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Looking for toughness, Bucks hire feisty Skiles


The Milwaukee Bucks need to play tougher defense, and start sharing the ball on offense. So they're turning to Scott Skiles, the man who owns the NBA's single-game assist record and who once got into a fight with Shaquille O'Neal in his playing days.

The Bucks introduced Skiles as their new coach Monday, signing the former Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns coach to a four-year deal to replace Larry Krystkowiak.

And while Skiles said he learned some lessons after the Bulls fired him in December, he isn't backing away from his reputation for demanding a lot from his players.

"I always feel like I'm supposed to apologize for that," Skiles said. "Anybody that is going to come to work with enthusiasm, concentrate and play hard will never have a problem with me. I don't care if they throw the ball in the seats 25 times a game."

Skiles, who was drafted out of Michigan State by the Bucks in the first round in 1986, said he has a "fond place" in his heart for Milwaukee. But he has no illusions about the difficult task he faces in turning around a team that began the season with playoff aspirations but finished 26-56.

"It's not going to be easy," Skiles said. "I don't have any magic dust to sprinkle on people. We're going to have to do it by working harder and playing better [defense], and the first step will be getting competitive every single night. The team has not been competitive every night and if we do that, good things will happen."

Skiles spent nearly three full seasons in Phoenix after taking over for Danny Ainge early in the 1999-00 season. He was fired by the Bulls in December after making the playoffs in three of his first four seasons in Chicago.

Ginobili wins award

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili won the NBA's sixth man award given to the league's best reserve.

Ginobili led the Spurs in scoring, averaging a career-high 19.5 points to go with 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Ginobili came off the bench in 51 of his 74 games he played.

Kobe wants to stay

Kobe Bryant, who demanded a trade last May, now says he wants to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers and is open to finishing his career with them.

"I love the weather," Bryant said. "I love my '63 drop-top Impala. I love the 405 [freeway]. I love my guys."