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Musselman bringing his Kings to Lawlor
Steve Sneddon (SSNEDDON@RGJ.COM)
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
August 31, 2006
He's come a long way since the days when he faxed Reno Bighorn pro basketball box scores to the Nevada State Journal, Reno Evening Gazette and Reno TV stations.
As long as he can remember, 41-year-old Eric Musselman was learning the business of basketball. During the 1978-79 Western Basketball Association season, when his father, the late Bill Musselman, was coaching the Bighorns, a junior high-aged Eric visited his father often in Reno.
Now, the first-year Sacramento Kings coach will bring his own team to Reno for an exhibition game against the New Orleans Hornets at Lawlor Events Center on Oct. 22 at 5 p.m.
"I remember my dad really enjoyed his time here," said Musselman, who was in Reno Wednesday to promote the exhibition. "He had fun here."
So did a son who wanted to be a coach as long as he can remember. He closely watched his father in a coaching career that extended from college to minor league basketball and to the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association. Eric and his father are the first father and son to be NBA head coaches.
"Growing up, it was Ashland College and the University of Minnesota," said the Kings' coach. "I would go on trips on the weekend. I went on Big 10 road trips when I was six, seven. When most kids were watching cartoons, I was watching game film."
"I remember when they (the Bighorns) went on the road, me and my cousin would fax the box scores. My cousin flew in from Dallas and we did that over a break when I think the front office people were gone for the holidays. We did it for seven or eight games. "
The younger Musselman came close to playing basketball for the Wolf Pack.
Musselman said his choice came down to Boston College, Nevada and the University of San Diego. He chose San Diego.
As a coach in the NBA, the younger Musselman was a head coach for the Golden State Warriors and an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies before getting the Kings' job.
On Wednesday, Musselman was the salesman trying to sell the Oct. 22 exhibition.
"We have a very exciting nucleus coming back," he said. "And because it's a new system, being implemented by a new coaching staff, we will place high priority on our exhibition games."
Musselman said the Hornets are an attractive team with returning point guard Chris Paul and have added former Kings' Peja Stojakovic and Bobby Jackson. It was an off-season full of changes for the Hornets, including trading former Wolf Pack star Kirk Snyder to the Houston Rockets.
Musselman said Reno was an attractive destination for the exhibition.
"There's always pockets in the United States that have good reputations basketball-wise," Musselman said. "Obviously, this city is one, the way this city, this region follow the school. They've had great success recently and their attendance is good."
The exhibition in Reno will come about a week before the regular season opener and Musselman said most of the training camp tinkering with the team will be completed by then. Musselman said there's a difference in the Kings between last season and this season that goes beyond a new system and coaching staff.
"First of all, it will be the first full year with Ron Artest," Musselman said. "So that alone helps us defensively with our mindset because Ron is a leader on the defensive end of the floor."
Musselman said he has been impressed with the work ethic of Artest, who played on the Kings' summer pro league team in Las Vegas.
Tickets for the Oct. 22 exhibition will go on sale at noon today. Tickets are priced from $14.50 to $54.50 and will be available at Raley's, on-line at Tickets.com, by calling 800-225-2277 or at the Lawlor Events Center Box Office.
TKF: Tickets actually cost between $14.50 and $102.50 plus convenience fees.
Musselman bringing his Kings to Lawlor
Steve Sneddon (SSNEDDON@RGJ.COM)
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
August 31, 2006
He's come a long way since the days when he faxed Reno Bighorn pro basketball box scores to the Nevada State Journal, Reno Evening Gazette and Reno TV stations.
As long as he can remember, 41-year-old Eric Musselman was learning the business of basketball. During the 1978-79 Western Basketball Association season, when his father, the late Bill Musselman, was coaching the Bighorns, a junior high-aged Eric visited his father often in Reno.
Now, the first-year Sacramento Kings coach will bring his own team to Reno for an exhibition game against the New Orleans Hornets at Lawlor Events Center on Oct. 22 at 5 p.m.
"I remember my dad really enjoyed his time here," said Musselman, who was in Reno Wednesday to promote the exhibition. "He had fun here."
So did a son who wanted to be a coach as long as he can remember. He closely watched his father in a coaching career that extended from college to minor league basketball and to the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association. Eric and his father are the first father and son to be NBA head coaches.
"Growing up, it was Ashland College and the University of Minnesota," said the Kings' coach. "I would go on trips on the weekend. I went on Big 10 road trips when I was six, seven. When most kids were watching cartoons, I was watching game film."
"I remember when they (the Bighorns) went on the road, me and my cousin would fax the box scores. My cousin flew in from Dallas and we did that over a break when I think the front office people were gone for the holidays. We did it for seven or eight games. "
The younger Musselman came close to playing basketball for the Wolf Pack.
Musselman said his choice came down to Boston College, Nevada and the University of San Diego. He chose San Diego.
As a coach in the NBA, the younger Musselman was a head coach for the Golden State Warriors and an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies before getting the Kings' job.
On Wednesday, Musselman was the salesman trying to sell the Oct. 22 exhibition.
"We have a very exciting nucleus coming back," he said. "And because it's a new system, being implemented by a new coaching staff, we will place high priority on our exhibition games."
Musselman said the Hornets are an attractive team with returning point guard Chris Paul and have added former Kings' Peja Stojakovic and Bobby Jackson. It was an off-season full of changes for the Hornets, including trading former Wolf Pack star Kirk Snyder to the Houston Rockets.
Musselman said Reno was an attractive destination for the exhibition.
"There's always pockets in the United States that have good reputations basketball-wise," Musselman said. "Obviously, this city is one, the way this city, this region follow the school. They've had great success recently and their attendance is good."
The exhibition in Reno will come about a week before the regular season opener and Musselman said most of the training camp tinkering with the team will be completed by then. Musselman said there's a difference in the Kings between last season and this season that goes beyond a new system and coaching staff.
"First of all, it will be the first full year with Ron Artest," Musselman said. "So that alone helps us defensively with our mindset because Ron is a leader on the defensive end of the floor."
Musselman said he has been impressed with the work ethic of Artest, who played on the Kings' summer pro league team in Las Vegas.
Tickets for the Oct. 22 exhibition will go on sale at noon today. Tickets are priced from $14.50 to $54.50 and will be available at Raley's, on-line at Tickets.com, by calling 800-225-2277 or at the Lawlor Events Center Box Office.
TKF: Tickets actually cost between $14.50 and $102.50 plus convenience fees.
