Sacramento Kings To Interview Ettore Messina
By Rafe Wong
A name that has popped up occasionally in the Sacramento Kings coaching search is scheduled now to participate in an interview for the job. This name is Ettore Messina.
Currently, Messina is an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, and even though the Spurs are in the middle of their championship campaign, it has been reported by ESPN’s Marc Stein that the Kings have permission to interview Messina for the team’s current head coaching vacancy (per ESPN).
ESPN sources say the Kings have secured permission to interview Spurs assistants Ettore Messina and James Borrego for their coaching vacancy
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 4, 2016
Before Messina started his coaching career in the NBA, he coached in the Euroleague for 17 seasons. During his tenure overseas, he has coached for Virtus Bologna, Treviso, CSKA Moscow (two stints), and Real Madrid. During that time he has earned a total record of 377-279 and has won 4 Euroleague championships (2 with Virtus Bologna and 2 with CSKA Moscow).
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In terms of NBA experience, he started out as a consultant for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2011-2012 and has been an assistant coach with the Spurs organization since 2014. He has also had two stints coaching Italy’s national basketball team from 1993-1997 and has currently been the coach since 2015.
In terms of style, Messina’s philosophy could compliment current Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins greatly. In a league (NBA) now where teams are building around their guards and shooters, Messina seems to value the center position and for his big guys to get involved offensively in the post (per Denver Stiffs)
I’ve always been a fan, and I’m certain others are too, of Cousins playing with his back in front of the basket. It gives him the liberty to choose either to post up and potentially dominant his opponents in the paint, which he usually does, or to utilize his gifted passing ability to find guys available at the perimeter.
To hear more philosophies on Ettore Messina you can listen to this video here.
So Kings fans. What you do you all think about the idea of Messina interviewing for the Kings head coaching job? We would like to hear from you. To express your opinions on the issue feel free to participate in our survey that is currently posted on our Twitter website.
Kings fans, what are your feelings toward the Kings interviewing Ettore Messina for the HC vacancy?
— A Royal Pain (@ARoyalPain) May 4, 2016
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If Messina is granted the job in Sacramento, it will be his first head coaching gig since transitioning from the Euroleague to the NBA.