Clippers Could Present Rambis With a Big Decision

A key member of the great Laker teams of the Showtime ‘80s, he is suddenly in demand as a coaching prospect.

Magic Johnson?

Nope, he tried it and didn’t like it.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

Nope, he hasn’t been able to get a chance to try it.

Instead, it is Kurt Rambis, part of the supporting cast of Laker teams past, who is drawing interest as a possible head coach. Elgin Baylor, the Clippers’ vice president of basketball operations, has interviewed Rambis about the team’s coaching vacancy.

Although the Lakers have given Rambis, an assistant coach under Del Harris for the last four years, their blessing, they have indicated that they would like Rambis to stick around, the idea being that he might be considered to replace Harris someday.

Clipper sources won’t categorize Rambis as the leading candidate, but there aren’t any other serious possibilities on the horizon right now.

The candidates the Clippers liked, George Karl and Paul Westphal, are both out of the picture. Clipper sources say that Karl, fired by the Seattle SuperSonics in May, was pushing for the Clipper job, but never received serious consideration. Sources close to Karl, considering a move into broadcasting, say he never pursued the Clipper opening.

Westphal admitted that he was interested, but he wound up being hired as Karl’s successor at Seattle.

Asked if he thought he would be the next Clipper coach, Rambis replied, “We’ll see.”

As a power forward, Rambis was known for his tough, gritty style, as someone who never hesitated to hit the floor in pursuit of a loose ball, or an opponent inadvertently while in pursuit of a rebound. Jerry West, Laker executive vice president, thinks the mentality that drove Rambis on the court would also serve him well as a coach.

“His work ethic as a player was one of his strong points,” West said. “We think he has a future as a coach. We always try to keep the players we value highly, but we have never held anybody back from bettering themselves. And we always let them make their own decisions.”

West has been impressed with Rambis’ performance under Harris.

“I have definitely seen some growth in him,” West said.

It is believed that the Clippers, who still owe former coach Bill Fitch $2 million for each of the next two seasons after firing him in April, will offer the new coach an annual salary of around $1 million.

Baylor, who doesn’t like dipping into the college ranks for a coach, likes Rambis.

And so does owner Donald Sterling, who has already been assured by Laker owner Jerry Buss that he won’t stand in Rambis’ way.

Already battling the Lakers for the attention of L.A.’s basketball fans, the Clippers will find themselves going head to head in the same building beginning in the fall of 1999, when the new Staples Center is expected to be completed.

Rambis must decide if he will be better off over the long term by staying with the Lakers and hoping he gets a chance to be head man or going with the struggling Clippers right now.

That is, if he gets an offer.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Passing in the Night

The Clippers have had nine coaches since they moved to Los Angeles in 1984-85 . A look at the coaches: *--*

Year Coach Record 1984-85 Jim Lynam 22-39 1985-87 Don Chaney 53-132 1987-89 Gene Shue 27-93 1988-90 Don Casey 41-85 1990-92 Mike Schuler 52-75 1991-92 Mack Calvin 1-1 1992-93 Larry Brown 64-53 1993-94 Bob Weiss 27-55 1994-98 Bill Fitch 82-167

*--*