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ST. FRANCIS, Wis. - Terry Porter is finally over the heartache of being bypassed by his hometown team in the NBA draft 18 years ago.
Now he's coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.
"I'm glad they didn't pass on me this time; '85 was a tough year for me," Porter said Wednesday at his introductory news conference.
Porter replaces George Karl, who was fired July 20, and becomes the first black coach in franchise history.
After starring at Milwaukee South Division High School and Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Porter was hoping to be drafted by the Bucks in 1985.
He even spent the evening as their guest at the club's draft headquarters at the Milwaukee Arena.
But coach Don Nelson selected LSU's Jerry Reynolds instead and Portland grabbed Porter two spots later with the 24th pick.
He starred for a decade with the Trail Blazers, becoming their career assists leader before stops at Minnesota, Miami and San Antonio and then retirement in 2002.
Through it all, he never forgot that awful night in 1985. "Growing up in this town and being a part of the draft day and then not get drafted, it was disappointing," Porter said.
"But I look forward to being a big part of the organization now."
Sen. Herb Kohl had just bought the team when the Bucks passed on Porter the player. Kohl gladly welcomed him this time.
"We are really very pleased that a man from our community has gone out and been a big success and now is coming home to provide that kind of leadership to our organization," Kohl said.
Porter, 40, worked last season as an assistant with the Sacramento Kings, his first in coaching after a 17-year playing career.
Porter said he never saw his short coaching resume as a drawback. "My playing career stands for itself," he said. "And some of the things that made me a great player are going to make me a great coach as far as my work ethic, my time commitment and my personal drive to be better."
Following two straight underachieving seasons, Karl was fired after posting a 205-173 record in five seasons in Milwaukee. The Bucks are paying him his $7-million contract for 2003-04 plus more than $1.5-million for the 1 percent slice of the team that Kohl gave him two years ago.
The Bucks didn't reveal terms of Porter's contract other than to say it is for four years.
Porter, who was among eight candidates for the job, inherits a young team that has lost the "Big Three" of Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson and Sam Cassell through trades, and features Desmond Mason, Dan Gadzuric, Marcus Haislip, rookie T.J. Ford and Michael Redd instead.
JAZZ: Free agent Michael Ruffin signed a one-year deal. The 6-foot-8 forward played in Spain last season.
SIXERS: Hall of Famer Alex English joined the coaching staff as assistant to Randy Ayers.
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