Products You May Like
College of Michigan trainer Juwan Howard just lately declined a Los Angeles Lakers overture for the franchise’s teaching activity, electing to stay at his alma mater, the place Howard will trainer his two sons subsequent season, assets instructed ESPN.
The Lakers have a proper seek procedure in position, however relationship school coaches most often calls for a distinct point of discretion. The Lakers have a finalist checklist of Milwaukee Dollars assistant Darvin Ham, Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson and previous Portland Path Blazers trainer Terry Stotts, assets stated. The Lakers are anticipated to behavior in-person interviews within the close to long term.
The Lakers by no means made a proper be offering to Howard, assets stated, but it surely’s transparent that if he had expressed an hobby within the activity, his candidacy would’ve moved briefly to that level. Whilst Howard has a enjoying historical past with Lakers common supervisor Rob Pelinka and megastar LeBron James, he has persistently maintained he plans to stay in Ann Arbor, the place his sons Jace and Jett shall be a junior and freshman, respectively, subsequent season.
Howard interviewed for the Los Angeles activity as a Miami Warmth assistant trainer in 2019, earlier than accepting the head-coaching activity at Michigan. Howard’s good fortune within the school ranks — at the side of his résumé as a six-year Warmth assistant and a two-time NBA champion as a participant — has impressed vital hobby in him amongst NBA groups.
Boston Celtics president Brad Stevens used to be inquisitive about Howard for his teaching opening a 12 months in the past, however Howard declined that overture too, assets stated. The Celtics employed Brooklyn Nets assistant Ime Udoka.
Like Howard, Ham is every other ex-player with robust management, presence, profitable enjoy and tactical figuring out from previous paintings with high-level head coaches. Ham could also be a robust candidate for the Charlotte Hornets‘ head-coach opening, assets stated. Ham labored with Hornets GM Mitch Kupchak as a Lakers assistant trainer a decade in the past.
Stotts and Atkinson each convey with them earlier NBA head-coaching enjoy.
Stotts maximum just lately coached the Blazers from 2012 to 2021 and reached the playoffs in his ultimate 8 consecutive seasons at the activity — together with two journeys to the Western Convention semifinals and a berth within the convention finals in 2019. He’s identified for his offensive creativity and a capability to construct relationships along with his megastar gamers.
Atkinson constructed a name for participant building as each an assistant and head trainer within the NBA. He spent three-plus years as head trainer of the Nets, whom he ended in a playoff look in his 3rd season in 2018-19.
Howard is 93-61 in 3 seasons at Michigan and used to be named nationwide trainer of the 12 months in 2021. His time with the Wolverines has incorporated top-five ballot scores in all 3 years, a Giant Ten regular-season identify and two journeys to the NCAA event.