Mike Bibby is bringing new energy to Sacramento State and is not shy about tapping into basketball's deepest family roots to build his program. Since taking over as head coach, Bibby's phone hasn't stopped ringing with calls from former NBA players eager to place their sons in his hands. And for Mike, the logic is simple.
"How could you not take a guy that has NBA blood in him?" he asked .
Bibby's approach is rooted in his own experience. He's the son of Henry Bibby, a former NBA player and coach, and he's lived the reality of growing up around the game.
"Like Eddie, like your kids, my son, my uncle was an MLB pitcher. My dad played in the NBA. I played in the NBA. You played in the NBA. So, you got ties with your, both your family got ties to basketball."
For Mike, there's something special about coaching kids who have grown up with the game in their DNA.
It's not just talk. Bib's roster already features Shaq's son, Shaqir O'Neal, and Dion Glover's son, with more NBA pedigrees likely on the way.
"I'm getting a lot of players that were in the NBA that want to give me their son. And I'm looking at all of them, seeing what guys I could take. You see, I got Shaq's son playing. I got Dion Glover's son on the team. I talked to a few other people as well."
The appeal is obvious. Bibby knows what it takes to get to the top, and parents who have been through the NBA grind, trust him to guide their kids the right way. He's not just looking for talent. Mike is looking for young men who understand the work, discipline, and pressure that come with chasing basketball greatness.
"These kids are trying to get to where I've been, and why not get it from someone that's been there before?" Bibby said recently, underlining his commitment to teaching and accountability.
But Bibby's not just collecting famous last names for the sake of it. He's building a culture where every player, NBA bloodline or not, is pushed to be their best.
"Everything has to be precise. We do it hard, or we do it again," Mike tells his team.
The former Sacramento Kings star wants players who buy into the grind, the details, and the no-shortcuts mentality that defined his own career. Having an NBA lineage might open the door, but it doesn't guarantee anything. Bibby's program is about earning your spot, not inheriting it. Still, he's honest about the edge that comes with a basketball family tree.
In a sport where pedigree matters and experience counts, Mike is betting that a little bit of basketball DNA and a lot of hard work can help Sacramento State make some noise.
With Bibby at the helm and NBA bloodlines running through the roster, the Hornets are suddenly one of the most intriguing stories in college hoops. And as more basketball families look for a coach who's been there, done that, and can show their sons the way, Sacramento State is quickly becoming the place to be for the next generation of hoopers.
