The timing was perfect as far as Kenny Natt was concerned.
The Kings' schedule didn't permit him a breather, with the games continuing to come and his adjustment to his new position as interim coach coming on the fly after he took over Dec. 15. What better time for a family reunion in his home state to provide a much-needed change of pace? The Monroe, La., native came away with at least one positive memory on the Kings' 0-4 trip, reconnecting with his roots not long after his new challenge had begun. His 78-year-old mother, Dorothy, made the five-hour trip down from Dastrop to the team's hotel in New Orleans on Saturday. Natt's wife, Jolene, and their youngest of two daughters, 7-year-old Jazmine, were also there, having crossed the country from Sacramento to tend to Jolene's ailing mother in Alexandria, La. Natt also had two sisters on hand.
"That was the first time I had a chance to just get away from Basketball and all this madness," Natt said. "Because it was just a whirlwind (after Reggie Theus was fired and Natt took over). The responsibilities and the guys are coming at you from each direction. You're trying to clean up this or clean up that."
Which made the meeting all the more re-energizing.
"Those two hours that I visited with them, I was like, 'Oh, I feel so much better now,' " he said. "It was great. I'm rejuvenated and ready to go."
While Natt's NBA career was far from illustrious (he played in 49 games over three seasons spent in Indiana, Utah and Kansas City), his four years at Northeast Louisiana State University (now Louisiana-Monroe) came with more fanfare. A four-year letterman, he averaged 20.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in his senior season before graduating with a degree in business administration and being drafted 30th overall by Indiana in 1980. Natt's older brother Calvin, who also attended Northeast Louisiana State University, played 11 seasons in the NBA.
Natt will get a healthy stay on the home front starting today, as the Kings play their next three at Arco Arena against Toronto, Boston and the Clippers. From there, they have a four-games-in-five-nights getaway through Detroit, Indiana, New Jersey and Chicago that starts on Jan. 2.
Douby sits -- Kings guard Quincy Douby did not play because of a stomach virus. Douby has played in two of four games since Natt took over, logging nine and three minutes, respectively, against Portland and New Orleans. He has played in just 16 games overall.
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