Kings Shift Russell to Scouting Role

Bill Russell, the man who was supposed to become president of the Sacramento Kings after coaching them for a while, was ousted as coach Monday, only nine months after taking the job, and kicked upstairs, but not as had been planned.

Instead of becoming general manager on his way to the top--the scheme outlined by Gregg Lukenbill, general managing partner and part owner, when he hired Russell last year--Russell was made vice president in charge of basketball operations for the National Basketball Assn. club, which is in last place of the Midwest Division.

Essentially, he will be the club’s chief scout.

Assistant coach Jerry Reynolds, who finished last season as the interim coach, was appointed to replace Russell. Lukenbill said there would be no interim in Reynolds’ title this time, saying that Reynolds “is the permanent head coach for at least two years after this year.”

Phil Johnson, who had been a scout since he was fired as head coach last season, has returned as assistant to Reynolds, his former assistant.

Lukenbill also reassigned Joe Axelson, president and general manager, to vice president in charge of business operations, with no authority in basketball matters, but denied that the move was a demotion.

Lukenbill, speaking at a hastily arranged press conference, indicated that he would become general manager himself.

“He fancies himself as the Al Davis of the NBA,” a person close to the team said of Lukenbill.

The presidency, technically, is open, but Monday’s moves clouded Russell’s future.

Russell, 54, said that Lukenbill had initiated the change, and there was speculation that he wasn’t fired outright only because of his seven-year contract.

Russell said he told Lukenbill: “I think I made a mistake when I came here (as coach).”

The Kings were 17-41, the fourth-worst record in the NBA, under Russell. “Every time we lost a game, it was a real hard kick in the stomach,” said Russell, flanked by Reynolds and Lukenbill. “I don’t sleep after we lose and, you know, I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights.”

Russell, responding to questions asking him to rate his performance as coach, said: “I did OK. I wouldn’t say I did a great job.”

With voice quivering and his eyes appearing moist, according to Associated Press, Russell added: “The losses--I haven’t been able to handle that.”

Asked if he had been treated fairly by the media, Russell said: “No, not really. I had the feeling that everyone was saying, ‘Who the hell are you to have a job like this?’ ”

Russell said that his new duties will allow him to spend a lot of time looking at other teams, looking at the college ranks for possible players. “For me, it’s a real positive thing,” he said. “I’m anxious to get started.”

Lukenbill said: “This is a reorganization . . . to change the chemistry and move this organization around.”

Before coming to Sacramento, Russell, five times the NBA’s most valuable player, was a player-coach of the champion Boston Celtics during the 1960s, worked as a television commentator and, from 1973 to 1977, coached the Seattle SuperSonics, where he won 168 games and lost 175 before he resigned in 1977 amid reports of dissension among the players.

Overall, Russell has a 341-290 coaching record. He was never able to get a consistent effort from the Kings, especially on defense, which was his strength as a player.

After a game against the Lakers last December, Times reporter Gordon Edes wrote that Russell “remained anchored to his chair” without calling a timeout as the Lakers went on a 29-6 run on their way to a 117-103 rout.

Russell explained: “I was calling plays from the sideline, calling defenses. I probably called the wrong plays.”

The silver-haired, soft-spoken Reynolds, 44, has spent all of his professional coaching career with the Kings.

He said the coaching change caught him by surprise, that “it certainly wasn’t predicted. It came up last night, late.”