Fans may grumble about a team’s play designs or rotations from time to time, but I generally believe that coaching in the NBA is as strong as it’s been in a while. Stubborn coaches who refused to accept the modern game have been phased out, while savvier and forward-thinking coaches have replaced them.
So who’s next? Here would be my top picks.
(3) Chris Finch, associate head coach, New Orleans
Chris Finch checks all the boxes of a modern NBA head coach.
The 48-year-old assistant has been around the world as a coach: literally. He’s coached in Great Britain, Germany, and Belgium, winning accolades in most places. He also had great success in the D-League, which has proven to be even better at developing coaches than players.
Recently, Finch has become a highly paid NBA assistant who specializes in an uptempo attack. He signed up with New Orleans this season and the changes have been apparent. The Pelicans went from scoring 104.3 points per game last season to 111.3 this year, 4th most in the NBA. Sure, a full (ish) year with DeMarcus Cousins helps, but it’s still not easy to rack up points with two big men and a lack of stellar shooting. It’s only a matter of time before Finch gets his first NBA head coaching job; in fact, New Orleans may have to consider promoting him in order to keep him.
(2) Tony Bennett, head coach, University of Virginia
Historically, the transition from college coach to NBA coach hasn’t gone well. However, that perception may be changing lately. The most famous example is Butler-Boston coach Brad Stevens, of course, but he’s not alone. Billy Donovan has found his footing in OKC. Possible Coach of the Year candidate Quin Snyder cut his teeth in college as well. Heck, even Gregg Popovich coached in college for 8 seasons, racking up a 76-129 record at Pomona-Pitzer.
In terms of college resumes, it doesn’t get much better than Tony Bennett. His Cavaliers team has a 25-2 record again, which would be stunning if it wasn’t so predictable. Here are his records lately, with the kenpom defensive stats listed.
2014: 30-7 record, # 4 defense in the country (out of 350 schools)
2015: 30-4 record, # 2 defense in the country
2016: 29-8 record, # 7 defense in the country
2017: 23-11 record, # 2 defense in the country
2018: 25-2 record so far, # 1 defense in the country
Even more amazingly, he’s doing that without premium recruits. In that span, Virginia has only seen 3 players drafted, none in the top 20.
There’s some concern that Bennett’s style of coaching — and his patented pack line defense — wouldn’t translate to the NBA. However, Bennett’s 48 years old, and smart enough to adapt to new talent around him.
What makes Bennett even more appealing as a possible NBA coach is the fact that he may be “gettable.” Right now, his listed salary is $2.4 million, which an NBA team can exceed. Further, Bennett may be getting tired of competing against the talent-stacked Dukes and UNCs with one arm tied behind his back and seek a new opportunity elsewhere.
(1) Nick Nurse, assistant coach, Toronto
Like Chris Finch, Nick Nurse paid his dues as a coach all across the globe. He’s also coached in Great Britain and the D-League, winning coach of the year honors in both stops.
Nurse’s recent stint as a lead assistant with Toronto represents a strong NBA resume as well. The Raptors’ success simply can’t be ignored anymore. Head coach Dwane Casey is finally earning his respect for a team that simply won’t go away, but Nurse deserves a lot of credit in terms of updating the offense and helping with player development.
The 50-year-old Nurse also seems like a low-key, humble coach who stays true to his Midwestern roots. He may not be the “splashiest” hire in the world, but he may be the safest bet.
Other notable candidates
David Fizdale (formerly MEM), Ettore Messina (SA), Nate Tibbetts (POR), David Blatt (formerly CLE), Jay Larranaga (BOS), Stephen Silas (CHA), James Borrego (SA), Alex Jensen (UTA)
