Bee: Kings introduce Musselman as new coach

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By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14263862p-15076667c.html

It took two interviews for Eric Musselman to become the next Kings coach.

But in his mind, the fit was right after one.

On May 24, the former Memphis assistant and Golden State head coach sat down with Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof and president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie. Afterward, he headed to his Palms Casino Resort hotel room in Las Vegas, convinced he was about to return to the NBA head coaching ranks after a two-year hiatus.

"I called Lonnie Cooper, my agent," said Musselman, who also interviewed for head coaching jobs in Cleveland and Orlando last offseason. "He was more excited than me, and he asked how it went. And I said, 'I got the job.' He said 'What do you mean you got the job?' I said, 'I got the job.'

"With Joe and Gavin and Geoff, it was just freeflowing. I didn't know when it was going to end. I got back up, and it was three hours and something. It could've gone into the night. It could've gone into the next day."

But not until the Maloofs and Petrie concluded their background check on Musselman did they finally bring him aboard. At a news conference at Arco Arena on Saturday, Joe and Gavin Maloof said Musselman's lineage and work ethic were the most attractive qualities. His father, the late Bill Musselman, coached for four seasons in the NBA.

"He's a prodigy," Gavin Maloof said. "He was born to coach."

Joe Maloof said the Kings made extensive calls to associates who weren't known as Musselman supporters, turning up only one negative about the coach who has extensive experience in the NBA, CBA, and the USBL.

"The only negative was his intensity level, but you know we're pretty intense," Joe Maloof said. "I don't consider that a negative. I consider it a positive."

Musselman, who also made a trip to Arden Fair Mall for a meet-and-greet with fans Saturday, said basketball is in his blood.

"When I woke up getting ready for school in the fifth and sixth grade, there wasn't cartoons on the TV, there was game tape," said Musselman, who was 75-89 with the Warriors from 2002 to 2004. "That's what I knew. It was natural for me, when school was out, to come home, drop my backpack down and say, 'Mom, take me to practice, and to sit in and watch my dad's practices. I'm glad there is basketball beyond being a kid when you grow up, because I don't know what else I'd do besides basketball."
 
Joe Maloof said the Kings made extensive calls to associates who weren't known as Musselman supporters, turning up only one negative about the coach who has extensive experience in the NBA, CBA, and the USBL.

"The only negative was his intensity level, but you know we're pretty intense," Joe Maloof said. "I don't consider that a negative. I consider it a positive."

Okay. I had a teacher once who was ... intense. I am so hoping this isn't the same.

;)
 
Got some news for you VF21. You're intense! :)

I suspect that it is good for an NBA coach to be intense. I wonder if Musselman is controlled or rabid? I tend to be intense, but not rabid. All we will have to do is watch his body-language on the bench to determine where he is coming from.

Jerry Sloan?
 
If he gives his all as a coach (which he seems like he's the type to do, and he's already done a lot of research), then I can't ask for anything more from him.
 
quick dog said:
Got some news for you VF21. You're intense! :)

I suspect that it is good for an NBA coach to be intense. I wonder if Musselman is controlled or rabid? I tend to be intense, but not rabid. All we will have to do is watch his body-language on the bench to determine where he is coming from.

Jerry Sloan?

Points taken.

Don't get me wrong. I'm very excited to have Musselman as our new coach. In fact, the more I think of it, maybe him being just like that teacher - who made us copy pages of the dictionary if we didn't pay attention in class - might not be that bad a thing.

;)
 
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