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The Signs Say It All For Musselman
- Andrew Nicholson
“Just do what you do best!”
The mantra is one of the late Red Auerbach, a person who Coach Eric Musselman holds in the highest regard.
“He was a phenomenal coach,” Musselman said. “He’s one of the best coaches in the history of sport, regardless of the game. Everybody he touched he made a better player and a better person.”
The banner hangs above the basket on the main court of the practice facility. It is so big that you notice it every time you step in the gym. It is one of 17 signs that Coach Eric Musselman had posted on the walls of the practice facility.
The walls used to be all white. Now, they are adorned with Kings Core Values and the jerseys of Kings Players of yesteryear. Players like Oscar Roberston, Sam Lacey, Mitch Richmond, Nate ‘Tiny’ Archibald, Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes.
“I think it is important for all organizations to recognize their past,” Musselman said. “There is deep history here and I think that is important (to have the retired jerseys up.)”
Coach Musselman brought a new style to Sacramento, one that preaches a good offense is generated from a better defense. That concept is the first on a huge sign that lists the 13 commandments of the Kings defensive mindset.
The signage throughout the practice facility is a strategy Musselman has used his whole life.
Signs Say It All
“(My father) had signs up at Ashland University and at the University of Minnesota,” Musselman said with a smile. “I even had signs in my bedroom, so it’s something that I have been ingrained with.”
The motivational signs have shown that they do make a difference from his father’s use of them at Minnesota where the late Bill Musselman helped the Golden Gophers to their first Big Ten Championship in 53 years in 1972. Eric also employed signage throughout the facilities at Golden State where he nearly won coach of the year honors during the 2002-03 and helped get the Warriors to their highest win total in 10 years.
“I think it helps to just give reminders to the players on our core values or what we want to emphasize,” Musselman said.
Musselman hasn’t always used the same signs.
“I sat down with the assistants and we just went through our philosophies and what we wanted to be our core values,” Musselman said.
Signs Say It All
“I think some guys read them and some guys don’t, but they are up there every day as reminders.”
The players take notice, they have no choice!
“You have to (notice them). Look how big they are!” Kings forward/center Maurice Taylor said. “You definitely pay attention to them because they’re subliminal. Every time you come in here you see Kings Core Values and you think of that because you see these posters everywhere.”
Taylor admits the huge posters are effective at getting into their heads, but does he think they are beneficial to the players?
“It definitely helps (to motivate us),” Taylor said. “Coaches have different ways of motivating players; you have to do something new because players will tune you out if you don’t do something new.”
Musselman’s attention to defensive detail has shown and the Kings are now one of the finest defensive teams in the league. As of November 9th, the Kings rank third in the NBA in points allowed per game (90.2), second in steals per game with 11 per contest, and second in opposition turnovers (20.4) per game.
http://www.nba.com/kings/features/Signs_Say_It_All.html
- Andrew Nicholson
“Just do what you do best!”
The mantra is one of the late Red Auerbach, a person who Coach Eric Musselman holds in the highest regard.
“He was a phenomenal coach,” Musselman said. “He’s one of the best coaches in the history of sport, regardless of the game. Everybody he touched he made a better player and a better person.”
The banner hangs above the basket on the main court of the practice facility. It is so big that you notice it every time you step in the gym. It is one of 17 signs that Coach Eric Musselman had posted on the walls of the practice facility.
The walls used to be all white. Now, they are adorned with Kings Core Values and the jerseys of Kings Players of yesteryear. Players like Oscar Roberston, Sam Lacey, Mitch Richmond, Nate ‘Tiny’ Archibald, Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes.
“I think it is important for all organizations to recognize their past,” Musselman said. “There is deep history here and I think that is important (to have the retired jerseys up.)”
Coach Musselman brought a new style to Sacramento, one that preaches a good offense is generated from a better defense. That concept is the first on a huge sign that lists the 13 commandments of the Kings defensive mindset.
The signage throughout the practice facility is a strategy Musselman has used his whole life.
Signs Say It All
“(My father) had signs up at Ashland University and at the University of Minnesota,” Musselman said with a smile. “I even had signs in my bedroom, so it’s something that I have been ingrained with.”
The motivational signs have shown that they do make a difference from his father’s use of them at Minnesota where the late Bill Musselman helped the Golden Gophers to their first Big Ten Championship in 53 years in 1972. Eric also employed signage throughout the facilities at Golden State where he nearly won coach of the year honors during the 2002-03 and helped get the Warriors to their highest win total in 10 years.
“I think it helps to just give reminders to the players on our core values or what we want to emphasize,” Musselman said.
Musselman hasn’t always used the same signs.
“I sat down with the assistants and we just went through our philosophies and what we wanted to be our core values,” Musselman said.
Signs Say It All
“I think some guys read them and some guys don’t, but they are up there every day as reminders.”
The players take notice, they have no choice!
“You have to (notice them). Look how big they are!” Kings forward/center Maurice Taylor said. “You definitely pay attention to them because they’re subliminal. Every time you come in here you see Kings Core Values and you think of that because you see these posters everywhere.”
Taylor admits the huge posters are effective at getting into their heads, but does he think they are beneficial to the players?
“It definitely helps (to motivate us),” Taylor said. “Coaches have different ways of motivating players; you have to do something new because players will tune you out if you don’t do something new.”
Musselman’s attention to defensive detail has shown and the Kings are now one of the finest defensive teams in the league. As of November 9th, the Kings rank third in the NBA in points allowed per game (90.2), second in steals per game with 11 per contest, and second in opposition turnovers (20.4) per game.
http://www.nba.com/kings/features/Signs_Say_It_All.html
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