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Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | October 5, 2006

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During the first three days of Seattle SuperSonics training camp, the presence of former NBA referee Mike Mathis has been impossible to miss. This is the second straight year Mathis has worked with the Sonics during camp, but whereas his role was mostly behind the scenes last October, Mathis has worked hands on this time around, refereeing the Sonics scrimmages and leading drills.

"First of all, Mike Mathis will always be one of my favorites," said Sonics Coach Bob Hill after Thursday's practice. "He and I always had a great, great relationship when he was an official and I was coaching. Then on top of that, because of that friendship, he likes doing this, he wants to be here and I'm really, really trying to use him. I'm using him in stations, I'm using him after practice, before practice, I'm letting him lecture to the team."

"I'm really, really trying to use him. I'm using him in stations, I'm using him after practice, before practice, I'm letting him lecture to the team." Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

On Tuesday, Mathis spoke to the Sonics about legal post defense. Wednesday, he explained what is allowed at the free-throw line, sharing what referees are looking at in these situations.

In Mathis, the Sonics have one of the best helping out. During his 20-plus-year NBA career, Mathis worked 12 NBA Finals and three All-Star Games. Mathis made history in Seattle. He was the referee who made the decision to postpone the Sonics Jan. 5, 1986 game with Phoenix because the Seattle Center Coliseum roof was leaking - the only NBA game ever to suffer a rain delay. Mathis concluded his career at KeyArena, working the Sonics Dec. 17, 2001 win over Orlando before retiring because of bad knees.

"Just little things that we've already come away with from him that are going to help us," said Hill. "It means a lot. To have somebody of his caliber who understands the rules as well as he does to be here to give us little tidbits is great."

Of course, there's another benefit to having Mathis in camp. Now the Sonics coaching staff can offer some verbal abuse - all in good fun - without risking retribution in the form of a technical foul or ejection. Hill overruled Mathis on a call made while the Sonics scrimmaged Thursday. Later, Assistant Coach Jack Sikma yelled at Mathis to get out of the other team's huddle. The power has shifted in the staff's relationship with Mathis.

"I asked him, 'Do you want a whistle?'" recalled Hill. "He said, 'If I have a whistle in my mouth, I'll probably stop the scrimmage too much.' I said, 'You know what? You're right. You don't need a whistle.'"

Wilcox Pulls Himself Out of Practice

Forward Chris Wilcox removed himself from practice midway through with soreness in his right hamstring. Wilcox had experienced difficulty running. There was no timetable for his return.

"It's not a serious injury," said Hill. "He just tweaked it. He doesn't want to come back too quick."

While guard Kareem Rush was able to participate in the weave drill the Sonics closed practice with, Hill was not optimistic about Rush's chances of practicing fully in the near future because of a left groin strain.

"He's going to be out for a while," Hill said. "He's probably going to miss an exhibition game or two."

AUDIO

Listen to Bob Hill's meeting with the local media after practice. Also, Sonics broadcasters David Locke and Francis Williams discussed what they saw at practice.

Danny Fortson continues to be limited in practice because of his sore left knee.

Sonics Scrimmage For Media

For the first time, Hill opened up the Sonics scrimmages to the media. Three teams of five or six took turns scrimmaging in five-minute games, producing some close finishes. Rashard Lewis hit a long jumper with 2.1 seconds left with Milt Palacio draped all over him to end one scrimmage. Later, Ray Allen brought his Black team back by hitting consecutive 3-pointers.

The Black squad looked headed for victory when an inbounds play with exactly one second left on the clock used Allen as a decoy to free Nick Collison at the rim for an uncontested layup, but rookie Mickaël Gelabale - still adjusting to the NBA rules - was called for traveling on the inbounds pass.

Damien Wilkins also shined during the scrimmages, including one impressive play where he deflected the ball away from Allen, came up with the steal and finished at the rim in traffic at the other end.

Desmon Farmer, Noel Felix and Johan Petro joined Palacio and Wilkins on the White squad. Luke Ridnour, Denham Brown, Lewis, Kenny Adeleke and Robert Swift played for the Green team and Allen teamed with Earl Watson, Gelabale, Collison, Mouhamed Sene and Mike Wilks for the Black roster.

Overall, Hill was pleased with his team's effort.

"Usually the second day is a little rough because they're (practices) so long - they're starting at 10:00 - and then the third day falls off a little more," Hill said. "They picked it up today, went the other way, so I've got to be really pleased with the practice.

"They played hard today. It was long - three and a half hours and we don't give them much time off. They're moving. You've got to give them a lot of credit. They're doing a great job."