Reggie Theus

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Theus was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 9th pick of the 1978 NBA draft. He averaged 16.3 points per game during his first season and was runner-up for the 1979 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He was second on the team in scoring behind Artis Gilmore. Paired in the backcourt with fellow UNLV alumnus Ricky Sobers, Theus averaged 20.2 points and 6.3 assists in the 1979–1980 season. He earned the nickname 'Rush Street Reggie' while playing in Chicago for owning an apartment on that street and having an active social life. In 1981, he appeared in his first All-Star Game as the Bulls went 45–37 and made the playoffs. The Bulls defeated the New York Knicks 2–0 in the first round, with Theus scoring 37 points and 11 assists in the final game. The Bulls then faced the Boston Celtics in the next round and were swept 4–0. Theus averaged 19.8 points and 6.3 assists over the four playoff games. In 1982–1983, Theus averaged a career-high 23.8 points per game as the Bulls' leading scorer, but the Bulls finished 28–54. On February 14, 1984, Theus was traded to the Kansas City Kings for Steve Johnson and three second-round draft picks. Theus played for five coaches in five and a half seasons in Chicago: Jerry Sloan, Phil Johnson, Rod Thorn, Paul Westhead, and Kevin Loughery. He averaged 18.8 points and 5.6 assists in 441 games with the Bulls.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere in Chicago Stadium shifted whenever Theus took the floor. Paired in the backcourt with fellow UNLV alumnus Ricky Sobers, he became the team's offensive engine. In his rookie year (1978–79), he averaged 16.3 points and finished as the runner-up for Rookie of the Year, scoring second only to future Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore. By the 1979–1980 season, he elevated his game to 20.2 points and 6.3 assists per contest. The turning point arrived in February 1984 when newly hired coach Kevin Loughery benched him for the first half of the season before trading him to the Kansas City Kings on February 14, 1984, for Steve Johnson and three second-round picks. This transaction deeply saddened many fans who cherished his spirit, yet it opened a path that eventually brought Michael Jordan to the franchise.

Reader's Guide

Theus played college basketball at UNLV from 1975 to 1978, averaging 12.9 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game. He helped lead UNLV to the Final Four as a sophomore. He was named a second-team All-American as a junior. In 1989, he was inducted into the UNLV Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 1997 his number 23 was retired by the school. After his Bulls tenure, he played for the Kansas City/Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, and New Jersey Nets. He also played one season in Italy for Ranger Varese and appeared in the Greek Cup Final with Aris in 1993. He is one of only two players in league history listed at 6'6" or taller to tally more than 750 assists in an NBA season (788 in 1985–86), the other being Magic Johnson. His coaching career includes head coaching stints at New Mexico State, Cal State Northridge, and the Sacramento Kings, as well as an assistant coaching role with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was named head coach and athletic director at Bethune–Cookman in 2021.

Did You Know?

• Theus was a two-time NBA All-Star (1981, 1983) and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1979.
• He averaged a career-high 23.8 points per game in the 1982–83 season.
• Theus is one of only two players 6'6" or taller to record more than 750 assists in an NBA season.
• His number 23 jersey was retired by UNLV in 1997 and by Inglewood High School in 2014.