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Theus sets road curfew, bans cell phone use on bus
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 5:09 am PDT Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C7
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/411963.html
After his first official day on the job, new Kings coach Reggie Theus gathered his team for dinner at the downtown Esquire Grill on Monday night and shared his vision of the season ahead.
He spoke of trust, an important element in what he hopes is a much-improved defense. He talked of passion and pride, saying he expected nothing less than maximum effort from his players. But the most revealing part of his message stressed discipline, as Theus informed his squad of what could be dubbed the Reggie Rules.
Theus will enforce a midnight curfew on nights before games on the road. There also will be no cell phone use while riding on the team bus.
"Discipline is a large part of what you've got to do," Theus said Tuesday after the team's first practice. "I'm not trying to take anything away from them; I'm trying to help them win games on the road. ... If this was a team that policed itself and did the right things last year, I wouldn't have come in here with that attitude."
The book on NBA curfews is a thin one, at least curfews that are enforced. In fact, Theus might be the only coach in the NBA with a curfew.
Utah coach Jerry Sloan, Theus' mentor of sorts, implemented a curfew after four Jazz players were accused of raping a woman in a Portland hotel last October. Those charges eventually were dropped, and Sloan has since lifted the restriction.
Ex-Kings coaches Rick Adelman and Eric Musselman did not use a curfew.
Theus' influences seem clear. He played under Sloan early in his 13-year career and entered his new job praising Sloan's teachings. What's more, Theus' first hire to his coaching staff was assistant and longtime Sloan sidekick Kenny Natt.
Sloan isn't the only Theus mentor of sorts to employ the practice, either. Before becoming Louisville's head coach and hiring Theus as an assistant in 2002, Rick Pitino adopted a road curfew during his three-plus seasons as Boston's head coach (1997-2000) in a move that wasn't received well.
As for the Kings, numerous players were surprised by the announcement but said they are prepared to abide.
"It just shows that it's about basketball and you can always have fun later," small forward Ron Artest said. "It's reasonable, very reasonable."
Artest said there was no dissension when the change was announced.
"I'm sure he'll be flexible, but it shows commitment," he said. "And for the veterans not to argue, not to really debate it, was a good sign."
Forward Kenny Thomas said he has never had a curfew in his eight seasons with three teams, but the threat of punishment is plenty of motivation to obey.
Theus has not specified to the players how much a fine would be or if suspension also is possible.
"You just have to go with it," Thomas said. "If not, everyone knows you get fined, and I'm not trying to lose money."
Longtime agent Keith Glass said he wouldn't be surprised if the National Basketball Players Association filed a grievance, but he applauded Theus' move. Glass, the author of "Taking Shots: Tall Tales, Bizarre Battles, and the Incredible Truth about the NBA," has had more than 100 clients.
"It sounds to me like he's trying to rein in some potential problems," said Glass, the former agent for Kings guard Quincy Douby. "It's a double-edged sword, because the players say 'You've got to treat us like men,' but they don't always act like men. Reggie probably feels like he wants to send a message."
Aaron Goodwin, one of the NBA's most prominent agents who represents Kings Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Francisco Garcia, concurs.
"That's big of Reggie to do that," Goodwin said. "I think more teams should do that."
Theus said his decision was intended as a precursor to success, a way to ensure focus entering a season that begins with a road trip and without a star player. Artest will miss the first seven games because of an NBA suspension.
"Whether we win or not, we need to come out with a certain type of game and a certain type of persona that's going to help us down the road," Theus said. "I'm not somebody who has a need to (use a curfew). That's not who I am, but I'm willing to put that out there and enforce it because I know that's what we have to have."
Asked if the curfew would be tough to enforce, he laughed.
"There's always ways around everything," he said, "but the consequences are pretty great."
About the writer:
* The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 5:09 am PDT Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C7
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/411963.html
After his first official day on the job, new Kings coach Reggie Theus gathered his team for dinner at the downtown Esquire Grill on Monday night and shared his vision of the season ahead.
He spoke of trust, an important element in what he hopes is a much-improved defense. He talked of passion and pride, saying he expected nothing less than maximum effort from his players. But the most revealing part of his message stressed discipline, as Theus informed his squad of what could be dubbed the Reggie Rules.
Theus will enforce a midnight curfew on nights before games on the road. There also will be no cell phone use while riding on the team bus.
"Discipline is a large part of what you've got to do," Theus said Tuesday after the team's first practice. "I'm not trying to take anything away from them; I'm trying to help them win games on the road. ... If this was a team that policed itself and did the right things last year, I wouldn't have come in here with that attitude."
The book on NBA curfews is a thin one, at least curfews that are enforced. In fact, Theus might be the only coach in the NBA with a curfew.
Utah coach Jerry Sloan, Theus' mentor of sorts, implemented a curfew after four Jazz players were accused of raping a woman in a Portland hotel last October. Those charges eventually were dropped, and Sloan has since lifted the restriction.
Ex-Kings coaches Rick Adelman and Eric Musselman did not use a curfew.
Theus' influences seem clear. He played under Sloan early in his 13-year career and entered his new job praising Sloan's teachings. What's more, Theus' first hire to his coaching staff was assistant and longtime Sloan sidekick Kenny Natt.
Sloan isn't the only Theus mentor of sorts to employ the practice, either. Before becoming Louisville's head coach and hiring Theus as an assistant in 2002, Rick Pitino adopted a road curfew during his three-plus seasons as Boston's head coach (1997-2000) in a move that wasn't received well.
As for the Kings, numerous players were surprised by the announcement but said they are prepared to abide.
"It just shows that it's about basketball and you can always have fun later," small forward Ron Artest said. "It's reasonable, very reasonable."
Artest said there was no dissension when the change was announced.
"I'm sure he'll be flexible, but it shows commitment," he said. "And for the veterans not to argue, not to really debate it, was a good sign."
Forward Kenny Thomas said he has never had a curfew in his eight seasons with three teams, but the threat of punishment is plenty of motivation to obey.
Theus has not specified to the players how much a fine would be or if suspension also is possible.
"You just have to go with it," Thomas said. "If not, everyone knows you get fined, and I'm not trying to lose money."
Longtime agent Keith Glass said he wouldn't be surprised if the National Basketball Players Association filed a grievance, but he applauded Theus' move. Glass, the author of "Taking Shots: Tall Tales, Bizarre Battles, and the Incredible Truth about the NBA," has had more than 100 clients.
"It sounds to me like he's trying to rein in some potential problems," said Glass, the former agent for Kings guard Quincy Douby. "It's a double-edged sword, because the players say 'You've got to treat us like men,' but they don't always act like men. Reggie probably feels like he wants to send a message."
Aaron Goodwin, one of the NBA's most prominent agents who represents Kings Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Francisco Garcia, concurs.
"That's big of Reggie to do that," Goodwin said. "I think more teams should do that."
Theus said his decision was intended as a precursor to success, a way to ensure focus entering a season that begins with a road trip and without a star player. Artest will miss the first seven games because of an NBA suspension.
"Whether we win or not, we need to come out with a certain type of game and a certain type of persona that's going to help us down the road," Theus said. "I'm not somebody who has a need to (use a curfew). That's not who I am, but I'm willing to put that out there and enforce it because I know that's what we have to have."
Asked if the curfew would be tough to enforce, he laughed.
"There's always ways around everything," he said, "but the consequences are pretty great."
About the writer:
* The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com