Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Reginald Wayne Theus is an American basketball coach and former professional player, known for his significant contributions both on the court and from the sidelines.
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