Ricci, Kings prepare for new season
SACRAMENTO — Phil Ricci is ready for a second round of coaching basketball that includes lots of learning.
But the former Galt High boys basketball head coach is putting in his time, like he did as a former player.
One of two assistant coaches of player development for the Sacramento Kings, Ricci and the Kings took part in the team’s Media Day inside the practice facility on Monday.
Over the summer, Ricci worked on his “coaching game” for the 2018-19 campaign. It’s far different than what he encountered when he was the Galt coach during the 201617 season.
“The difference is that I’m more accustomed to having one year under my belt with the NBA lifestyle; the traveling, meetings, action on the floor. Now I know what to expect,” Ricci said.
Ricci and the Kings’ combined 10 coaches on the staff spent most of the summer working with rookie players. That includes forward Marvin Bagley III, who was the overall No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft in June. Bagley III is one of three rookies on the Kings’ roster; forward/center Harry Giles III, who was drafted in 2017 but missed all of last season as he recovered from a knee injury, and forward Wenyen Gabriel are the others.
“His court vision,” said Ricci of Bagley III. “His athleticism. His rebounding; I love the way he rebounds. He counters his moves, gets to his left hand and has success.”
The trio, along with five first-year players, was acclimated to NBA action shortly after the draft. That included playing at the firstever California Classic, which was held at the Golden 1 Center in July and the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nev.
“They learned a lot from the time they signed,” Ricci said. “The time they got into the gym until now. They are just going to continue to learn. They have a very high skill level, very talented. It’s going to be fun working with them.”
Ricci will be working with fellow assistant coach and former Kings guard Bobby Jackson, who is also part of the player development coaching staff. The duo has known each other since the start of the 2003-04 season, when Ricci was on the Kings’ pre-season roster. He was cut before the start of the regular season.
“We got to spend a lot of time together,” said Ricci of Jackson. “We work hard together,”
Jackson added, “He’s learning from me, I’m learning from him. It’s something I’m looking forward to. He has the drive just like I have the drive.”
Both men would love to be an NBA head coach one day. But each knows that they have to pay their dues working as assistant coaches.
“It’s our job to make those things happen,” Jackson said. Then Ricci added, “We have a lot to learn.”
The Kings’ 2017-18 season with their 12th consecutive losing record and no playoff berth, which is the longest in the NBA. Ricci said some of the returning and new players wanted to continue working on their skills after the end of last season in mid-April.
“I was here couple of weeks after the sea-
son ended,” Ricci said. “A bunch of guys were coming in and shooting.
Before he started coaching at Galt High, Ricci played professional basketball overseas in Spain, Japan, Korea, France, Israel and Czech Republic. He was on the Kings’ 2003-04 pre-season roster before being cut prior to the start of the regular season.
Prior to the professional basketball player’s life, Ricci played at Oregon State and Delta College. He led the 199798 Galt High boys basketball team to a Sierra Valley Conference and Sac-Joaquin Section Division II titles, plus a deep run in the CIF NorCal playoffs.
The Kings will open the preseason next Monday at the Phoenix Suns. Sacramento has only two preseason home games; Maccabi Haifa pays a visit to the Golden 1 Center on Monday, Oct. 8 and the Utah Jazz on Thursday, Oct. 11.
“We just have to come in and do our jobs,” Ricci said. “Get these guys ready to go and win games.”