http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14289470p-15116952c.html
Reynolds not leaving Kings anytime soon
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Sunday, August 6, 2006
Jerry Reynolds doesn't deny a bit of it.
He's a pushover, a softie with a purple heart.
The Kings' director of player personnel has long been the affable face of his franchise, with a reassuring grin when times were grim and charm on top of charm with candor when things turned golden.
That relationship will continue.
Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie has confirmed that Reynolds will remain with the club in his existing role. Reynolds' contract was set to expire next month. No contract details were revealed, but Reynolds assured he was easy prey.
"I'm not very good at negotiating," Reynolds said with a laugh. "I'm easy. It's not about the money. It's about being here and being comfortable. This is where I want to be."
Said Petrie: "His contract is done. That's something we wanted to do. We don't want him to be a free agent. Jerry's a fixture here."
Reynolds has been with the Kings since they arrived in Sacramento in 1985. He has worn every hat of note: Scout. Assistant coach. Head coach (twice). Front-office man. Television analyst. The man also signs autographs and mugs for photos wherever he goes.
"Jerry's the only guy, the only non-player here who has his own bobblehead doll," Petrie said.
Reynolds said he assumed he would be back. He said there always are other employment opportunities but added that, had his Kings tenure suddenly ended, he likely would have been finished with the NBA.
"I have other things I can do, but I don't want them," he said. "I'm doing exactly what I want to do here. I couldn't be happier."
Reynolds said he and Petrie have an exceptional working relationship, that he wouldn't necessarily be able to find that elsewhere, nor would he want to consider it.
"I don't think it'd be possible to work for anyone else but Geoff," Reynolds said.
Said Petrie: "The feeling is genuinely mutual."
Reynolds said he will continue to rely on his people skills and job experiences.
"I've done it all here," Reynolds said. "I've done everyone's job. I understand the scouts, the assistant coach, what the head coach is going through. Experience can be a virtue, even the bad experiences, and I've had a mix of all of it."
The Kings suffered plenty of misery in the 1980s and much of the '90s before their current run of eight consecutive playoff berths.
Reynolds hopes that momentum will help make a new arena a reality. He said it befuddles him how some people view Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof.
"Some are against the Maloofs because they're successful," Reynolds said. "Good grief, grow up. This can be a world-class city. I've seen the transformation in Indianapolis with a new arena in a small-market place. I love this town and the people here. But I'm sure there are some people who would be glad to go back to kerosene lighting. Those people have no vision.
"I love sports, but a new arena here, that's the least of it. Look at what it would do to the area. It's happened in other cities."
Someday, Reynolds may get a spiffy office in a new building.
"If they want me to work out of my car, that'd be OK," Reynolds cracked.
Yep, easy.
Jerry Reynolds' timeline with the Kings
1985: Joined Kings as an assistant coach.
1987: Served as interim coach following the firing of Phil Johnson.
1988-90: Took over for Bill Russell with 24 games left in season and stayed on for two more seasons.
1990: Took over as Kings' director of player personnel.
1992: Hired as Kings' general manager. Resigned in December 1993.
1994: Named Kings' director of player personnel.
1997: Hired as Monarchs' general manager.
2001-04: Served on USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team Committee.
2003: Retired as Monarchs' general manager.
2006: Signed contract extension to stay as Kings' director of player personnel.
Source: Sacramento Kings
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@ sacbee.com.
Reynolds not leaving Kings anytime soon
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Sunday, August 6, 2006
Jerry Reynolds doesn't deny a bit of it.
He's a pushover, a softie with a purple heart.
The Kings' director of player personnel has long been the affable face of his franchise, with a reassuring grin when times were grim and charm on top of charm with candor when things turned golden.
That relationship will continue.
Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie has confirmed that Reynolds will remain with the club in his existing role. Reynolds' contract was set to expire next month. No contract details were revealed, but Reynolds assured he was easy prey.
"I'm not very good at negotiating," Reynolds said with a laugh. "I'm easy. It's not about the money. It's about being here and being comfortable. This is where I want to be."
Said Petrie: "His contract is done. That's something we wanted to do. We don't want him to be a free agent. Jerry's a fixture here."
Reynolds has been with the Kings since they arrived in Sacramento in 1985. He has worn every hat of note: Scout. Assistant coach. Head coach (twice). Front-office man. Television analyst. The man also signs autographs and mugs for photos wherever he goes.
"Jerry's the only guy, the only non-player here who has his own bobblehead doll," Petrie said.
Reynolds said he assumed he would be back. He said there always are other employment opportunities but added that, had his Kings tenure suddenly ended, he likely would have been finished with the NBA.
"I have other things I can do, but I don't want them," he said. "I'm doing exactly what I want to do here. I couldn't be happier."
Reynolds said he and Petrie have an exceptional working relationship, that he wouldn't necessarily be able to find that elsewhere, nor would he want to consider it.
"I don't think it'd be possible to work for anyone else but Geoff," Reynolds said.
Said Petrie: "The feeling is genuinely mutual."
Reynolds said he will continue to rely on his people skills and job experiences.
"I've done it all here," Reynolds said. "I've done everyone's job. I understand the scouts, the assistant coach, what the head coach is going through. Experience can be a virtue, even the bad experiences, and I've had a mix of all of it."
The Kings suffered plenty of misery in the 1980s and much of the '90s before their current run of eight consecutive playoff berths.
Reynolds hopes that momentum will help make a new arena a reality. He said it befuddles him how some people view Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof.
"Some are against the Maloofs because they're successful," Reynolds said. "Good grief, grow up. This can be a world-class city. I've seen the transformation in Indianapolis with a new arena in a small-market place. I love this town and the people here. But I'm sure there are some people who would be glad to go back to kerosene lighting. Those people have no vision.
"I love sports, but a new arena here, that's the least of it. Look at what it would do to the area. It's happened in other cities."
Someday, Reynolds may get a spiffy office in a new building.
"If they want me to work out of my car, that'd be OK," Reynolds cracked.
Yep, easy.
Jerry Reynolds' timeline with the Kings
1985: Joined Kings as an assistant coach.
1987: Served as interim coach following the firing of Phil Johnson.
1988-90: Took over for Bill Russell with 24 games left in season and stayed on for two more seasons.
1990: Took over as Kings' director of player personnel.
1992: Hired as Kings' general manager. Resigned in December 1993.
1994: Named Kings' director of player personnel.
1997: Hired as Monarchs' general manager.
2001-04: Served on USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team Committee.
2003: Retired as Monarchs' general manager.
2006: Signed contract extension to stay as Kings' director of player personnel.
Source: Sacramento Kings
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@ sacbee.com.
