His work ethic and preparation impress team's owners.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14263804p-15076619c.html
The Eric Musselman era in Kings history may one day go down as storybook, but it began with a book of a different kind.
Before Musselman was hired as the Kings' coach -- a move that took place Friday and will be officially announced today -- he sat twice in a Las Vegas hotel meeting room, merely a coaching candidate at the time with an objective to impress. The team's family in power, the Maloofs, was there in varying degrees both times, along with Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie. They watched and enjoyed his interview act, then decided to buy the show.
"He came with two books, and each book was 100 pages," Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof said. "He had every single practice, every single drill that he's ever run. He knew the likes and dislikes of all of our players. He knew their hobbies. He put it all together, and we didn't even give him that much lead time, probably two or three days. I said, 'You probably stayed up all night.' "
Musselman, a former head coach at Golden State whose last stop was as a Memphis assistant, won this job on the platform of preparation, beating out a final field that included Monarchs coach John Whisenant and Golden State assistant Mario Elie. In the end, the process lasted 25 days after the dismissal of former coach Rick Adelman, with Musselman's reputation as a dedicated, knowledgeable, borderline obsessive coach winning the Maloofs and Petrie over in what they hope, of course, leads to their team winning a championship.
"I was very impressed, because he comes very well prepared," Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said. "No other team is ever going to outprepare us. And as prepared as he is, I think we may catch a couple teams next year off guard a little bit. We like his work ethic. He works long, long hours. He loves his work, has a passion for it. And that's why I think that the city will embrace him and welcome him to Sacramento."
In a way, the Musselman tale may fit right in with the Kings' theme of late. His story is one of the comeback variety, a different version of former bad boys Ron Artest and Bonzi Wells in that he's had to be knocked down before rising up again.
Musselman, the 41-year-old son of the late NBA coach Bill Musselman who landed his first professional head coaching job at age 23, was fired from the only NBA head coaching job he's ever known. After two seasons with the Warriors in which the team was markedly improved, Musselman was shown the door after the 2004 season. On the court, he'd done the job well, the Warriors winning a combined 75 games and showing signs of life not seen in nearly a decade.
Off the court, there were clashes with a number of Warriors players, some who didn't take to his intense style. The formula was a failed one, too, because new Warriors general manager Chris Mullin had not hired Musselman.
But one trusted Sacramento source predicts Musselman will make it work: former Kings guard Bobby Jackson, who played under Musselman this past season.
"He'll be good," Jackson said. "He's an offensive-minded coach, but he always has a defensive presence about him. That's the good thing about him … he's going to bring both offense and defense. And he ain't going to be scared to say anything to anybody. Everybody respected him."
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14263804p-15076619c.html
The Eric Musselman era in Kings history may one day go down as storybook, but it began with a book of a different kind.
Before Musselman was hired as the Kings' coach -- a move that took place Friday and will be officially announced today -- he sat twice in a Las Vegas hotel meeting room, merely a coaching candidate at the time with an objective to impress. The team's family in power, the Maloofs, was there in varying degrees both times, along with Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie. They watched and enjoyed his interview act, then decided to buy the show.
"He came with two books, and each book was 100 pages," Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof said. "He had every single practice, every single drill that he's ever run. He knew the likes and dislikes of all of our players. He knew their hobbies. He put it all together, and we didn't even give him that much lead time, probably two or three days. I said, 'You probably stayed up all night.' "
Musselman, a former head coach at Golden State whose last stop was as a Memphis assistant, won this job on the platform of preparation, beating out a final field that included Monarchs coach John Whisenant and Golden State assistant Mario Elie. In the end, the process lasted 25 days after the dismissal of former coach Rick Adelman, with Musselman's reputation as a dedicated, knowledgeable, borderline obsessive coach winning the Maloofs and Petrie over in what they hope, of course, leads to their team winning a championship.
"I was very impressed, because he comes very well prepared," Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said. "No other team is ever going to outprepare us. And as prepared as he is, I think we may catch a couple teams next year off guard a little bit. We like his work ethic. He works long, long hours. He loves his work, has a passion for it. And that's why I think that the city will embrace him and welcome him to Sacramento."
In a way, the Musselman tale may fit right in with the Kings' theme of late. His story is one of the comeback variety, a different version of former bad boys Ron Artest and Bonzi Wells in that he's had to be knocked down before rising up again.
Musselman, the 41-year-old son of the late NBA coach Bill Musselman who landed his first professional head coaching job at age 23, was fired from the only NBA head coaching job he's ever known. After two seasons with the Warriors in which the team was markedly improved, Musselman was shown the door after the 2004 season. On the court, he'd done the job well, the Warriors winning a combined 75 games and showing signs of life not seen in nearly a decade.
Off the court, there were clashes with a number of Warriors players, some who didn't take to his intense style. The formula was a failed one, too, because new Warriors general manager Chris Mullin had not hired Musselman.
But one trusted Sacramento source predicts Musselman will make it work: former Kings guard Bobby Jackson, who played under Musselman this past season.
"He'll be good," Jackson said. "He's an offensive-minded coach, but he always has a defensive presence about him. That's the good thing about him … he's going to bring both offense and defense. And he ain't going to be scared to say anything to anybody. Everybody respected him."
