You wanna know the real reason the [Redacted] won the championship? Because Phil Jackson makes $25 billion per year.
Because you see, in the NBA, players don't listen to coaches who don't make $25 billion per year. Which bodes poorly for Kings coach Paul Westphal, according to Sacramento Bee sports editor Bill Bradley.
Westphal's salary next season is documented at $1.5 million, the low end of the league. Will Kevin Martin, who will make about six times more, listen to his new coach? Will Kenny Thomas pay attention while making $8.77 million? Of players under contract, only Donté Greene ($870,000) will make less than Westphal.
This is another hurdle Westphal will face in his first NBA coaching job since 2000. By lowballing a coach, the Maloofs have set up this scenario. Let's hope Westphal's experience can speak louder than his pay stub.
Will Kevin Martin, who will make about six times more, listen to his new coach? Kevin Martin, noted coach-killer, might not listen to Paul Westphal ... because Paul Westphal drives an Audi instead of a Jaguar. You heard it here first.
(I end this as I end all snarky comments on The Bee, which is to say I like The Bee and Mr. Bradley very much, and I know these "Leading Off" pieces are really, really not tailored to the hardcore NBA/Kings fan, but to the Keds-wearing state worker masses.* It's just funny to me that this argument can even be broached.)
* Copyright rbiegler 2007.