RENO, Nev. -- Point guard Mike Bibby said Wednesday he intends to be back with the Sacramento Kings, hasn't watched the NBA Finals on television and is already getting ready to take on the Lakers again next year.

"I haven't watched it. I see the score and that's probably it,'' Bibby said about the championship series his team was denied after an overtime loss to Los Angeles in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.

"Everybody on the team still thinks we should have won that series. Our confidence level is still growing. We think we're going to be ready for next season,'' he said.

Bibby said he'll open negotiations with Kings' management July 1 and is anxious to return to the team.

"I love Sacramento,'' he told reporters during a teleconference announcing his plans to play next month in the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe.

"The only thing we didn't accomplish was to get into the finals. We played the Lakers tough every game and we still think we should have won,'' Bibby said.

"Each series is going to help us down the road. If we come back and play like we did in the playoffs, I think we'll have the best record in the league again.''

Bibby didn't discuss any specifics of the officiating in the Lakers' series, but said he was pleased to learn consumer advocate Ralph Nader sent a letter to NBA Commissioner David Stern asking for a review of the officiating in Game 6.

"It makes it feel good that it wasn't just us crying. We're happy other people saw what really happened,'' Bibby said Wednesday.

"I'm still a little bit upset because I think we still should be playing right now. But I've already started getting ready for next season. You've really got to try to put it behind you.''

Bibby dismissed criticism that none of the Kings seemed to want the ball down the stretch in overtime.

"I wanted the ball. I don't know about anybody else. I think it was Game 7 and I was a little nervous. I think everybody on the team was a little bit nervous,'' Bibby said.

"You can always look back and say one shot, one free throw. You can obviously say, `What if?' I think we're ready for the next step.''

Bibby has agreed to join teammate Chris Webber at the celebrity golf tournament July 19-21 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nev.

What's his handicap?

"I don't know. I'm not that good,'' Bibby told reporters.

What are his strengths?

"I don't know if there are any strengths. ... I'm just going to go out there and hit the ball. People might have to duck.''

Bibby said he's been spending time at home with his family in Phoenix since he left Sacramento last week.

"I've been lifting since I got back to get my legs stronger, my upper body stronger, to prepare for next season,'' he said.

The former Arizona standout who came to Sacramento in an off-season trade said he tried to fit in on his new team during the regular season but intends to continue the aggressive play he showed in the playoffs.

"It was my first year. I didn't want to really step on any toes, just be mediocre and let things come to you and play,'' Bibby said.

"In the playoffs, I tried to be more aggressive and try to make something happen. I think we play a lot better when I do that,'' he said.

"I think Chris and myself, we developed a pick and roll that is real hard to stop. Chris' jump shot, helps off the pick and roll a lot.''

Although Bibby is becoming a restricted free agent this summer, Kings owner Joe Maloof said moments after the Kings season ended, "We're going to sign him. There's no doubt about it.''

Bibby said he's aware some other teams are interested in him but he plans to be back with the Kings.

"It's the best situation I've been in in my whole life,'' he said.

"I have fun with the team on and off the court. They definitely have the best fans in the NBA. Why would anybody want to leave that?''