Detroit Pistons coach Michael Curry's career path wasn't clearly established in 1990 as an undrafted rookie out of Georgia Southern.

Kings scouting director Scotty Stirling had seen Curry play and thought he had an NBA shot. Stirling brought Curry to the 1990 training camp run by coach Dick Motta.

When Jerry Reynolds saw Curry, the 6-foot-5 athlete's energy and passion showed on defense.

"He showed he could play defense and that he was a disciplined, hard-working guy," Reynolds said. "You usually find (that) players with a good work ethic, they find ways to get better. That's exactly what Michael did, and he had a pretty nice career."

However, it didn't stop there. Curry didn't make the Kings but eventually played for six NBA teams during 11 seasons and also played in Georgia, Italy and Spain.

"When I was in Sacramento," he said recently, "I was hoping to become a good NBA player. I always had really good court sense, and I was able to work and develop my skill level. I've always been a good leader and a student of the game.

"When I came up on my first 10-day contract with Detroit, I think I showed leadership skills, and after my first year with the Pistons, I was a captain. I've just always been a leader on whatever teams I've played."

Curry began to lead more than his team. He was vice president and then president of the National Basketball Players Association.

"I think people began to see me because of my basketball IQ and leadership roles as a potential coach," he said.

Detroit general manager and Hall of Famer Joe Dumars saw more than anyone. He hired Curry as an assistant, and in June, Curry replaced Flip Saunders as coach.

So when you check out a rookie or young player, make sure you look beyond the jump shot.

There may be more than you see.

Too many big men on perimeter

By the way, the dribble-handoff at the top of the three-point circle from Brad Miller to Spencer Hawes in the Portland game hopefully will never be performed again.

What the heck are these two dudes doing on the perimeter so often? Miller, I have no problem with because he has no low-post game. The next time he thinks about another wide-open 17-footer, fakes and drives to the basket, there should be a buzzer that coach Reggie Theus could push and shock the heck out of him.

Miller needs to watch a couple of tapes of former Pistons Bad Boy Bill Laimbeer. He never drove because he couldn't. One way to succeed in athletics is to recognize your strengths and weaknesses.

Miller is an excellent perimeter shooter and terrible around the basket. Hawes has somewhat of a dilemma because he is an excellent shooter and has inside game. Here's advice, my young brother: Do your thing around the hoop first, like one of your favorites, Hakeem Olajuwon.

River Cats staff stays, but why?

The River Cats announced this week that manager Todd Steverson, pitching coach Rick Rodriguez, hitting coach Brian McArn and athletic trainer Brad LaRosa will return for another season.

That's certainly good for the team and its fans, but it would seem Rodriguez and McArn are due their time in the sun soon. Steverson is entering only his second Triple-A season as a manager.

However, when the A's brought up Tony DeFrancesco last season to become their third-base coach, that inspired questions. This dude was the worst third-base coach I'd seen.

Call The Bee's Martin McNeal, (916) 326-5504.