Kings hire Musselman to replace Adelman as coach
The Sacramento Kings hired Memphis Grizzlies assistant Eric Musselman on Friday as their new head coach, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
Musselman coached the Golden State Warriors from 2002-04 and had emerged as a leading candidate to replace Rick Adelman in Sacramento. He'd had a second interview this week with the Maloof family, who own the team, at the family's casino in Las Vegas.
The Kings planned a news conference Saturday to announce the deal, according to the two people, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, Musselman accepted when offered the job Friday morning. Contract details are still being finalized.
The Kings parted ways May 9 with Adelman, who won 395 games in eight consecutive winning seasons in Sacramento. The Kings, who lost to San Antonio in the first round of the playoffs, had the NBA's only coaching vacancy.
The Kings also interviewed Golden State assistant Mario Elie and Sacramento Monarchs coach John Whisenant for the job.
Musselman spoke Thursday with the entire Maloof clan -- including Colleen Maloof, mother of the four sons who preside over the family's extensive business empire -- and president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie.
Musselman was an assistant in Minnesota, Orlando and Atlanta before being hired to coach Golden State, where he went 75-89. Though his teams were more competitive than any Warriors clubs in the previous half-decade, he was fired when he clashed with players and incoming boss Chris Mullin.
He's currently the top assistant in Memphis coach Mike Fratello's defense-heavy system.
Whisenant, a longtime family friend of the Maloofs who never played or coached in the NBA, was thought to be the family's choice for the job last weekend. But after the Monarchs' WNBA win over Seattle on Wednesday night, Whisenant said he wasn't scheduled for a second interview in Las Vegas.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
The Sacramento Kings hired Memphis Grizzlies assistant Eric Musselman on Friday as their new head coach, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
Musselman coached the Golden State Warriors from 2002-04 and had emerged as a leading candidate to replace Rick Adelman in Sacramento. He'd had a second interview this week with the Maloof family, who own the team, at the family's casino in Las Vegas.
The Kings planned a news conference Saturday to announce the deal, according to the two people, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, Musselman accepted when offered the job Friday morning. Contract details are still being finalized.
The Kings parted ways May 9 with Adelman, who won 395 games in eight consecutive winning seasons in Sacramento. The Kings, who lost to San Antonio in the first round of the playoffs, had the NBA's only coaching vacancy.
The Kings also interviewed Golden State assistant Mario Elie and Sacramento Monarchs coach John Whisenant for the job.
Musselman spoke Thursday with the entire Maloof clan -- including Colleen Maloof, mother of the four sons who preside over the family's extensive business empire -- and president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie.
Musselman was an assistant in Minnesota, Orlando and Atlanta before being hired to coach Golden State, where he went 75-89. Though his teams were more competitive than any Warriors clubs in the previous half-decade, he was fired when he clashed with players and incoming boss Chris Mullin.
He's currently the top assistant in Memphis coach Mike Fratello's defense-heavy system.
Whisenant, a longtime family friend of the Maloofs who never played or coached in the NBA, was thought to be the family's choice for the job last weekend. But after the Monarchs' WNBA win over Seattle on Wednesday night, Whisenant said he wasn't scheduled for a second interview in Las Vegas.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
