Vipers hire Robert Pack as assistant coach

The Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Tuesday announced the hiring of 13-year NBA veteran Robert Pack as an assistant coach.

"I could not be more pleased than to attract Robert to the Valley as our top assistant," Vipers coach Clay Moser said. "He is truly a star on the rise in the coaching profession. Beyond being an outstanding NBA player for many years, he also has international playing experience. He is current with the game today, and his story will resonate with our players. He is a great person that has persevered through many trials and tribulations, a testament to his character."

Nicknamed "Pac-Man" and known for his outstanding vertical leap and lateral quickness, the 6-foot-2 point guard from USC spent 13 seasons in the NBA, most notably with the Denver Nuggets. In 1994, Pack was part of the Nuggets team that made NBA history as the first No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in the first round of the NBA playoffs. One of the game's better dunkers, Pack also was the runner-up in the 1994 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest in Minneapolis. Pack also played for current Houston Rockets coach Rick Adelman in the 1992 NBA Finals as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers.

"I'm very excited to be joining Coach Moser and the Vipers' family," Pack said. "I look forward to developing and assisting players to reach their full potential and ultimate goal of playing in the NBA. I also look forward to helping Coach Moser put a product on the floor the Rio Grande Valley community will be excited to come out and see."

The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are a member of the NBA Development League (NBA D-League). Founded in 2001, the NBA D-League is the NBA's official minor league and features 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA teams. The league produced 15 percent of the players on the 2007-08 end-of-season NBA rosters and continues to develop current NBA coaches and referees. The Vipers open the 2008-2009 on Nov. 28 when they play host to the Tulsa 66ers at Dodge Arena.