Last Updated on May 29, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Reggie Theus brought a smooth scoring game to the NBA, combining creativity with the ability to take over stretches of a game when his team needed points. Beyond his years as a player, he remained connected to basketball through coaching and leadership roles, adding another chapter to a career that spanned far beyond the court.
Player Profile
Personal Information:
- Full Name: Reginald Wayne Theus
- Nationality: American
- Date of Birth: October 13, 1957
- Hometown: Inglewood, California, USA
- Height: 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 meters)
- Weight: 190 pounds (86 kilograms)
- Wingspan: 6 feet 8 inches
- Position: Shooting Guard / Small Forward
- Jersey Numbers: 24, 23, 25
Education:
- High School: Inglewood High School, Inglewood, California
- College: University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
College Career:
At UNLV, Theus played under coach Jerry Tarkanian from 1976 to 1978. He averaged 12.9 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game over three seasons. As a sophomore, he helped lead the Runnin’ Rebels to their first Final Four appearance. In his junior year, he earned Second Team All-American honors with averages of 18.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
Professional Career:
- NBA Draft: Selected 9th overall in the first round of the 1978 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls.
- Teams Played For:
- Chicago Bulls (1978–1984)
- Kansas City/Sacramento Kings (1984–1988)
- Atlanta Hawks (1988–1989)
- Orlando Magic (1989–1990)
- New Jersey Nets (1990–1991)
- Career Highlights:
- Two-time NBA All-Star
- One of only nine players in NBA history to record at least 19,000 points and 6,000 assists.
Coaching Career:
- NBA Coaching:
- Head Coach of the Sacramento Kings (2007–2008)
- College Coaching:
- Head Coach at New Mexico State University
- Head Coach at California State University, Northridge
- Head Coach and Athletic Director at Bethune-Cookman University (appointed July 7, 2021)
Personal Life:
- Family: Theus is one of four children born to Felix and Willie Mae Theus. His parents divorced when he was four years old. His father, who owned a janitorial business, passed away before Reggie’s senior year in high school. Reggie briefly managed his father’s business after his passing.
Player Archetype / Play Style
Reggie Theus was a big combo guard who fit the archetype of a smooth scoring playmaker, blending shot creation with real passing feel rather than operating as a pure table-setter or pure gunner. Defensively, he was more of a perimeter matchup piece than a stopper, using his size to check guards and some wings without being the kind of player a team built its scheme around. On offense, he could handle, create off the dribble, run guard actions, and carry stretches as a lead scorer, which made him a difficult cover in the open floor and in half-court situations. Physically, Theus stood 6’6″ and 190 pounds, giving him tall-guard size, long strides, and enough fluidity to play either backcourt spot. His overall style was stylish and controlled: a confident, upright attacker with scoring flair, transition burst, and the vision to mix buckets with playmaking when the game opened up. (NBA)
Sources: Reggie Theus player profile — NBA.com; Running and Gunning with Reggie Theus, 1979 — From Way Downtown; Reggie Theus stats, height, weight, position, draft status and more — Basketball-Reference