“I felt when I arrived (in Minneapolis), just from being there a few weeks, it became clear to me that team was in danger — if they weren’t already — of becoming irrelevant,” Kahn said. “I think that some of things that we’ve accomplished so far have certainly made us relevant again.”
New coach Kurt Rambis has his work cut out for him with the Timberwolves, but he said he learned a lot in his interim stint with the Lakers during the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season.
“Just about every situation that could have developed in a season for me as a coach to be able to handle happened in that season,” Rambis said. “I had two young superstars (Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal) fighting for control of the ball club and having to deal with their personalities helped me grow. Dealing with Dennis Rodman helped me grow.”
I guess that’s the best way to describe the conference call Kurt Rambis did this afternoon, after he was formally introduced as the new head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Naturally, quite a few of the questions focused on whether Rambis was passing up a chance to be Phil Jackson’s in-house successor by leaving now. Personally, I think Rambis will be a better candidate after he has some head coaching experience. So I think this is a good move for him overall.
“Yeah, if they want a good look,” Rambis said. Then he shook his head. “Actually I hated those glasses. When I was in high school I played all the sports and I kept breaking my glasses. My dad bought me those unbreakable glasses and I had to wear those.”
“I saw myself as a viable candidate, above many and equal to most, but this was a timing thing,” said Rambis, who won four championships in his nine-year playing career with the Lakers. “They made me no promises. Phil is a competitor. He loves coaching that team right now and they are built to win for a long time. I envision him being there for a long time.”
“This is an opportunity right now,” Rambis said. “There’s only 30 NBA head coaching jobs in the world and this opportunity came up. [Wolves owner Glen Taylor] and Dave were willing to give me a contract that would give me time to help build a team and that’s rare in today’s climate.”
The deal reportedly is four years for at least $8 million. While that appears to be ample security, there have been several cases in the last few years of coaches fired before the ink on their contract is dry. Terry Porter had less than a season in Phoenix. Michael Curry was canned after his first year in Detroit. Dwane Casey was given less than two years with the Wolves.
Rambis was undeterred.
“I love the development aspect of coaching,” he said. “And I envision this team reaching a high level of play and I enjoy challenges. When I saw this opportunity and weighed all the pros and cons, it was too good of an opportunity to turn down. The con being I had to buy some big winter coats because I have none.”
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