA All-Star and winning an NBA championship, but not in that order. I also want to be a team captain and a team leader."
It appears Moore already is working toward establishing himself as a leader.
Said John Salmons of Moore: "He's a good, good dude. Obviously, he can play. It's good to have him here. He's a good dude, and he's going to help. He definitely can shoot the 15-footer, and he knows how to play the game. He has a high basketball IQ, and he knows where to be on the offensive and defensive end."
Theus said he also has much respect for Moore.
"He's had to work his way up to make some money," the coach said. "I knew he hustled and had a lot of intangibles and wasn't afraid to take charges. He was the recipient of a lot of open plays (with New Jersey) because (Richard) Jefferson, Vince (Carter) and (Jason) Kidd caused so much havoc. He was able to react and get it done. He's able to find what I call that 'short corner,' and he can finish around the basket."
By Martin McNeal - mmcneal@sacbee.com
As a professional basketball player, Clinton Renard Moore has been many places and done many things.
The Kings big man is better known as "Mikki" (MY-key) because of his childhood affinity for Life cereal. In an early-1970s commercial, a picky eater named "Mikey" eagerly consumed the cereal when it was placed in front of him.
Though he looks as if he could still use a few bowls of Life himself, Moore says he eats voraciously, yet retaining weight always has been tough.
Moore – who says he weighed 210 pounds in 1997 at the start his NBA career, 218 last season with New Jersey and 226 now with the Kings – claims he has gained 15 pounds since the start of training camp despite the "long, long practices that have a lot of running, a lot of running."
There are different ways one can perceive a player who is with his 10th NBA team. He wasn't good enough to stick with one team or he was impressive enough for another team to want him. Clearly, the 7-foot Moore brings determination with his long, slim frame. He has had a long career despite being undrafted out of Nebraska in 1997.
Moore is a high-jumping human reason for a transaction list. He has been to Minnesota (twice), Fort Wayne (Continental Basketball Association), Greece, Detroit (twice), San Antonio, Roanoke (NBA Development League), Boston, Atlanta, Seattle (twice), New Jersey, Utah and the Los Angeles Clippers. He never made the regular-season roster with Minnesota, but there's little doubt he knows a couple of good restaurants there.
Moore – who signed a three-year, $18 million deal as a free agent during the summer – has impressed his Kings teammates with hustle, a wealth of basketball knowledge, a willingness to lead and teach, as well as an ability to make 15-footers. Last season, Moore became the first undrafted player to lead the NBA in field-goal percentage (60.9).
Moore said he likes the offense of first-year Kings coach Reggie Theus.
"The offense we're going to play is perfect for me," Moore said after a 3 1/2-hour workout Tuesday before the team left for Los Angeles to play the Clippers tonight. "We run and gun, baby. That's it."
Theus said Moore must continue to improve his conditioning but that he's not concerned about it.
And Moore says he already has a feeling about Theus, a rookie NBA coach but a former 13-year NBA player.
"Reggie is a good coach," Moore says. "He demands a lot of us because he expects a lot from us. After last year, this is a team that needed somebody to regulate and bring discipline. I respect him a lot."
Moore said his personal goals include becoming "an NBA All-Star and winning an NBA championship, but not in that order. I also want to be a team captain and a team leader."
It appears Moore already is working toward establishing himself as a leader.
Said John Salmons of Moore: "He's a good, good dude. Obviously, he can play. It's good to have him here. He's a good dude, and he's going to help. He definitely can shoot the 15-footer, and he knows how to play the game. He has a high basketball IQ, and he knows where to be on the offensive and defensive end."
Theus said he also has much respect for Moore.
"He's had to work his way up to make some money," the coach said. "I knew he hustled and had a lot of intangibles and wasn't afraid to take charges. He was the recipient of a lot of open plays (with New Jersey) because (Richard) Jefferson, Vince (Carter) and (Jason) Kidd caused so much havoc. He was able to react and get it done. He's able to find what I call that 'short corner,' and he can finish around the basket."
