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Kurt Rambis

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Kurt Rambis
Rambis as head coach of the Timberwolves in March 2011
Los Angeles Lakers
PositionSenior basketball advisor
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born(1958-02-25)February 25, 1958(age 66)
Terre Haute, Indiana,U.S.
NationalityAmerican / Greek
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight213 lb (97 kg)
Career information
High schoolCupertino(Cupertino, California)
CollegeSanta Clara(1976–1980)
NBA draft1980:3rd round, 58th overall pick
Selected by theNew York Knicks
Playing career1980–1995
PositionPower forward
Number31, 30, 18
Coaching career1994–present
Career history
As player:
1980–1981AEK Athens
1981–1988Los Angeles Lakers
1988–1989Charlotte Hornets
1989–1991Phoenix Suns
1991–1993Sacramento Kings
1993–1995Los Angeles Lakers
As coach:
1994–1999Los Angeles Lakers(assistant)
1999Los Angeles Lakers
2001–2004;
2005–2009		Los Angeles Lakers (assistant)
2009–2011Minnesota Timberwolves
2013–2014Los Angeles Lakers (assistant)
2014–2016New York Knicks(associate HC)
2016New York Knicks (interim)
2016–2018New York Knicks (associate HC)
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As assistant coach:

As executive:

Career NBA statistics
Points4,603 (5.2 ppg)
Rebounds4,961 (5.6 rpg)
Assists931 (1.1 apg)
StatsEdit this at Wikidataat NBA.com
StatsEdit this at Wikidataat Basketball-Reference.com

Darrell Kurt Rambis(Greek:Κυριάκος Ραμπίδης,romanized:Kyriakos Rambidis;[1][2]born February 25, 1958) is a Greek-American former professionalbasketballplayer and coach who is a senior basketball adviser for theLos Angeles Lakersof theNational Basketball Association(NBA). As a player, he won fourNBA championshipswhile playingpower forwardfor the Lakers. Rambis was a key member of theShowtimeera Lakers and was extremely popular[3]for his hard-nosed blue collar play.[4]With his trademark black horn-rimmed glasses, Rambis complemented the flashy Hollywood style of the Showtime era Lakers.[3]

Rambis playedcollege basketballfor theSanta Clara Broncos.As a senior in 1980, he was named theplayer of the yearin theWest Coast Conference(WCC).[5]Rambis was selected by theNew York Knicksin the third round of the1980 NBA draft,but began his career in Greece withAEK Athensbefore joining the Lakers.[5]He also played for theCharlotte Hornets,Phoenix Suns,andSacramento Kings.Rambis became a coach and has served as head coach for the Lakers,Minnesota Timberwolves,and the Knicks.[6][7][8]He also won two league championships as an assistant coach with the Lakers.

Early life

[edit]
Rambis as a freshman at Santa Clara.

Rambis was born inTerre Haute, Indiana,[9]into a family ofGreekextraction.[3]His family moved toCupertino, Californiain his preschool years; his number is retired atCupertino High School.

College career

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He graduated fromSanta Clara University,where he played from 1976 to 1980, becoming its second-leading rebounder and all-time leading scorer with 1,736 points. During his Santa Clara years, he was awarded theWCCFreshman of the Year andConference Player of the Yearas a senior. His No. 34 was retired on December 29, 2008.[10]

Professional career

[edit]

Rambis was drafted by theNew York Knicksas the 58th pick in the1980 NBA draft,but he was subsequently waived by the Knicks. He played in Greece in theGreek Leaguefor the clubAEK Athens,under the name Kyriakos Rambidis.[2]Being of Greek descent,[3]he also acquired Greek citizenship.[2]AEK won theGreek Cupin 1981.

He was re-signed by the Knicks in 1981 but never played a game for them.[11]His success as an NBA player started when he was signed as a free agent by theLos Angeles Lakersin 1981. Rambis spent most of his 14 seasons in the NBA with the Lakers, winning championships in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988 as part of theirShowtime teams.

During his playing days, Rambis was a favorite among theLakersfans because of his status as an overachieving underdog and ultimate team player. Known for his defensive and rebounding skills, he was remembered in Los Angeles for his all-out effort and willingness to do the "dirty work" that many players do not embrace. Rambis usually wore a thickmoustacheand thick-rimmed blackglasses,prompting Lakers announcerChick Hearnto nickname him "Superman"(in reference to the character's alter ego,Clark Kent).[12]At the Lakers home arena a "Superman" fan club (also known as Rambis youth) was formed where the courtside spectators wore glasses styled similar to the ones used by Rambis.[13]Lakers head coachPat Rileyonce complained to a reporter "Other guys have sharp Adidas bags. [Rambis]'s got this black satchel, like the kind you would have a bowling ball in. And it's, like, vinyl. He doesn't ever bring a garment bag or a suitcase. That's all he ever brings, could be a week."[14]

Rambis also played for theCharlotte Hornets,Phoenix Suns,andSacramento Kingsbefore returning to the Lakers for the 1993–94 season. He retired as a player with the Lakers in 1995.

Coaching career

[edit]

Los Angeles Lakers (1994–2009)

[edit]

Rambis began working as a special assistant coach for the Lakers in 1994 but eventually returned to the active playing roster in February 1995. He was waived at the beginning of the 1995–96 season and resumed his role as an assistant.[15]He served as head coach of the Lakers during the 1999 "lockout season" after coachDel Harriswas fired. He achieved moderate success, registering a 24–13 record in the regular season before being swept by theSan Antonio Spursin the 1999 Western Conference Semifinals. WhenPhil Jacksonwas hired as head coach, Rambis served as the Lakers' assistant general manager. He later became an assistant coach under Jackson between 2001 and 2004, helping the Lakers reach the2002and the2004 NBA Finals,with Los Angeles winning a title in the former series. He was hired again as an assistant in 2005, along with former playerBrian Shaw,[16]helping the Lakers to another pair of finals in2008and2009.The Lakers won in the latter attempt.

Minnesota Timberwolves (2009–2011)

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In 2007, Rambis interviewed for theSacramento Kings' coaching job. He was a finalist again in 2009 to coach the Kings, and after serious discussions, he was offered the job, but he wanted more than a two-year contract and more money than was offered, so he turned down the job.

On August 8, 2009, Rambis was announced as the new head coach for theMinnesota Timberwolves,agreeing to a contract believed to be for 4 years and worth $8 million. Rambis succeededKevin McHale,infamous for taking him down in Game 4 of the1984 NBA Finals.

On July 12, 2011, Rambis was fired as coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves after compiling a 32–132 record in two seasons with the team.[17]

Return to the Lakers (2013–2014)

[edit]

On July 29, 2013, the Lakers announced they had re-hired Rambis as an assistant coach.[18]

New York Knicks (2014–2018)

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On July 7, 2014, the Knicks announced they had hired Rambis to be the assistant head coach of the team under head coachDerek Fisher.[19]On February 8, 2016, Rambis was named the interim head coach after Fisher was fired.[20]After going 9-19 under Rambis, and finishing the season 32–50 overall, the Knicks decided to hireJeff Hornacekas the team's new head coach, while Rambis was retained as associate head coach. On April 12, 2018, Rambis was fired along with Hornacek, who went 60–104 over two seasons with the Knicks.[21]

Executive career

[edit]

Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present)

[edit]

In September 2018, Rambis rejoined the Lakers as a senior basketball adviser.[22][23]Rambis has become "one of the most influential members of the organization since returning to the franchise in 2017."[24]Kurt Rambis's wife, Linda Rambis, serves as the Lakers Executive Director of Special Projects and is one ofJeanie Buss's longtime friends. AlongsideRob Pelinka,the couple has been described as "a pillar of the club’s four-pronged brain trust alongside [Jeanie] Buss."[25]

Outside basketball

[edit]

Rambis also had a recurring role as Coach Cleary in the family drama7th Heaven.He also guest-starred in season one ofSweet Valley Highin episode thirteen "Club X" as a friend of Elizabeth and an episode ofThe Commishas a basketball player. He appeared in the "Going Places" episode (as himself) ofIt's Garry Shandling's Show.Rambis also made a cameo appearance in an episode ofMalcolm & Eddie.

Head coaching record

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Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
L.A. Lakers 1998–99 37 24 13 .649 2nd in Pacific 8 3 5 .375 Lost inConf. Semifinals
Minnesota 2009–10 82 15 67 .183 5th in Northwest — — — — Missed Playoffs
Minnesota 2010–11 82 17 65 .207 5th in Northwest — — — — Missed Playoffs
New York 2015–16 28 9 19 .321 3rd in Atlantic — — — — Missed Playoffs
Career 229 65 164 .284 8 3 5 .375

References

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  1. ^Μητρόπουλος, Κωνσταντίνος (November 15, 2023)."Κερτ Ράμπις: Ο Ελληνο-Αμερικανός με τα οκτώ δαχτυλίδια ΝΒΑ".Debut(in Greek).RetrievedNovember 25,2023.
  2. ^abc"GreekGateway.com The rise and fall of Kurt Rambis as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves".Archived fromthe originalon August 3, 2014.RetrievedApril 15,2013.
  3. ^abcdElderkin, Phil (May 13, 1983)."Laker role player Kurt Rambis travels bizarre route to NBA".Christian Science Monitor.ISSN0882-7729.RetrievedJanuary 17,2018.
  4. ^"Blue-collar worker takes over the Lakers | Lubbock Online | Lubbock Avalanche-Journal".lubbockonline.com.RetrievedJanuary 17,2018.
  5. ^ab"Kurt Rambis".Santa Clara University.RetrievedOctober 15,2020.
  6. ^"Rambis Gets New Job With Lakers".The Washington Post.September 28, 1999.RetrievedOctober 15,2020.
  7. ^Stein, Marc(August 8, 2009)."Rambis will be Wolves head coach".ESPN.com.
  8. ^"Wolves Relieve Kurt Rambis of Coaching Duties".National Basketball Association.July 12, 2011.RetrievedOctober 15,2020.
  9. ^Resolution honoring Kurt Rambis
  10. ^Rambis 7th Bronco to have jersey retired.
  11. ^Beck, Howard (January 26, 2010)."Rambis, a Champion With the Lakers, Was Briefly a Knick".The New York Times.RetrievedJuly 17,2016.
  12. ^"Laker role player Kurt Rambis travels bizarre route to NBA".Christian Science Monitor.May 13, 1983.
  13. ^"Kurt Rambis Nearly Nixed His Own 'Superman' Fan Club but Quickly Changed Course: 'I Thought They Were Mocking Me'".December 2021.
  14. ^"The Eyes Have It".Sports Illustrated Vault | Si.com.
  15. ^NBA: West: Lakers Out of the Mourning Derby
  16. ^"Lakers Add Rambis and Shaw to Coaching Staff".NBA.com.
  17. ^Wolves Fire Kurt Rambis
  18. ^"Rambis, Davis hired to assist Lakers' D'Antoni".NBA.com.Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. July 29, 2013.RetrievedJuly 29,2013.
  19. ^"Knicks Name Kurt Rambis Associate Head Coach".New York Knicks.
  20. ^"Knicks Relieve Fisher Of Coaching Duties".New York Knicks. February 8, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 8,2016.
  21. ^"JEFF HORNACEK RELIEVED OF HEAD COACHING DUTIES".New York Knicks.April 12, 2018.RetrievedApril 12,2018.
  22. ^"Lakers Hire Kurt Rambis".Los Angeles Lakers.September 28, 2018.RetrievedOctober 29,2018.
  23. ^Youngmisuk, Ohm (September 28, 2018)."Rambis returning to Lakers as senior adviser".ESPN.com.RetrievedOctober 29,2018.
  24. ^Oram, Bill; Amick, Sam (January 18, 2022)."Sources: Lakers coach Frank Vogel's job in serious jeopardy despite Jazz win".The Athletic.Archivedfrom the original on March 16, 2022.
  25. ^Faigen, Harrison (February 21, 2022)."Rob Pelinka, Kurt and Linda Rambis probably aren't going anywhere, no matter how pissed LeBron is".SBNation.Vox Media.
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