This game can require patience
As the NBA's head-coaching carousel whirls, assistants such as Kings' Turner wonder
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, April 18, 2005
Elston Turner is happily employed in Sacramento, but this summer, he's liable to get really antsy.
The Kings' lead assistant coach to Rick Adelman covets an NBA head gig. With nine teams turning over coaches this season and more exits expected this summer, there will be openings.
And with each coaching move, Turner said he has allowed his mind to race to each vacancy, to size it up much like a free-agent player would in eyeing a team in need - "Would I fit there, how would my family like it ... "
If for just a moment.
"You do that when there are openings, and you'd like to be considered as a coach," Turner said, "so I think about it, but my mind doesn't stay there for long because we have work to do here.
"It's natural to wonder about openings, because it's something I'd really like to do. But it doesn't mean I'm making calls. I'm trying to do the best job I can here."
Turner, 45, said he also understands how the process works, with patience required to maintain his competitive sanity.
Often, name recognition accounts for a great deal and hastens the hiring process. For example, Bill Laimbeer, a bruising member of two title teams with the Detroit Pistons, has been linked to expected summer openings in Orlando and Cleveland and perhaps Detroit if Larry Brown steps down. Never mind that Laimbeer's only professional coaching experience has been with the WNBA's Detroit Shock.
Then there's Avery Johnson. He was a 16-year NBA veteran who was more solid than spectacular, but he had long been touted by Don Nelson and national media as a prime head-coaching candidate. He was elevated from Mavericks assistant to the top spot after Nelson resigned last month.
Meanwhile, there are men such as Turner, capably assisting - and waiting.
"I'm just always amazed - you talk about Avery Johnson, such a natural for him to be a head coach, and I say, 'Why, why was he anointed the next (hope) of the coaching ranks?' " Adelman said. "I mean, really, I'm amazed, because Nellie said he should be? I think guys like Elston worked their tail off and could be just as good if not a better coach.
"I'm not saying Avery won't be a very good coach, but I just think there's a lot of guys in this league who don't get that opportunity. I wish Elston would get it. It just cracks me up."
Adelman has been flanked by assistant coaches who benefited greatly from long, distinguished playing careers. Byron Scott, who played on three Los Angeles Lakers championship teams during his 14-year career, worked as a Kings assistant for two seasons before taking over the New Jersey Nets. He now coaches the New Orleans Hornets. Terry Porter, a 17-year NBA veteran and two-time All-Star, spent just one year on the Kings' bench, then became the Milwaukee Bucks' head coach before last season.
"Elston should get a chance," Kings director of player personnel Jerry Reynolds said. "He's better prepared (for a head-coaching position) than Byron and Terry were. What hurts him, unfortunately, is the league is so focused on big-name guys - and that does the league a disservice. Too many times, it's owners who don't know what they're doing, and they take risks that don't work. I'm sure it bothers him (that he hasn't fielded more interviews)."
Said Turner: "I've been in the game long enough to know that a little bit of getting (a head-coaching post) is skills, a little bit is who you know, and a little bit of it is being in the right position. There are a lot of other guys out there who have been assistants longer than me."
Turner wasn't an NBA star, but he wasn't a stiff, either. He was a cerebral, tough customer.
A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Turner in 1981 led Mississippi to its first NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-5 forward logged eight NBA seasons. And he paid his dues in his pursuit to be an NBA coach. He was an assistant coach and later a player-coach in the Continental Basketball Association, then spent four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers as an assistant and scout. This is Turner's fifth season with the Kings and first as Adelman's right-hand man.
He has the endorsement of those who know him best.
"He's done a terrific job, and he's solid, solid as a coach, solid as a man," Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie said.
Kings assistant Pete Carril simply said, "He's ready."
The seemingly always composed Turner said he's ready, too. His temperament won't hurt him, he said, because he can get plenty excited if the situation warranted it.
"I know there's wear and tear in this job," Turner said. "I do know you have to have real thick skin, because it's not always fair. That's what I admire about Rick. He's taken some shots and punches over the years that have been unfair. And I do know the résumé looks pretty good as far as wins and losses and what we've done here.
"All I can do is keep doing what I'm doing."
Kings (49-31) at Jazz (25-55)
Site: Delta Center
Tipoff: 6 p.m.
TV: CSN
Radio: KHTK 1140
Last meeting
In a physical game Jan. 13 at Arco Arena, Peja Stojakovic eluded Matt Harpring’s grabbing defense to score 27 points as the Kings won 107-93.
The lineups
Maurice Evans - Matt Harpring
Kenny Thomas - Mehmet Okur
Brian Skinner - Jarron Collins
Cuttino Mobley - Gordan Giricek
Mike Bibby - Keith McLeod
The magic number
9 - Kings' consecutive victories at the Delta Center
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12746737p-13598371c.html
As the NBA's head-coaching carousel whirls, assistants such as Kings' Turner wonder
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, April 18, 2005
Elston Turner is happily employed in Sacramento, but this summer, he's liable to get really antsy.
The Kings' lead assistant coach to Rick Adelman covets an NBA head gig. With nine teams turning over coaches this season and more exits expected this summer, there will be openings.
And with each coaching move, Turner said he has allowed his mind to race to each vacancy, to size it up much like a free-agent player would in eyeing a team in need - "Would I fit there, how would my family like it ... "
If for just a moment.
"You do that when there are openings, and you'd like to be considered as a coach," Turner said, "so I think about it, but my mind doesn't stay there for long because we have work to do here.
"It's natural to wonder about openings, because it's something I'd really like to do. But it doesn't mean I'm making calls. I'm trying to do the best job I can here."
Turner, 45, said he also understands how the process works, with patience required to maintain his competitive sanity.
Often, name recognition accounts for a great deal and hastens the hiring process. For example, Bill Laimbeer, a bruising member of two title teams with the Detroit Pistons, has been linked to expected summer openings in Orlando and Cleveland and perhaps Detroit if Larry Brown steps down. Never mind that Laimbeer's only professional coaching experience has been with the WNBA's Detroit Shock.
Then there's Avery Johnson. He was a 16-year NBA veteran who was more solid than spectacular, but he had long been touted by Don Nelson and national media as a prime head-coaching candidate. He was elevated from Mavericks assistant to the top spot after Nelson resigned last month.
Meanwhile, there are men such as Turner, capably assisting - and waiting.
"I'm just always amazed - you talk about Avery Johnson, such a natural for him to be a head coach, and I say, 'Why, why was he anointed the next (hope) of the coaching ranks?' " Adelman said. "I mean, really, I'm amazed, because Nellie said he should be? I think guys like Elston worked their tail off and could be just as good if not a better coach.
"I'm not saying Avery won't be a very good coach, but I just think there's a lot of guys in this league who don't get that opportunity. I wish Elston would get it. It just cracks me up."
Adelman has been flanked by assistant coaches who benefited greatly from long, distinguished playing careers. Byron Scott, who played on three Los Angeles Lakers championship teams during his 14-year career, worked as a Kings assistant for two seasons before taking over the New Jersey Nets. He now coaches the New Orleans Hornets. Terry Porter, a 17-year NBA veteran and two-time All-Star, spent just one year on the Kings' bench, then became the Milwaukee Bucks' head coach before last season.
"Elston should get a chance," Kings director of player personnel Jerry Reynolds said. "He's better prepared (for a head-coaching position) than Byron and Terry were. What hurts him, unfortunately, is the league is so focused on big-name guys - and that does the league a disservice. Too many times, it's owners who don't know what they're doing, and they take risks that don't work. I'm sure it bothers him (that he hasn't fielded more interviews)."
Said Turner: "I've been in the game long enough to know that a little bit of getting (a head-coaching post) is skills, a little bit is who you know, and a little bit of it is being in the right position. There are a lot of other guys out there who have been assistants longer than me."
Turner wasn't an NBA star, but he wasn't a stiff, either. He was a cerebral, tough customer.
A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Turner in 1981 led Mississippi to its first NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-5 forward logged eight NBA seasons. And he paid his dues in his pursuit to be an NBA coach. He was an assistant coach and later a player-coach in the Continental Basketball Association, then spent four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers as an assistant and scout. This is Turner's fifth season with the Kings and first as Adelman's right-hand man.
He has the endorsement of those who know him best.
"He's done a terrific job, and he's solid, solid as a coach, solid as a man," Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie said.
Kings assistant Pete Carril simply said, "He's ready."
The seemingly always composed Turner said he's ready, too. His temperament won't hurt him, he said, because he can get plenty excited if the situation warranted it.
"I know there's wear and tear in this job," Turner said. "I do know you have to have real thick skin, because it's not always fair. That's what I admire about Rick. He's taken some shots and punches over the years that have been unfair. And I do know the résumé looks pretty good as far as wins and losses and what we've done here.
"All I can do is keep doing what I'm doing."
Kings (49-31) at Jazz (25-55)
Site: Delta Center
Tipoff: 6 p.m.
TV: CSN
Radio: KHTK 1140
Last meeting
In a physical game Jan. 13 at Arco Arena, Peja Stojakovic eluded Matt Harpring’s grabbing defense to score 27 points as the Kings won 107-93.
The lineups
Maurice Evans - Matt Harpring
Kenny Thomas - Mehmet Okur
Brian Skinner - Jarron Collins
Cuttino Mobley - Gordan Giricek
Mike Bibby - Keith McLeod
The magic number
9 - Kings' consecutive victories at the Delta Center
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12746737p-13598371c.html
Is he, in fact, after all these years, becoming a Zen-master 2???
