Coach Baron Davis? (Photo. Tim Tadder)That line — delivered by the forever-solemn Thomas Sheppard (played by Leon) in Above the Rim — sums up how a lot of ex-ballplayers feel when it comes to making a career change. At the same time, there are a number of guys who look forward to giving back to the game via coaching once their playing days are over.
Which current or recently-retired NBA players could be head coaches someday? Darrell Armstrong and David Wesley are the easy choices: D.A. is basically a player/assistant coach already with the Nets, and Wesley was doing the same thing with the Cavs last year.
Sam Cassell immediately jumps to mind. He’s already mastered the art and science of working the refs, he’s been a good mentor to younger teammates, and he’s one of the most cerebral players in the game today.
Who else could I see taking over on the bench someday? Kevin Garnett, Eric Snow, Lindsey Hunter, Shane Battier, Derek Fisher, Alonzo Mourning, Chris Quinn, Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Chris Paul, Malik Rose, Grant Hill, Jarrett Jack, Bruce Bowen, Michael Finley, Jacque Vaughn, Baron Davis and Matt Harpring.
The players least likely to become coaches? Tony Allen, Joakim Noah, Ben Wallace, Salim Stoudamire, Ron Artest, Darius Miles, Stephen Jackson, Jeff McInnis, Tim Thomas, Kwame Brown, Ricky Davis and Stephon Marbury
Then there’s that other wildly popular post-playing career: TV commentary/analysis. And there are a few guys who I’m just counting the days until they’ll pop up on NBA Fastbreak or NBA TV Gamenight: Ray Allen, Juwan Howard, Jason Terry, Brian Scalabrine, Nick Collison, Rip Hamilton, Damon Jones, Jared Dudley, Mike James, Elton Brand, Charlie Bell, Mark Madsen, Vince Carter, Robert Horry and Gilbert Arenas.
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Myrie says:
“….Georgetown?….I don’t think so”
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Mike C says:
Was Above the Rim the best hoops movie ever?
I think so.. it’s been a long time since I last caught it, but I remember the story and the basketball scenes in the movie being pretty good.
Plus Pac was in it, so that pushes it over the top..
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Sushimatic says:
Spot on lists. I’d love to see Collison in the booth. I think he’d do awesome.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:28 pm
yoda says:
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh was nice one ( big fan of dr. j:P ). about coaching, i dont think we will see any of these big names as coaches, maybe Grant Hill. most of role players will probably sometimes try to find some place on some bench. i think DFish could be nice one.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Austin Burton says:
If Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas and Magic all coached, today’s big-name guys could do it. Would they be GOOD coaches? That’s another story.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
smity says:
loads of content today…hard to keep up…keep it coming
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
smity says:
i could see shareef coaching someday too.
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:35 pm
alberto says:
How about Ruben “DA Nanny Stopper” Patterson?
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Amar says:
retired a while ago (9 years ago), but Hornacek has been saying no to teams for quite a while. once his youngest (his daughter) goes to college expect him to put his hat in the ring. can he teach players? kirilenko’s shot seems to be fixed. (he’s even hit 10 of his last 16 threes)
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Kobeef says:
‘Sheed for Coach!
Even if it didn’t last it would be awesome to watch.
In all seriousness - Rasheed knows the game inside-out, is a team player, would make his players tough as nails, would be respected by his players and for kicks - I bet Rasheed’s got style.
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Jalod says:
” U ain’t goin’ 2 college or any BLEEP-ing where if me and the birdmen don’t win, good game” ‘Pac as Birdie..classic performance…plus bernie mac’s cameo was whack yo..daffy duck without his beak..
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Gee says:
I think Steve Smith would make a good coach. Mark Jackson is another one that I think would make a great coach, the guard that is.
I think Dominique would also make a great coach, has he ever tried to?
I honestly think Kobe knows the game so well he would be great, but I think he would be a hard task master.
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Amar says:
“this is going in the books — it’s one on bum!” - m.wayans
January 24th, 2008 at 3:07 am
yoda says:
austin, my reason why i dont see any of big names as coaches is that they are diferent then names youve put up there. most of players play game for money ( and they are loaded), while old school players played for love of the game. plus, old players had only basketball to play, these days players make movies, music, fashion etc…i could be wrong, but i dont think many of best players of this age will try to be coaches.
January 24th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Desrat says:
I think that the reason that great players have trouble being coaches is best demonstrated by MJ. He knows the game inside and out, is well documented for making his teammates better by putting his mates in the right situations at the right times. The problem is that he is absolutly shocked that other prople can not do what he does. I do not think that I am as good at anything as MJ is at Bball, but the things that I am good at seem so easy that I am shocked when my coworkers etc. can not do them as well as me. I am a great teacher of things that I have to work at to be good at, but I get very frustrated with trying to teach somebody something that comes naturally to me.
Just look at MJ with K. Brown. That kid could have been great. MJ was blown away that the kid could have those phiysical gifts and could not perform.
The best Players to become coaches are PhilJax, Nate The Great McMillian.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Mumba_24 says:
I think I should be next……
Coaching is more than x’s and o’s….it’s being able to relate to people…motivating….critiquing….Look at PJ Carlesemo….he’s on the same path as he was with Sprewell…he probably would be a good college coach..but you have to treat men like men…..you have to have not just an eye for talent, but a feel for it…and last you have to have some sort of style of play….
I was in the locker room when Terry Stotts was coaching, and someone in the media asked him (this was his first home game), “Hey coach what is your style of play”? This fool said, “I don’t know, I’ll have to see..blah blah blah”….I’m thinking, you don’t have a style…neither will your team…you have to give them an identity and bring players in to fit your system…..you see where he is now…..
MJ was wrong in the way he handled Kwame….he killed his spirit…his confidence…Kwame was a kid…and now we may never see his full potential….I blame the whole Wizards organization for that…..
However, Kwame can’t blame his present failure to launch on MJ…you see how they(LA) brought along Andrew Bynum…