He sounds the same. He even looks the same. Paul Westphal favors casual attire, wears his wavy hair fashionably long, and while seated in a Natomas restaurant Tuesday during lunch, caresses a water glass with the same large, sure hands that catapulted him among the league's creative early dunkers.

Still. Nine years between coaching gigs is an NBA eternity.

What do we really know about this Paul Westphal, and specifically, how he will react to the influx of soda-sipping teens on his roster?

The gaps in his résumé are as vast and formidable as they are fascinating. The one-time prep star – who spurned UCLA and John Wooden, who learned at the knee of the late Red Auerbach, who survived Charles Barkley and befriended future politician Kevin Johnson, who escaped the ruin of the dysfunctional Seattle SuperSonics – slipped into town last week as somewhat of a mystery man.

Sorry I was on vacation. These days, any intrigue at Arco Arena, including Ricky Rubio's visit, is welcome.

Will the Kings' new coach rule with the velvet touch and practiced patience that characterized his successful early 1990s tenure with the Phoenix Suns? The turn-the-other-cheek philosophy that led to his demise with the Sonics in 2000? And what of the subsequent Pepperdine years?

Well, forget about the Waves. Westphal as college recruiter is an oxymoron. The man doesn't do hair gels or snake oil. Sleazy he will never be, though he took the money ($1.5 million per year, plus incentives) as soon as the Maloofs flashed the wallet.

But now comes the updated version of the NBA coaching test. It will soon be time to re-establish himself as an NBA head coach, articulate a vision for the franchise and implement offensive and defensive philosophies. He will have to prove that he's more than a pleasant, reasonable fellow who effectively coaches talented squads (Suns), not so effectively deals with knuckleheads (Sonics) and has little history with the younger set.

This is the issue. This is 2009. Anyone own a playpen? Many of the Kings are too young to buy beer. Is Westphal, 58, really ready for this? Spencer Hawes, the expert on everything. Jason Thompson and those huge feet. Donté Greene and his immaturity. Beno Udrih and his lousy work ethic. Kevin Martin's foot ailment and physical upside.

As the Westphal era begins, his parenting skills will be paramount, as will his ability to teach and demand, and impose structure while remaining consistent with his own personality.

Westphal can't suddenly become someone he's not. He can't become edgy and irritable and dictatorial. He is personable, a bit preppy, and tempers his candor with humor. But he will have to make the rules and set the agenda to restore a sense of stability at Arco.

"I am a little pragmatic," Westphal said. "I'm a big believer that you don't bang your head against a wall you can't knock down. If discipline needs to happen, and it's possible, you do it. If it's not possible, you go another way. You control playing time, things like that. The year we won an NAIA title at Grand Canyon College (now Grand Canyon University), I had kicked our two leading scorers off the team. You find a way."

When he studies the Kings, Westphal sees intriguing pieces and pockets of flaws. Guarding the three-point line will be a priority. Defensive rebounding will be another area of emphasis. And as far as style of play, Westphal is all up-tempo. That hasn't changed.

"There is a time to shed salaries, trade players, and a time to build," he continued. "The Kings are past some of that. It's time to teach the young guys, add to the mix and see some improvement. Then you take that step getting the Kings back to where they were, and hopefully beyond."

Call The Bee's Ailene Voisin, (916) 321-1208.