Reggie Theus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Reggie Theus

Theus in 2008
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
Head coach / Athletic director
Personal information
Born	(1957-10-13) October 13, 1957 (age 67) Inglewood, California, U.S.
High school	Inglewood (Inglewood, California)
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
College	UNLV (1975–1978)
NBA Draft	1978 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall
Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Pro career	1978–1993
League	Southwestern Athletic Conference
Career history
As player:
1978–1984	Chicago Bulls
1984–1988	Kansas City / Sacramento Kings
1988–1989	Atlanta Hawks
1989–1990	Orlando Magic
1990–1991	New Jersey Nets
1991–1992	Ranger Varese
1993	Aris
As coach:
2002	Las Vegas Slam
2003–2005	Louisville (assistant)
2005–2007	New Mexico State
2007–2008	Sacramento Kings
2009–2011	Minnesota Timberwolves (assistant)
2012–2013	Los Angeles D-Fenders
2013–2018	Cal State Northridge
2021–present	Bethune–Cookman
Career highlights and awards
As player 2× NBA All-Star (1981, 1983) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1979) No. 23 retired by UNLV Runnin' Rebels As coach WAC tournament champion (2007)
Career NBA statistics
Points	19,015 (18.5 ppg)
Rebounds	3,349 (3.3 rpg)
Assists	6,453 (6.3 apg)

Reginald Wayne Theus (born October 13, 1957) is an American basketball coach and a former star player. He played for 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he was chosen for the NBA All-Star game twice.

Currently, Theus is the head coach for the men's basketball team and the athletic director at Bethune–Cookman University. He has also been the head coach for the Sacramento Kings in the NBA, as well as for college teams like the New Mexico State Aggies and the Cal State Northridge Matadors.

Early Life and High School

Reggie Theus grew up in Inglewood, California. He was one of four children. He attended Inglewood High School, where he became a standout basketball player. During his senior year, he was a top player, averaging an amazing 28.6 points and 15.5 rebounds per game.

College Basketball Career

From 1976 to 1978, Theus played college basketball for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels under the famous coach Jerry Tarkanian. In his three seasons, he averaged 12.9 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game. He became one of the best players in the university's history.

In his second year, Theus helped lead UNLV to the school's first-ever Final Four, which is the semifinal round of the NCAA national championship. The team set records for scoring the most points in a season. As a junior, he was named a second-team All-American, an honor for the best college players in the country.

Because of his great career, Theus was added to the UNLV Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1997, his jersey number, 23, was retired by the university, meaning no other player can wear it.

NBA Playing Career

Theus was a talented 6-foot-7-inch guard who could score and pass the ball. He was chosen by the Chicago Bulls with the 9th pick in the 1978 NBA draft.

Chicago Bulls (1978–1984)

In his first season, Theus averaged 16.3 points per game and was the runner-up for the NBA Rookie of the Year award. The next year, he improved even more, averaging 20.2 points and 6.3 assists. He was known for his energetic style of play, which made him a fan favorite in Chicago.

In 1981, he was selected for his first NBA All-Star Game. That same year, he helped the Bulls make the playoffs. In 1983, he had his best scoring season, averaging 23.8 points per game.

In 1984, Theus was traded to the Kansas City Kings. This move was part of a series of changes that later allowed the Bulls to draft superstar Michael Jordan.

Kansas City/Sacramento Kings (1984–1988)

Theus continued to play well for the Kings. The team moved from Kansas City to Sacramento in 1985. In the 1985–86 season, he averaged 18.3 points and an impressive 9.6 assists per game, helping the Kings reach the playoffs.

He was a key player for the Kings for four seasons, known for both his scoring and his ability to set up teammates.

Later Career and Achievements

After his time with the Kings, Theus played for the Atlanta Hawks, the Orlando Magic, and the New Jersey Nets. He played alongside other famous players like Dominique Wilkins and Moses Malone in Atlanta.

Theus finished his NBA career with a total of 19,015 points and 6,453 assists. He is one of only two players in NBA history who were 6'6" or taller to have more than 750 assists in a single season. The other player is the legendary Magic Johnson.

After the NBA, he played one season in Italy and a short time in Greece before retiring as a player in 1993.

Coaching Career

After his playing days were over, Theus became a successful coach.

College Coaching

In 2005, he became the head coach for New Mexico State. He quickly turned the team around, taking them from a losing record to a winning one. In his second year, he led the team to the NCAA Tournament.

He later coached at Cal State Northridge from 2013 to 2018. In 2021, he was hired as the head coach and athletic director for Bethune–Cookman, where he works today.

NBA Coaching

Theus also coached in the NBA. In 2007, he was hired as the head coach of the Sacramento Kings, the same team he once played for. He later worked as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves and as a head coach for the South Bay Lakers in the NBA's development league.

Life Outside of Basketball

Theus has also worked in acting and broadcasting. He was a host for sports talk shows and worked as a studio analyst for TV networks. He even appeared in a TV show called Hang Time, where he played a high school basketball coach. He also provided commentary for the video game NBA Live 2000 and appeared in a few movies.

Personal Life

Theus is married to Elaine. They have three children: Raquel, Reginald, and Rhyan.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Head coaching record

College

NBA

D-League

See also

In Spanish: Reggie Theus para niños

• List of NBA career assists leaders
• List of NBA career turnovers leaders