Straight to the top job

[spacejammer]

I saw on BBC Sport it has been reported that JJ Reddick has taken on the head coaching role at the Lakers.

It sort has got me thinking about the different journeys coaches go on to get to the NBA as well as the same for other sports as well.

Whilst I understand what ex players might bring in terms of understanding.
I do sometimes question whether a recently retired ex player should take the top job over a coach with years of experience who have had to work they're way through the ranks and other leagues to get the position.

I know it's not just basketball but other sports that do this, but it is an interesting question?

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/articles/cz77zwe3yp7o

[SamH]

Yeah it's a curious thing because some very capable assistants never seem to get a chance, while guys like JJ, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Ty Lue - just waltz into a head coaching job with no experience. And it doesn't always go well!

Now, I would argue the Lakers job is far from a top gig, because it seems like no coach lasts more than 2 seasons there. Maybe that's down to LeBron, in which case it might be ok this time as surely he won't be playing after 2 more seasons! It will be interesting to see if LeBron and other veterans like AD respond well to a rookie coach though, and someone who was playing in the league 5 minutes ago too. What I don't see happening is the Lakers becoming contenders - and you could bring Pop, Red, Phil Jax in...it doesn't matter. The West is too stacked for them to handle!

[spacejammer]

Jun 24, 2024 21:54:28 GMT SamH said:

Yeah it's a curious thing because some very capable assistants never seem to get a chance, while guys like JJ, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Ty Lue - just waltz into a head coaching job with no experience. And it doesn't always go well!

Now, I would argue the Lakers job is far from a top gig, because it seems like no coach lasts more than 2 seasons there. Maybe that's down to LeBron, in which case it might be ok this time as surely he won't be playing after 2 more seasons! It will be interesting to see if LeBron and other veterans like AD respond well to a rookie coach though, and someone who was playing in the league 5 minutes ago too. What I don't see happening is the Lakers becoming contenders - and you could bring Pop, Red, Phil Jax in...it doesn't matter. The West is too stacked for them to handle!

Yeah I suppose my question really was how come you get coaches like Nick Nurse and Chris Finch who early in their coaching careers was coaching in the BBL long before they went to the NBA.
Then you get players who just finish their NBA career and suddenly jump the queue in way.

I suppose if it goes wrong then similar to Frank Lampard in football you can argue that fantastic players don't always make for brilliant coaches or owners etc...

Although it would be fascinating if JJ Reddick had have ended up having to coach Plymouth Patriots or Caledonia Gladiators before being able to take the reigns of one of the most successful NBA teams of all time.

[tallerman]

You could argue that the NBA is the easiest league to coach in. You have staff that do everything for you and the players are the elite of the elite

[ScottishBasketballFan]

A player/coach from Braehead, now Glasgow Clan had a career in the NHL, he came to Braehead in Season 2, he left to coach a team back in Canada, years later gets appointed to the HC role of the St Louis Blues AHL team, Blues get rid of their HC and appoint Drew Bannister on an interim basis but then appoint him as full time HC on a 2 year deal.

[SamH]

There are different paths - some coaches come through from the NCAA (the Lakers almost hired one such guy before deciding against him). Nurse and Finch are fairly unique in having got started overseas, there was David Blatt as well but he was coaching at a higher level than the BBL. I very much doubt an ex player would be motivated enough to go somewhere abroad for low pay to get started though, it wouldn't be worth it to them. A lot start as assistants - its just interesting that someone like say, Sam Cassell, has been an assistant for years, and someone like JJ can walk straight in as a head coach. Now maybe some don't actually want to be head coaches, but I know say, Patrick Ewing for example, wanted it for years and years and never even got close to it, yet he was always deemed a solid assistant so its not like he wasn't suitable at all for coaching. Strange!

[spacejammer]

Interesting points so far.
I suppose another way to look at it is if you were incharge of the Lakers or any other NBA franchise.

Would you prefer to have a coach that has years and vast amount of experience in the NBA or other leagues around the world.
Or would you be willing and wanting to take a chance on an ex player recently retired with no previous coaching experience?

If it was me I probably would want someone that is experienced either in the NBA as an assistant, G League or success in a strong league abroad like Europe or Australia.

[hayesboy]

I think the fact that NBA teams do have such comprehensive coaching staffs it does allow them to take a punt on former players like Reddick.
From my perspective coaching at any level is not just about the X,s and O's. It is also about man management and at the top level force of personality, drive, determination and confidence. I guess and ex NBA player with a successul career behind him is likley to have that........being good pals with the infuential star probably helps as well!