ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Kings point guard Mike Bibby responded for the first time to a report that police are investigating whether he was involved in a beating at a midtown nightclub.
The Sept. 12 incident took place in the MoMo Lounge above the nightclub Harlow's, Bee columnist R.E. Graswich reported Monday. Sacramento Police Capt. Joe Valenzuela was quoted as saying, "Bibby is not a suspect at this time." "That (incident) had nothing to do with me," Bibby said before the Kings' preseason game against Phoenix on Wednesday night. "I was there, and I have money, so I guess I'm a target. It ain't nothing I did.
"I talked to (the authorities), got questioned, but I'm not a suspect. I saw the article. It was kind of a stupid article, saying Bibby was there, 'they' say. But it says I'm not a suspect, so why write the article?"
Power pick - The selection of the starters is in, though the disclosure is not.
Kings coach Rick Adelman said he and his staff have picked the starting five. And, yes, that includes power forward.
Adelman wouldn't divulge whether Shareef Abdur-Rahim or Kenny Thomas would get the nod at the "4" spot. Thomas started against the Suns, though Adelman acknowledged the decision was partly because of Thomas' ties to the University of New Mexico, where he played collegiately.
"I think, definitely, as a staff, we see who the players are and what our rotation is going to at least start with," Adelman said. "But that's not written in stone. It could change once the regular season starts and (we) see how guys respond to the regular season."
Injury report - An MRI on Bibby's right foot Tuesday was negative, and he played against the Suns after leaving Tuesday's practice early because of the injury. Bibby said the foot also was sore late last season. Backup point guard Jason Hart missed his third straight game with a hip pointer, and shooting guard Kevin Martin sat out with a strained right calf that Adelman said isn't serious.
