logo
Mike Bibby is already bringing in former NBA players' sons as he begins rebuilding Sacramento State

Mike Bibby is already bringing in former NBA players' sons as he begins rebuilding Sacramento State

Yahoo01-04-2025

Mike Bibby is already bringing in former NBA players' sons as he begins rebuilding Sacramento State
FILE - Sacramento Kings guard Mike Bibby stands on the court as time runs out during an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, on April 4, 2007, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Mike Bibby, center, is introduced as the new head basketball coach of Sacramento State during an NCAA college basketball press conference, Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Janie McCauley)
Mike Bibby, center, is introduced as the new head basketball coach of Sacramento State during an NCAA college basketball press conference, Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Janie McCauley)
FILE - Sacramento Kings guard Mike Bibby stands on the court as time runs out during an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, on April 4, 2007, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Mike Bibby, center, is introduced as the new head basketball coach of Sacramento State during an NCAA college basketball press conference, Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Janie McCauley)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Mike Bibby and Shaquille O'Neal are going to be mixing it up again, all these years later.
No more Kings-Lakers rivalry or on-court trash talk. Now, it's Bibby the college coach and O'Neal the student-athlete father.
Advertisement
Good thing they get along great these days — because Shaq's son, Shaqir, verbally committed to play for Bibby in the former Kings star's new position as head coach at Sacramento State.
'Me and Shaq have a good relationship. It probably wasn't good when we were playing against each other,' Bibby said with a grin when formally introduced at the school Tuesday. 'There was a lot of try to get a rivalry going, try to make it big time in the league.'
Don't be surprised if more NBA players' sons wind up in California's capital with one of the most beloved stars to come through the Sacramento franchise. Bibby's phone hasn't stopped ringing since he was hired last week to take over the program. He doesn't even have time anymore to take his daily naps.
The 46-year-old Bibby is ready to lead the Hornets back into contention in the Big Sky Conference right away after they finished 7-25 last season.
Advertisement
'How awesome is this, look at our new head coach,' athletic director Mark Orr said. 'Today's introduction of Coach Bibby marks a successful turn of events here at Sacramento State over the last couple years. Our university is certainly on the rise.'
Bibby retired in 2012 and has had various coaching jobs since. He won five state titles and coached 25 players who received college scholarships in six seasons as coach at Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix. He also has been an assistant for the Puerto Rican National Team, summer league teams for Cleveland and Memphis, and the NBA G-League Ignite.
'Mike isn't just a basketball legend, he's a Sacramento legend,' Sacramento State President Dr. Luke Wood said. "The city embraced him during his NBA years and he's returning that love by choosing to lead our program. He understands the spirit of this place, the grit, the underdog mentality, the pride and determination and he's ready to build something that's special right here at Sacramento State. With Coach Bibby at the helm we are raising the bar.'
Orr said he received inquiries about the job from NBA-level coaches on down, 'and I kept coming back to one of the greatest basketball minds that this city has ever seen. He loves this community and wants to be here.'
Advertisement
And Bibby wants to leave a lasting mark and build something special here. He knows the student-athletes will look to him as an example of someone who has been at the top.
'I'm not satisfied with just being here. I don't want to let the city down and I'm going to do my hardest not to," Bibby said. "These kids are trying to get to where I've been, and why not get it from someone that's been there before?'
Bibby won an NCAA championship as a player at Arizona in 1997 and then starred in the NBA for 14 seasons, with his most successful stint coming during seven seasons with the Kings. He helped Sacramento reach Game 7 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals before losing to O'Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bibby's players can't wait to get going.
Advertisement
'He's a legend, and I think the city needs somebody that's going to reflect it culturally,' senior guard EJ Neal said. 'He's an icon in Sacramento.'
Bibby is ready to teach — 'Everything has to be precise. We do it hard or we do it again."
He plans to schedule top non-conference opponents — 'They'll overlook us.'
He has no doubt the Hornets will win immediately — 'I have plans of taking this conference by storm.'
'Having a coach come in here to teach us and to try and push us and hold us accountable so we can get better and get to that position where he was I think is the biggest thing,' senior forward Jalen Pitre said.
Advertisement
Even with all of that confidence and swag, Bibby was clearly a bit emotional and overcome by this full-circle moment.
'I'm lost for words right now, I'm nervous as you guys can tell,' Bibby said. 'I'm just ready, I've been ready for this for a long time.'
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Orioles reinstate Cedric Mullins and Jordan Westburg from injured list
Orioles reinstate Cedric Mullins and Jordan Westburg from injured list

Yahoo

time23 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Orioles reinstate Cedric Mullins and Jordan Westburg from injured list

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles have reinstated center fielder Cedric Mullins and infielder Jordan Westburg from the 10-day injured list. Baltimore on Tuesday also optioned outfielder Heston Kjerstad to Triple-A Norfolk and designated infielder Emmanuel Rivera for assignment. Advertisement Mullins returns after being sidelined since May 28 with a strained right hamstring. He's batting .232 with 10 homers and 31 RBIs. Westburg has been out with a left hamstring strain since late April. He's batting .217 in 23 games. Kjerstad is hitting .192 with 45 strikeouts in 54 games. Rivera has a .232 batting average in 25 games. ___ AP MLB: The Associated Press

Mexican national soccer team changes hotels in Los Angeles because of safety concerns
Mexican national soccer team changes hotels in Los Angeles because of safety concerns

Yahoo

time25 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Mexican national soccer team changes hotels in Los Angeles because of safety concerns

Mexico's José Raúl Rangel (12) dives to stop the ball during an international friendly soccer match against Switzerland, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate) MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican national soccer team will change hotels in Los Angeles ahead of their Gold Cup match on Saturday because of safety concerns amid the protests against immigration raids in the city, a team spokesman said Tuesday. Mexico will play its opening match in the regional tournament against the Dominican Republic at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Advertisement The team had a hotel reserved in downtown Los Angeles but governing body CONCACAF has allowed for a change to an undetermined hotel, Mexican team spokesman Fernando Schwartz told The Associated Press. CONCACAF, which runs soccer in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, has not made an official announcement. The protests began Friday in downtown Los Angeles after federal immigration authorities arrested more than 40 people across the city. On Sunday, crowds blocked a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire as police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. On Monday, President Donald Trump ordered another 2,000 National Guard troops along with 700 Marines to be sent to Los Angeles. Advertisement Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was reluctant to talk about the protests at a news conference on Monday in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where the team is scheduled to play in a friendly match against Turkey on Tuesday. 'I'm not going to talk about Los Angeles, I told you no, we are talking about sports here.' Aguirre said. 'I can't express myself right now. We have a match against Turkey, and I don't have any information. I know what we see on television. We're thousands of miles away, and I can't express myself.' After the match against the Dominican Republic, Mexico will fly to Arlington, Texas, to play Suriname and then close out the first round of the tournament against Costa Rica in Las Vegas. ___ AP soccer:

Orioles reinstate Cedric Mullins and Jordan Westburg from injured list
Orioles reinstate Cedric Mullins and Jordan Westburg from injured list

Associated Press

time29 minutes ago

  • Associated Press

Orioles reinstate Cedric Mullins and Jordan Westburg from injured list

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles have reinstated center fielder Cedric Mullins and infielder Jordan Westburg from the 10-day injured list. Baltimore on Tuesday also optioned outfielder Heston Kjerstad to Triple-A Norfolk and designated infielder Emmanuel Rivera for assignment. Mullins returns after being sidelined since May 28 with a strained right hamstring. He's batting .232 with 10 homers and 31 RBIs. Westburg has been out with a left hamstring strain since late April. He's batting .217 in 23 games. Kjerstad is hitting .192 with 45 strikeouts in 54 games. Rivera has a .232 batting average in 25 games. ___ AP MLB:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store