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New King Wells says all the right things
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 6:27 pm PDT Thursday, August 4, 2005
In his first press conference as a member of the Kings, Bonzi Wells said all the right things, answered all the tough questions and proclaimed that seven years in the league and two disastrous endings at his first two stops has turned him into a changed man, an appreciative man, a one-time train wreck who's finally ready to chug along.
"When my agent called me and told me there was a chance for me to come (to Sacramento), I was overwhelmed, very happy and excited," said Wells, who was traded in the deal that sent guard Bobby Jackson to Memphis and center Greg Ostertag to Utah. "It was almost like the best day of my life, like draft day, because I get a new chance to redeem myself, to show myself that I can do this on a consistent level without any kind of off court things that get you off the track sometimes. I don't want to go off the track no more."
The shooting guard acquired in a trade with Memphis hasn't talked to his old bosses since the day after Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs, when he was reportedly suspended for the Grizzlies' final game of the season for complaining to the press about playing time. Former coach Mike Fratello shooed Wells from the next day's practice with a "go on, go off, get out of here." Discussions with his previous coach, Maurice Cheeks in Portland, were even worse, like the time Wells cursed him out in 2003 for the same frustration at lack of playing time.
But he's talked to Kings coach Rick Adelman seven times since then, as the verbal red carpet was rolled out and a 28-year-old with undeniable skills looked to restore his standing in the league. Some calls came from Adelman's home in Oregon, or from Sacramento, or while the Kings were in Las Vegas for summer league. And the safe part comes in that Wells comes in a starter, one who can expect to play 30-plus minutes every game. Wells has averaged 12.7 points per game in his seven seasons. He'd like to return to the form of his 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons in Portland, when he averaged 17 and 15.2 points, respectively, as a starter.
"(Adelman) called me the most out of anybody lately, calling me on his personal time and telling me what he feels about me, what he expects of me," Wells said. "He just said, ‘Bonzi, all the stuff (people) said about you, all that stuff, I don't care about any of that stuff. I just care about how you treat me from the day we talk.'
"That was big for me for a coach to do that. He doesn't even know me. To call me and say that to me made me feel good. Just saying that (gives me) goose bumps coming down my spine cause that's just a sign of respect. I just want to come here and fight for him and do everything I possibly can to play well for him."
For more details, see Friday's Bee.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13351484p-14193262c.html
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 6:27 pm PDT Thursday, August 4, 2005
In his first press conference as a member of the Kings, Bonzi Wells said all the right things, answered all the tough questions and proclaimed that seven years in the league and two disastrous endings at his first two stops has turned him into a changed man, an appreciative man, a one-time train wreck who's finally ready to chug along.
"When my agent called me and told me there was a chance for me to come (to Sacramento), I was overwhelmed, very happy and excited," said Wells, who was traded in the deal that sent guard Bobby Jackson to Memphis and center Greg Ostertag to Utah. "It was almost like the best day of my life, like draft day, because I get a new chance to redeem myself, to show myself that I can do this on a consistent level without any kind of off court things that get you off the track sometimes. I don't want to go off the track no more."
The shooting guard acquired in a trade with Memphis hasn't talked to his old bosses since the day after Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs, when he was reportedly suspended for the Grizzlies' final game of the season for complaining to the press about playing time. Former coach Mike Fratello shooed Wells from the next day's practice with a "go on, go off, get out of here." Discussions with his previous coach, Maurice Cheeks in Portland, were even worse, like the time Wells cursed him out in 2003 for the same frustration at lack of playing time.
But he's talked to Kings coach Rick Adelman seven times since then, as the verbal red carpet was rolled out and a 28-year-old with undeniable skills looked to restore his standing in the league. Some calls came from Adelman's home in Oregon, or from Sacramento, or while the Kings were in Las Vegas for summer league. And the safe part comes in that Wells comes in a starter, one who can expect to play 30-plus minutes every game. Wells has averaged 12.7 points per game in his seven seasons. He'd like to return to the form of his 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons in Portland, when he averaged 17 and 15.2 points, respectively, as a starter.
"(Adelman) called me the most out of anybody lately, calling me on his personal time and telling me what he feels about me, what he expects of me," Wells said. "He just said, ‘Bonzi, all the stuff (people) said about you, all that stuff, I don't care about any of that stuff. I just care about how you treat me from the day we talk.'
"That was big for me for a coach to do that. He doesn't even know me. To call me and say that to me made me feel good. Just saying that (gives me) goose bumps coming down my spine cause that's just a sign of respect. I just want to come here and fight for him and do everything I possibly can to play well for him."
For more details, see Friday's Bee.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13351484p-14193262c.html
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