HoopsHype.com Rumors

Are you attracted to the idea of coaching a player with a big ego like Kobe Bryant? Ettore Messina: I don't know if he has a big or little ego, but what I do know is that he is a great player and a great person. I will try to know him better and, if I can, help him. EFE

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Coaching, Ettore Messina 

The Los Angeles Lakers finally made official the hiring of Ettore Messina as "Coaching Consultant" to Head Coach Mike Brown. "I am honored to have received this opportunity from one of the greatest basketball organizations in the world," said Messina in a statement released by the team. "I have great respect for Coach Mike Brown and I'm excited to work with him and his staff." Sportando

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

Kevin Ding: Lakers officially sign new Mike Brown consultant Ettore Messina, named one of Euroleague's 10 greatest all-time coaches in '08. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

Kevin Ding: Ettore Messina on Lakers: "I am honored to have received this opportunity from one of the greatest basketball organizations in the world." Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

The Los Angeles Lakers later on Friday will officially announce that famed Italian head coach Ettore Messina is to join Mike Brown's coaching staff. Messina, who is currently tutoring at former Italy international Carlton Myers' basketball camp in San Patrigano, near Rimini, will serve as a consultant to Brown, the successor of Phil Jackson. Myers has no doubt that the coach who accomplished just about everything he could in Europe will also succeed across the Atlantic. FIBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

Now you leave the European basketball to be Mike Brown's assistant coach with the Lakers. You will become the first European coach in the NBA. Ettore Messina: The truth is that there has not been any official announcement, so it's difficult for me to talk about that. However, it looks like I could be in this new experience. AS.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

Philadelphia's Quin Snyder, who was in charge of player development with the 76ers last season, met with Brown last Thursday, much of the conversation about the offense, the official said. Chuck Person, the only holdover from Phil Jackson's staff, has interviewed several times with Brown about a position on the staff, the official said. It already has been reported that former Detroit Pistons coach John Kuester and former Moscow CSKA coach Ettore Messina are also expected to join Brown's staff, but nothing has become official. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Chuck Person, Coaching, Ettore Messina, John Kuester, Quin Snyder 

Brown has already hired famed Italian coach Ettore Messina to serve as a coaching consultant and likewise intends to hire John Kuester, recently fired by the Detroit Pistons, to focus on the Lakers' offense as Kuester did when he coached under Brown in Cleveland. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Ettore Messina, John Kuester 

Italian Coach Ettore Messina has agreed to work for the L.A. Lakers on Coach Mike Brown's staff. According to Zeno Pisani of Rivista Ufficiale NBA, Italy, a deal was agreed to on Friday. Pisani notes Messina will serve as "consultant to the head coach" in a full-time position. It would seem Messina will help Brown in a similar capacity that Tex Winter served former Laker Coach Phil Jackson. HoopsWorld

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

Ettore Messina said 'Yes' and will join the Lakers' coaching staff. The Italian coach will be a "consultant" for the new head coach Mike Brown. La Gazzetta dello Sport

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

Sam Amick: For Lakers, Person could still return. NO assistant Mike Malone 2 meet w/ coach Mike Brown soon. Ettore Messina in play for lesser role. Twitter

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Chuck Person, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina, Mike Malone 

Eric Pincus: Sounds like Lakers will add Mike Malone to coaching staff - not official yet. Also waiting for word on Ettore Messina. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Ettore Messina, Mike Malone 

Ettore Messina, former coach of the Italian national team, also is expected to join Brown's staff. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

Ettore Messina, as reported by sources close to the coach, is closer to accepting the proposal of Los Angeles Lakers for the assistant coach position. Sportando

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Ettore Messina 

Who is Ettore Messina for you – a colleague, a pupil, a teacher, a friend? Mike Brown: All of the above. He is a friend first. Definitely a teacher. He is a man I really respect on the floor and off the floor. I’d learned a lot from him watching his practices and talking to him about the game of basketball. Terrific coach. cskabasket.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

There are a lot of talks now about the big differences in NBA basketball and European basketball. What can NBA coach learn from Europeans? Brown: NBA basketball is really different from European basketball. We have such talented players as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony. You can give those guys the ball and ask them to create an offence for you. In Europe you don’t necessary have those type of talent plus you can play a true zone so it’s horror to have one person be able to create an offence for you. In Europe they pass better, they move the ball better, they set the screens better, the spacing is better. They have to relay upon being technically correct offensively in order to score. So for me to be able to come and try to pick up some of the spacing techniques, some of the ball movement techniques, some of the screening techniques, some of the motion techniques on offence I feel will help me to become better. cskabasket.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

On the heels of his agreement to join the Los Angeles Lakers staff as head coach (still unofficial, technically), Mike Brown may bring in Italian coach Ettore Messina as an assistant. Messina is considered one of the top European coaches but he's been looking to break into the NBA for some time now. Messina coached Virtus Bologna to two Euroleague titles (1998 & 2001, the latter with star Manu Ginobili). He also ran Benetton Treviso and CSKA Moscow (winner of Euroleague title in 2006 and 2008). Most recently he was the head coach for Real Madrid. HoopsWorld

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Real Madrid, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

Messina is a tough coach with a strong personality. He likes to call his team's plays and has a successful history developing players, especially in the post. Sources say his goal is to be an NBA head coach but understands full well the road to that begins as an assistant. During each off season over the past five or six years, Brown would spend two to three weeks overseas as a guest with Messina. HoopsWorld

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

On the heels of his agreement to join the Los Angeles Lakers staff as head coach (still unofficial, technically), Mike Brown may bring in Italian coach Ettore Messina as an assistant. Messina is considered one of the top European coaches but he's been looking to break into the NBA for some time now. Messina coached Virtus Bologna to two Euroleague titles (1998 & 2001, the latter with star Manu Ginobili). He also ran Benetton Treviso and CSKA Moscow (winner of Euroleague title in 2006 and 2008). HoopsWorld

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

Sources say his goal is to be an NBA head coach but understands full well the road to that begins as an assistant. HoopsWorld

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina