Originally published Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 12:00 AM

NBA | Milwaukee Bucks hire Scott Skiles as coach

The Milwaukee Bucks need to play tougher defense, and start sharing the ball on offense. So they're turning to Scott Skiles, the man who...

By The Associated Press and McClatchy Newspapers

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks need to play tougher defense, and start sharing the ball on offense.

So they're turning to Scott Skiles, the man who owns the NBA's single-game assist record with 30.

The Bucks introduced Skiles, 44, as their new coach Monday, signing the former Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns coach to a four-year deal to replace someone Skiles considers a close friend, Larry Krystkowiak. The deal is worth $18 million, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported.

Skiles has no illusions about the difficult task he faces in turning around a team that finished 26-56.

Skiles said, "I don't have any magic dust to sprinkle on people."

Skiles was fired by the Bulls in December after making the playoffs in three of his first four seasons in Chicago.

Skiles said he is not likely to bring Krystkowiak back as an assistant.

"I would love to work with Larry at some point," Skiles said. "I don't know if this is the time or place for that."

Notes

• San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili won the NBA's sixth man award given to the best reserve. Ginobili led the Spurs in scoring, averaging a career-high 19.5 points to go with 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

• One of two men charged with participating in the betting scheme that involved disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy decided Monday not to plead guilty. James "Baba" Battista, 42, of Phoenixville, Pa, had been expected to enter a guilty plea Monday in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, N.Y. Battista's attorney has filed a change-of-venue motion, contending that none of the alleged offenses occurred in the Brooklyn district.

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