Who is Kelvin Sampson

by bacek on May 27, 2010 3:26 PM PDT

Truehoop Rumor suggests that the Clippers are interested in interviewing Bucks assistant Kelvin Sampson. Even going further, suggesting that his relationship with Blake Griffin can be a part of this.

His six degrees to Clippers players:

Coached EJ in Indiana (could be cited as the guy that destroyed the program, that's a different discussion)

Recruited Taylor Griffin and Blake Griffin. He is very familiar with the Griffin family

Pro experience:

He has been in pro basketball only for a couple of years. The past two years under Skiles as an assistant in Milwaukee. Also, for a short stint he worked with the Spurs.

Other tutelage of note: Assistant to George Karl when Karl was in charge of the US National team.

**Reminder this is a Truehoop Rumor nothing is confirmed by the Clippers.

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I would like to see him as the coach just b/c he is very high on EJ

If you listen to Sampson, he thinks EJ can be a star shooting guard in the NBA. I am sure that Sampson would be a much better offensive coach than both MDsr and “that other guy”. I am sorry, but I just could not stand Kim Hughes. He just didn’t seem like an NBA head coach and he seems like a push over.

HVYDRT007-"EJ's value is diminishing Game By Game"

Thanks for making my day HVYDRT, lmao!

by NBAFAN8 on May 27, 2010 3:35 PM PDT reply actions

Maybe he could be the one that helps EJ break out of his shell

Also being under 3 great coaches in Karl, Pop, and Skiles might give him reasonable experience in coaching. Good choice but I hope we’re still trying for TomT or Casey. Elson Turner sounds like a good prospective headcoach too.

http://bcnbatalk.wordpress.com/ - Scoops on Hoops!

by peterghost on May 27, 2010 3:53 PM PDT reply actions

clarification

by worked with the Spurs it was as an “advisor.” But, from what I read Pop has his hands on everything Spurs. So I am sure there was interaction between the two. Don’t know if Sampson helped coach or if he scouted.

Sampson only worked for the Spurs for a couple months. It’s not a long time, but you can learn a few things in a couple of months. It probably did help prepare him for his job with the Bucks.

by bacek on May 27, 2010 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I like it.

I’ve read he is highly regarded by Pop and RC Buford in San Antonio and that’s why they hired him shortly after the Indiana fiasco. He has a good relationship with EJ and BG. And I read his coaching style to be “strong defense and controlled offense”.

by hip2clip on May 27, 2010 5:03 PM PDT reply actions

He has a good relationship with EJ and BG

Not a bad reason to hire someone I suppose. Those 2 are certainly the main core of this team. Though just because he has a good relationship with both of them doesn’t mean it will be translated into anything on the court….but at least our 2 most important players like the guy….allegedly.

by dulciusXasperis on May 27, 2010 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions

What exactly did he do with BG?

http://lasportsops.tumblr.com/

by Regulan on May 27, 2010 7:48 PM PDT reply actions

Yea...

he left OU in 2006, BG didn’t go there until 2007. Now BG is from OKC so I’m sure he was already being recruited by Sampson and his staff at the time but not sure how strong of a connection it could be.

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on May 27, 2010 8:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Blake verbally committed before his junior year in HS

his brother was recruited by Sampson. Griffin’s father was the HS coach for both of them. There was plenty of interaction between Sampson and the Griffin family.

Being the OU coach don’t you think he would have been recruiting Griffin probably since 8th grade AAU ball.

by bacek on May 27, 2010 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions

at that time Blake was already projected if not actually better than Taylor, so he knew if he could get Taylor his chances towards Blake would triple…as the legend goes.

by Takebb909 on May 27, 2010 10:39 PM PDT reply actions

NOOOOOO!!!!

I’m a native Hoosier and a huge Indiana fan. Kelvin wrecked Indiana basketball for years, and I don’t want to see that slimeball near the Clippers. First rumors about Calipari and now Sampson, why do we want a cheater to be the head coach?

by ClipCat on May 28, 2010 6:58 AM PDT reply actions

That's exactly what I was thinking...

Sampson and Calipari were primarily recruiters… flashy salesman with questionable ethics. Clippers need a coach. A communicator. Best to look elsewhere.

by John Raffo on May 28, 2010 7:02 AM PDT up reply actions

College basketball is corrupt anyways

the whole system is setup to fail. Millions are at stakes so of course overzealous coaches will commit recruiting violations to nab the top prospects (see UConn and USC recently). I wouldn’t take the moral high ground on these coaches as thats just the name of the game but how good are these guys are their X’s and O’s? I don’t know either because I don’t track college basketball that closely.

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on May 28, 2010 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions

He was once considered an up and coming coach

There must be something good going on with him though; there aren’t many coaches that get killed like he did and almost immediately get a hired by a NBA team.

by bacek on May 28, 2010 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions

It's a good point...

Two years on the bench with Skiles is certainly a positive. BTW, there is no high road in Clipperdom. If we overlook DTS’ negatives, surely we can overlook NCAA violations.

by John Raffo on May 28, 2010 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Maybe bring him in as Asst. Coach

someone who could push EJ and BG on the sidelines.

LeBron or Bust !!!!

by bestclipfan on May 28, 2010 7:04 AM PDT reply actions

The Cavs are high on him too for some reason.

I hope we pass. Sampson strikes me as dirty.

"Buckle your seat belts, folks. This one's doing down to the wire." -The inimitable Ralph Lawler.

by Gordon for President on May 28, 2010 9:42 AM PDT reply actions

Pass on a guy that will do anything to win... Lets see if Del Harris is available.

by sqrebck on May 28, 2010 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Yea give me that guy who wont do anything to win

that’s more like it.

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on May 28, 2010 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions

I know right

Winning…yuck.

by Michael White on May 28, 2010 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Making too many phone calls to recruits was his downfall

Sampson is a very good coach and had a strong attachment to his players. He’s probably more suited to the NBA game than college. Indiana has always prided itself on running a squeaky clean program, and Sampson was absolutely the wrong guy to head the program. I suspect he didn’t do anything different at IU than he did at Oklahoma. HIs violation of NCAA rules was making too many phone calls and then trying to cover it up. Let’s see if UConn fires Jim Calhoun for what appears to be on the surface much more serious violations.

The mindset of the administration and fan base at IU is that you win the right way——with kids who go to school, get their grades, represent the university in a positive way, etc. I know Popovich has much respect for Sampson and reached out to Sampson after he was fired at IU. I also respect Scott Skiles as a coach and he hired Sampson as an assistant.

by Mike Wr on May 28, 2010 10:39 AM PDT reply actions