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What are you most excited about to join this coaching staff?

“The opportunity to help the players, the team in general, make them better shooters, better skill players. Hopefully improve the players and improve the team’s chances of winning a championship. I really like David Fizdale and Ed Stefanski, and the people I’ve met here have made me feel very welcomed.”

How did your relationship start with Coach Fizdale?

“He was a sophomore at Freemont High School in south central L.A. and I was down there recruiting some players. After the practice I helped him on his shooting - I was the coach at Long Beach State at the time. Later on he was doing a camp with Scotty Brooks who I coached at UCI and is now coaching the Washington Wizards, and I worked with David at that camp on his shooting. Later, I bumped into him in the NBA and here we are today. It’s good to be back with him. He’s a great guy. It’s all come full circle.”

Who has served as a mentor to you along your coaching career?

“There have been a number of coaches. Gary Colson of Pepperdine University, my first job, he was really a huge mentor in my life. He taught me balance. There are high school coaches, Terry Hennigan and Chris Conlin, from high school, were great coaches and they cared about their kids.

What are you looking forward to the most about the City of Memphis?

“My mom grew up in Hairmon, Tennessee so I came to Tennessee when I was a 9-year-old boy and I loved it here.  I’ve been to Memphis off and on over these past 10 years and I really like the city and the people, they are all down-to-earth with good hearts. I’m looking forward to my time with the people of Memphis.”

When you are not coaching, what do you like to do in your spare time?

“I work out every day. In my time away from coaching I spend most of it with my daughters, Taylor and Ali, their husbands, and my grandson, Colin, and their pups Bower and Bennett.”

Can you describe the sense of accomplishment you feel when you get All-Star caliber players such as Jason Kidd and Blake Griffin to raise their games to another level with improved shooting numbers?

“That’s my life, it’s the gratification of that! I’ll give you a quick story: I was at the Olympics [practice] in 2007, down in Vegas. Jason [Kidd] and I had been working together for about a year and a half, and I went with him and we worked every day, and I ended up working with LeBron [James] and Mike Miller was there too. Kobe Bryant was there as well, and I had known him since 2003 and I grabbed him and I said, ‘Do you know why you shoot the ball short?’ Then I was driving back with Jason and I couldn’t stand it because I thought what I had said to Kobe was inappropriate and I don’t normally do that. Jason said, ‘BT do you know why you are in this car with me?’ I said I had no idea and he said it was because, ‘We all trust you, we know that you are here for us. We’ve spent our whole lives having people trying to get stuff from us, and you just want to help us get better and you have no hidden agendas.’ And that’s my life. When I started with Blake, he said, ‘What do you want from me?’ I said, ‘Nothing. I don’t want anything except for you to do what I ask you to do.’ I want nothing from anyone I have ever worked with except for the gratification that I get from seeing you improve and the happiness derived from your life and you’re improvement as a player and as a shooter. That’s why I do it.”

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Getting to Know… Bob Thate

What are you most excited about now that you’ve joined the Memphis Grizzlies staff?

“First and foremost, I’m excited because of my relationship with David Fizdale. It all started in Atlanta. We got there at the same time during the Mike Woodson era and we were there for four years. I grew very close with David as a person, but I saw in him a young coach that just had tremendous potential to become a head coach. It wasn’t going to take long. When he did leave Atlanta and went to Miami as an assistant, I’d see him over the years and saw his role evolve. It was obvious where his future was going to take him. He wasn’t the guy that pursued jobs – it’s all been a matter of where he could fit. That’s crucial in the NBA. When he got this job, I called him and told him that I’d love to work with him again. All the reasons he talked about of why he wanted to be here in Memphis was just so natural. The fit, for me, was just an easy, easy decision that I wanted to come here more than any opportunity that would arise. David was great through the whole process. Secondly, I’ve always respected the identity of the Memphis Grizzlies. I’m a firm believer that consistency in this league is all about what your identity is. Everyone’s is different. You have Golden State where it’s about the three-point shot and their offense. You’ve got San Antonio and it’s all about movement and the way they play. And with the Cavaliers, they play to their strengths with Kyrie and LeBron. To me, the identity of the Memphis Grizzlies is the toughness. It’s about the team that can grind in the NBA. They win close games because they can go and win games down the stretch because of their toughness. I’ve always identified with teams and players like that. I’ve always respected that about this organization. It’s built on that and will continue to be built on that. I like that when you look at the fact they’ve made the Playoffs six straight years in the West – that’s not a given. That’s an accomplishment. As a coach, whatever your criteria for what you believe is a good fit, this to me was a perfect fit.”

What are some things you’ve learned throughout your coaching career that has stuck with you?

“From an overall coaching standpoint, this goes way back to college coaching. But in today’s world of basketball, no matter what level you’re at, as a coach you’re the guardian of the game. It’s not just what happens between the lines on game night. It’s everything involved with respecting the game of basketball. How’s it’s played, how you conduct yourself as an NBA player… All of these things have to be priority. I think that from the standpoint of having left college to come to the NBA, and being in the NBA for 13 years now, I really respect the people who are capable. Whether it’s the organization, or the coaches and players, it’s about the ability of people that have the ability to recognize who they are, play to their strengths, but consistently work on their shortfalls and weaknesses. That way you battle through complacency. You can never be satisfied in the NBA. You have to constantly be trying to get better. It’s more of a challenge in the NBA because of the pace. The pace of the game is so much quicker than college – the shot clock, the number of games you play, the travel, all of these things factor in. Attention to detail is critical. You’ve got men who’ve played this game – the veterans – and they’ve seen it all. But you have to figure out how to still help them as individuals and how you can collectively help the team. That’s what I’ve learned most – Don’t be satisfied, always look to get better, and think, ‘What can I do as a coach to make us better?’ Going into every year, like any NBA team, you hope you stay healthy. You hope you can gauge and monitor the season so that you peak at the right time – that’s obviously the Playoffs. But along the way, you got to win games and you have to put yourself in the position. Challenges are there all the time.”

Who has mentored you through your coaching journey?

“I go back to when I used to play. I played for Bob Knight. I worked for Mike Krzyzewski. I worked for Larry Brown as my first NBA Head Coach. Those three are all Hall of Fame guys. From there it’s gone along with Mike Woodson, Larry Drew, Chris Ford who I worked for in Philadelphia and Randy Ayers. In the NBA you get very close as assistants. The staffs become much more unique. It’s just basketball, but the give and take amongst coaches is constant. In college you have to deal with off-court stuff – like classes and campus life. But here, it’s just basketball. Sure these guys have lives outside of basketball. But they’re treated like adults. Obviously they’re men. I always remembered what impressed me most about David [Fizdale] was his willingness to listen to everyone, and their points, concerns and philosophies. He took it all in, like a sponge. He then took that feedback, and what he believed in, and assimilated it into what was best for the team. When he was a young coach when we were in Atlanta, he had this ability to talk to every player. Whether they were a starter, rotation player or someone who played very little. Whether they were a rookie, a young guy in the league or a veteran. That’s what a team is made up of. And David had the ability to connect. Even before he came to Atlanta, I’m sure that was evident where he was before then. Communication, if I were to say one thing about mentors, and people you respect in the game, is that ability they have to communicate, between players or coaches. David has had that always. It’s part of who he is. As for my mentors in this league – yes, I’ve had several that were head coaches – but I’ve also been lucky to have been on staffs where I learned a lot from other assistant coaches. They’ve had lots of experience and have helped me learn. You come in this league and you have to listen. You won’t have every answer. You have to observe and listen, take it all in, in order to really understand.”

When you’re not coaching, what other kind of hobbies do you have?

“It’s funny because at this point my family has become my hobby. I have a daughter who is a college soccer player at Duke University. She’ll be a junior. I have a son who is a rising senior in high school and he’s a lacrosse player. None of my children are involved in basketball, but they’ve gone on their own path with their own sports. That’s been fun for me. I grew up with soccer, but I definitely didn’t know anything about lacrosse before my son started playing. That’s been my main hobby, trying to keep up in the course of the season with what’s going on back home. During spare time, it’s always great to be there for them for their stuff. But as a whole, my family loves to travel. We’ve been to Africa, Costa Rica, and other places so they could experience life. Both of them have been able to travel abroad with their schools – my daughter to Greece and my son to China. I’m excited for them because that goes along with what our family has tried to expose our kids to. Even simple things, for seven years straight when they were kids we went to Montana to a ranch that was great for family. My son is a fisherman, and my daughter rode horses before she made the ultimate decision to play soccer. All of these things became hobbies for me. I never minded going to a horse show. I’m not a fly fisherman like my son, but at least I can join them for the sake of being able to spend time with them.”

Where do you see yourself fitting in the Grizzlies’ landscape of giving back to the community?

“Memphis is very unique. Something I’ve quickly learned about since being here is that it’s one of the greatest medical communities in the country. I knew that before I came, but not to the extent that I know now. Everyone knows about St. Jude and it’s always been a piece of Memphis’ outreach. The Grizzlies do a great job of making sure people know about their commitments and about the topics at hand in the community, so everyone can benefit from learning and participating. Aside from local issues, I also like the NBA’s approach of making sure the youth know what a priority it is to learn to read. I think any community that hosts an NBA team, the more involvement that can be had from players and coaches, only betters the interest from youth. Reading is a fundamental platform for success. Our world has changed, but that has remained constant. Whether you’re reading a hardback book, or on a computer, it’s an important thing to ensure success for youth. It doesn’t matter who you’re helping and involved with, but rather it’s more impressive that the Grizzlies recognize the need in the community and address those things in a real way. It’s about the follow up and developing relationships that go beyond just a visit. It’s recognized league-wide what the Grizzlies do in the community. I’m excited to experience it first-hand.”

What do you like to do in your spare time?

“I’m a big reader. I probably read more during the season than in the offseason, because of the amount of time you spend on planes. I’m also very into the outdoors. I like working in the yard. If I wasn’t a basketball coach, I’ve told people this for years, I’d be a farmer. Put me on a tractor and I’d be happy all day long! I know it sounds simple, but it’s very enjoyable.”

What is your experience with Coach Mike Krzyzewski?

“Well I’ve said this about David Fizdale – When you look at guys you know will be successful in this profession - when they get their opportunity to head coach – you’re confident in their coaching ability because of their communication abilities. Mike recruited me in high school, he was a graduate assistant at Indiana. I’ve known him since I was 17 years old. He’s a master communicator. He knows how to talk to people, and how to talk to players. The greatest ability to be a good communicator is to be a good listener, and he listens to his players and knows what they need because of that. Then he’s able to communicate and teach it. As a head coach, in working for him, he was someone that exposed you to every aspect of what coaching was about. It prepared you to be a head coach. His advice when I left Duke was, “Take what you believe in and take the positives from your experiences. But then, do it [coach] within your own personality and within the personality of your respective team.” I went to Illinois State, so he said, “Try and make Illinois State the best it can be. Don’t try to make it Duke. You be yourself and you try to make Illinois State the best.” I think that’s great advice. So often in coaching, people who have worked in successful programs try to take what they know and make it fit anywhere. Many times it’s a mistake. You have to know where you’re at, and Mike does an incredible job of preparing you do to do that when you leave that program. To me, he’s the same guy that grew up on the west side of Chicago. He’s got the same friends to this day. I go back to Duke a lot. I graduated from Duke, I have a daughter there, my son wants to go there, and my wife went there… But when I go back to Duke I see his buddy, Mo, which he’s been friends with since grade school, and Mike has him there all summer basically hanging around camps. He’s the Hall of Fame, the National Championships, the world championship, Olympic gold medals… but he’s still just Mike Krzyzewski from the west side of Chicago. People see those things on TV that he’s done for our profession. But when you know him, you just go back to the old stuff, the guy he’s always been.”

How excited are you to coach in a Hoop City?

“Obviously Univ. of Memphis has a rich history in college basketball, they have their spot. It’s a wonderful program. I’ve known Tubby Smith forever. We coached against each other in Missouri Valley when I was at Illinois State and he was at Tulsa. But to be with the Grizzlies and this environment – I’ve never had that. In Atlanta, you had the Falcons, the Braves... In Philly you’ve got the Eagles and the Flyers as well… In Milwaukee we had just the Brewers, but the Green Bay Packers weren’t too far away. And we know that’s big. But to be in a setting like this on the NBA level, I think every coach likes to be in that position. I think that’s why there is so much consistency in this organization. People recognize what they have and they don’t want to leave or make changes. You want to make this the best it can be because it’s appreciated more by the community. To me, that’s an added bonus. For all the other things we’ve talked about, overall when you think about the Grizzlies and Memphis – the Grizzlies are THE thing. And everyone likes that kind of environment.”

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Getting to Know… Bob Bender

What is your relationship with Coach Fizdale like?

“It’s been phenomenal. For him to trust me and recognize that I can contribute to his staff means so much to me. He’s really into the development of everyone – players, coaches, the whole basketball operations staff.  He’s a true leader. His attitude, approach, and vision have been exciting to experience. It’s been hard work but it’s been a lot of fun. He’s really into our culture and being together – ‘We’re one and we’re a family and we’re going to do this together.’ I’m all about that. I’m all about being part of a team and being a part of something bigger than myself. I love being part of his staff and I’m hoping to contribute to him. He’s been really easy to talk to, and really easy to approach. He’s very open to any suggestions or any opinions. We have the same values of loyalty, trust, and positivity. I’m obviously pretty excited to be working alongside him."

How excited are you to be coaching alongside J.B. Bickerstaff, Keith Smart and Nick Van Exel?

“This staff is the best. They are very knowledgeable and have so much experience playing and coaching. I’m in such a great position to develop and get better every day. These guys are not only great coaches, but even better people. I love coming to work every day and am very fortunate to be in my position.”

What drove you to decide you wanted to get into coaching?

“It was toward the end of my senior year at Redlands. I always wanted to create an AAU program and give the youth of the area the right skills and approach to be successful in basketball. I wanted our program to properly prepare players for the next level. I felt that was a need in my hometown so I was motivated to create that.”

“My mom and dad. They both love hoop. They call me after every single Grizzlies game and watch every single second, they’re definitely our biggest fans in California.  They both have always mentored me when it comes to making correct decisions, and always gave me direction and feedback. Both of them were immigrants and they really instilled in me the value of hard work, keeping your head down, and letting your work speak for itself. My three brothers mentored me as well – Michael, Amir and Matthew. I played alongside Amir in college. He was a stud and Matt was really good as well. We are just a hoop family and really close. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.

“Basketball-wise it would be my college coach – Gary Smith. He had a huge influence on me as a player and more importantly as a person. He’s the kindest person I know. Joe Abunassar from Impact Basketball helped me get my foot in the door. He’s one of the top trainers in the world and I learned a ton from him before joining the Grizzlies. Lastly, Coach Jeff Bzdelik – who’s with Houston now – he’s an amazing human being and a great coach. He taught me a lot over the last two years on and off the court.”

What did you pick up from your years as a player development coach?

“I learned that the guys want to be coached. They want to be coached and they want to learn and to be challenged. They want to get better. These guys are professionals and they want to improve every year – they take their craft seriously. It’s about working hard every single day for them and trying to get them better. That can be through technical skill work, working on their confidence and trust or just watching film. Player development is also about connecting with the staff and doing what’s best for the team. Giving them the tools they’ll use in a game, or giving them game shots at game speed from where they’ll get them in a game. I’d look at what the coaching staff wanted and applied it to workouts so they’ll be prepared when they play.”

Before the NBA, you were an assistant coach in college and helped build up a local young club back home, how did those jobs help develop you for now?

“Those jobs were really cool because I got to experiment a lot. I would create different drills and really experiment with them. If it didn’t work out, then I’d try something new. I got to play and fool around with my coaching skills, culture, system and pace of play. In college you recruit and you get different players, so you have to coach to your personnel. One year we’re playing fast, the next year we’re playing slow. One year we’re playing through the bigs, the next through the guards. AAU, and college too, is about relationships. You have to build those relationships with the players, even the parents, the school, the AD. You try to build trust and have good synergy between everybody and make it positive where everyone is on the same page with the same goal. Ever since college, since I was 22, that’s been my approach. All those years, coaching youth and coaching college, really has created what I believe in today.”

As you know, the Grizzlies organization has a close bond with the community through events and volunteer work. What are some of favorite events that you’ve been a part of and look forward to doing so again?

“I had a blast with the Grizzlies Day of Service. Last season we went out to Greenleaf Learning Farm and got to paint and create gardens and it was a great way to give back and experience our community. I enjoyed seeing how excited some of those kids were to get to work alongside their heroes and I look forward to doing that again. The organization also has a program called “GrizzFit” which promotes youth physical fitness and I find that to be really outstanding and positive for kids in this area.”

You’ve been around Memphis for a few years now, what are your favorite places to eat?

“Of course you have to mention Gus’s Fried Chicken. Gus’s is really, really good. Majestic Grille is must-see downtown, and in Midtown I really like Second Line.  And you can’t count out Rendezvous – I love those dry ribs.”

What are some of the things you like to do in your free time?

“I love different TV shows – Game of Thrones, everything on Netflix like Narcos and House of Cards. If I can go out and watch a movie, I really enjoy that. I still play video games a little bit – I used to be a real big gamer with NBA 2K, Madden, Call of Duty. But my gaming time has gone down substantially since getting into the league. I like to travel, and I like to go back home to LA. I enjoy the beach, swimming and getting a workout in. But I really enjoy the water.”

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Getting to Know... Assistant Coach Adam Mazarei

What are some things you’ve learned throughout your coaching career that have stuck with you and helped you?

“First off, having the chance from college in Indiana to play for a great coach in Bob Knight, then having the chance to win a championship.  Obviously, moving through my career and coaching in the NBA and having coaches around me, particularly Don Nelson, helped develop me as well. That showed me how to open my mind offensively, to look at the game based on how you can move players and pieces around. Since I’ve had a chance to be a head coach in the NBA, I was able to apply some of those things along the way of learning. Going to work in Miami for a couple of years and understanding their championship approach, how they operate daily when everything is focused on winning a championship, that also helped shape me. You learn from each situation you’ve been in during your career, then build on it during the next step.”

Why did you want to be a part of Memphis’ coaching staff?

“One of the biggest reasons was David Fizdale. He and I have known each other since 2003 when he was a young rookie coach, where he was pretty much under me. I’ve been able to watch him grow as a coach in the NBA – and obviously his championship success in Miami, and his experience in the Finals. Then we got to work together once again in Miami. He’s probably the only person I would leave Miami for to go coach elsewhere and that was because of the relationship David and I have had over the years. He’s grown so much as a coach over the years and this Memphis opportunity was a great one for him. Having been in those positions myself – starting out in a new situation, trying to get it up to speed to where you want it to be, and eventually competing for a championship – you go through those moments in the course of a season as a young coach and a new head coach. Since I’ve experienced those things, I think I can lend to him my experiences as you work through the ebbs and flows. Every team goes through them, super-elite teams even have moments, but for the most part every NBA team goes through those things.”

“He [Fizdale] came to Golden State, where I was coaching as an assistant coach when Eric Musselman was the head coach. We had a nickname for him [Fizdale], we called him ‘Staples.’ At that time, we would use posters and put on plays, our offensive plays and our defensive plays, and we would have them written on these cardboard-type post-it notes, huge post-it notes, and David would be the one who would put it on those boards. When we would go through a particular play, we would hold that card up and so all the players would get to see it. So, pre-practice in our coaches meeting, we would talk about the plays we would go over that day in practice, things we would look at doing, and David would be on the side with pens, colored pens and everything, drawing up all these different plays on the side we were going to color that day. So, we ended up nicknaming him ‘Staples’ because he would always have the pens, the posters and all those type things. But, you saw someone that had a great heart. He has a great heart for people. He really goes out of his way for relationship-dynamic building because he feels, and we all believe, that is how you win. Relationships have to grow to where individuals really care about each other deeply and that’s how you really end up winning big and winning in tough moments because that’s a connection that has to be made. Because of him, the connection, most of the time, will be made. He can function in any environment, but I think the Memphis situation for him, myself and the other coaching staff has a chance to be something special.”

Although you have coached alongside Fizz in the past, what are you most looking forward to about this coaching opportunity alongside him as head coach?

“I’m just looking forward to his first game. As all coaches go through that first game, not the preseason, but that first official game that you start to coach. Now you move over one seat to be the head man, and that’s a small scoot over, but yet it’s a gigantic scoot over. In that first game, when you draw up that first play and the players look you in the eye as they go out on that court for the first time and to play the first half under you, there’s that first play that you’ve drawn up that you want to see executed. And when it happens, the excitement that you have… But you can’t really celebrate it because you’re in a game. I’m looking forward to seeing that moment for him because he’s paid his dues like a lot of assistant coaches in the NBA. I’m looking forward to seeing him now grow into this next role in his coaching career. But also, how he’s going to manage players. That’s where myself and [J.B.] Bickerstaff come in –  we’ve been there and we understand it and how to help in any way that we can as far as managing a basketball team because sometimes in the NBA you don’t get a chance to get to the X’s and O’s first or as soon as you want to. It’s all about managing first. You’re managing players, ideas and everything around you first, and you’re trying to get that under control. So, that’s why when you get to that first game, there’s a sense of relief, but yet it’s your first start.”

What are you most excited about in terms of coaching alongside this assistant coaching staff?

“Once again, it’s all new, hungry guys getting the chance to write a chapter in our coaching careers. I’m just as excited as all those guys, as well. I was excited when I went to Miami and I’ve been in the league a long time. You have that excitement of something fresh and new and that’s what we have in Memphis. It’s something new, yet you still have the good pieces there. But it’s something that’s fresh, something that’s going to be new and different. So, the excitement for our coaching staff is that we get a chance now to help imprint and help carry out Coach Fizdale’s plan and his ideas. That’s always exciting because you put your ideals on hold, yet you share, but you try to blend in what you’re capable of doing and to what the head coach wants to be done. That’s the exciting part, because not only is the team going to be growing to new ideas, thoughts and a process, the staff is going to be molded into a process and a structure that can help us be successful.”

When you have traveled to Memphis, what are some of your favorite places to eat?

“As much as you try to stay disciplined during the course of the season, there are definitely certain cities on an NBA schedule that you can’t wait to get to and Memphis is one of them. Obviously, you’re going to hit Rendezvous, for sure.  If you come in and have extra time, or an extra day, you’re going to find a good restaurant. The team will go out, sometimes the staff will go out or sometimes you go out by yourself or you may have some friends in town. When you’ve been around the league a long time you end up having friends in different cities.  I have guys that I went to college with who live in Memphis. Another place that everyone tries is Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken. You try as much as you can to not over-indulge, but sometimes you do. Obviously though, during the season, you don’t eat that way all the time.”

Are there any places you’re looking forward to visiting that you haven’t yet?

“As long as I’ve been around the NBA and coming into Memphis, there’s one place that I have not had the chance to go: The National Civil Rights Museum. I’ll definitely be adding that to my list.  When you come in town on an NBA schedule, you really don’t have a lot of time. You come in that night, you go to practice the next morning, you probably have time for a quick meal and then it’s time to get ready for the afternoon and to head to the arena. But now having the chance to live in this city, I’ll get a chance to explore and sit there and really pay attention to all the new things that are here.”

The Grizzlies are known for their special bond with this community and their volunteer work. How do you see yourself fitting into that mindset?

“I’ve always tried to be involved in the community that I’ve been in. I was in Oakland at Golden State for almost 11 years, so I got a chance to be involved in a lot of activities there. Obviously, I’ll have a chance to be here in Memphis and jump right into whatever needs to be done. I’m a cancer survivor – I had an episode of skin cancer. So, I can definitely see myself lending myself to that cause because I know first-hand what the family goes through when you’re dealing with it. As a former athlete, you just go through it and just deal with whatever it is, but when you stop and look around, you see how the family and friends are affected. They see you in state that they haven’t seen you in. So, I totally understand what someone would go through when they have been diagnosed with something like that. Although we have a smile on our face, barely trying to get through it, we’re in a lot of pain and we’re in a difficult place, but with the family and friends around you, you get through it and then hopefully come out on the other side with good news. But, not everyone has that and so I can see myself lending myself to that battle in Memphis.”

When you’re not coaching, what do you like to do in your spare time?

“A good friend of mine introduced me to the world of golf, which is something I thought I would never, ever be involved in. With the grind of the NBA season, it’s a great way to relax. So, if I’m not involved with anything with my family, with the team or any other activities I need to be doing, I’m going to try to find a golf course somewhere to play. For the last three years, I’ve been getting into the golf scene. I’d never thought I would ever have The Golf Channel on in my house.  My wife will turn on the TV in the morning and what does she find? It’s on The Golf Channel since I watch it at night. One thing golf has taught and shown me is the details of the coaching aspect. When you’re practicing golf, you’re being precise and being definite in what it is that you’re trying to accomplish. That is definitely what we do in basketball – having a definite plan, a structure… Because you get better when you have a plan and structure going into coaching. So, I think the golf game has really helped open my eyes to coaching because it’s something along the lines of what I do already.”

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Getting to Know... Assistant Coach Keith Smart

What is your relationship with Coach Fizdale like, and are you excited to be coaching alongside him and J.B. Bickerstaff?

NVE: “With Fizz, he coached me at Golden State. We had a pretty good relationship there. We’ve always kept in touch. Any time I would be in Atlanta, as a player, we spoke. Even as a coach, we spoke. Even when he went to Miami, we kept in contact and went out to eat a few times here and there. One thing I know about Coach Fizz is, he’s a winner. He’s been with Miami for a while, but he has a passion and a drive. I think he has a vision – a clear vision on what he wants to get done with these guys here. I like his vision.”

“J.B. [Bickerstaff], it’s my first time meeting him, but I literally talked to four coaches congratulating me, and they were like, ‘You couldn’t be with a group of two better guys,’ talking about Fizz and J.B. I’m really excited. J.B.’s been around the block a long time. His dad is a great figure in the NBA. So I’m just going to soak up all the knowledge I can.”

How did your playing career help you prepare for your coaching career and specifically this position?

NVE: “Playing the point guard position, I had to know everybody’s positon. I had to know the two position, three, four and five – offensively and defensively. So I’m just a reflection of the coach out on the court. I was a big talker, a big communicator, so it kind of rolled right into coaching. Around 2003 is when I first really thought about coaching. When the Mavericks traded me to Golden State is when I started thinking about it, because our Golden State team had so many young players. It seemed like I was always just talking, trying to get these guys to understand how to play the game the right way.”

How does the competitive spirit you showed in your playing days drive you as a coach?

NVE: “Well, I’m a lot different as a coach. Like I tell people all the time, my basketball side is so much different than my off-the-court side. It’s not even close. I’m a lot more quiet and laid back as a coach, but I think the respect that the players give me because I played the game, it makes it easier for me to be more relaxed and be more calm. So I’m just a total opposite. The drive and the competiveness is, when you’re teaching a player something and they go out there and do what you were working on, that’s the gratification for me. That’s my thrill right now. When you’re sitting there busting a player in practice or in the summer time and you see them improving and getting better, that’s kind of my drive. That’s what gets me pumped up.”

NVE: “There are quite a few guys. I keep in contact with a lot of guys. Lester Conner has been big for me. He was an assistant for like, 17-19 years in the league. Of course, Coach Larry Drew first hired me in Atlanta. Tim Grgurich, I’ve always looked up to him and his work effort. Ironically, Del Harris – Del Harris has been great for me in my second career as far as coaching is concerned. I saw him the other day. He’s been very helpful and gives me a lot of pointers and things like that.”

What did you pick up from coaching two seasons in the D-League as an assistant and a head coach?

NVE: “It’s humbling, but I’m a humble person so it didn’t bother me much. It’s just going back to like, when I used to be in junior college, taking the busses, waking up at three in the morning and catching a 4:30 a.m. flight and things like that. As far as coaching is concerned, it’s just being able to relate to the players. Being able to communicate. Getting their respect from them. I wasn’t a big yeller, so for me it was, ‘Can I get my point across, and can these guys go out and execute what I’m trying to get done?’ That was good for me. I thought I had a good group of guys. They listened. I still keep in contact with a lot of them. It was a challenge as far as the revolving door. The challenge for me last year was so many new players coming in. You’d get a core and then they may go overseas. We literally had to have a training camp in the middle of the season because we had so many new guys. That was a challenge for me as far as coaching is concerned. I doubt that it’ll ever happen again unless I’m in that situation. But to see new guys come, it could happen for trades in this league, it prepared me for a situation like that.”

Do you have any barbecue places you are going to check out?

NVE:“Man, listen to me, I’m going to try every barbecue spot I see, like literally, because I want to taste it all. Every place I go to, I’m going to get some rib tips. I’m a fried chicken man, so I’m going to try all the good foods.”

NVE: “I’m anxious, because I have a few friends, a few business friends, who are here locally. You know, we’ve already been talking about some things – some things they do as far as the community is concerned. Just look out and see which ones l like the most. For me personally, I was big into single mothers and helping them out, because my mom was a single mom. I was big into Parks and Recreation systems and things like that. If anything, it’s got something to do with kids and single parents and things like that. I’ll see where I can fit in there.”

NVE: “Can you believe I’m 44 years old and I’m still a video game junkie? I still play video games. I love Madden and this game called The Division right now on the PS4 – and golf. If I can get out and play some golf, come home and play with my 3-year-old and then she lets me play my PS4, I’m good. Very simple. I’m just Madden and The Division, those two. I just started playing The Division about a month ago. But if it’s not Madden, I’m not playing.”

Are you looking forward to playing in the St. Jude Pro AM this week?

NVE: “I’m nervous as hell, I’m not even going to lie to you. I was hitting my driver pretty good, and like the last two weeks, I actually lost my driver and don’t know what happened to it. I’m just hitting the ball all over the place. I’m thinking about teeing off with a 4-iron all day tomorrow (laughs). So yeah, I’m a little bit nervous. But it will be a fun event.”

getting-to-know-assistant-coach-nick-van-exel

Getting to Know... Assistant Coach Nick Van Exel

JB: “I’ve had a relationship with Coach Fizz since I was 17 years old, so we’ve had this conversation for a long, long time. It was whoever got a head coaching job first, the other one was coming with him. So, my trust and respect for him was the initial reason. Then, when you take a look at the make-up of the team, the character of the players, that’s important. When you want to win and you want to go to work every day, you want to work with high character people, you want to work with classy people. I think this organization has a bunch of those people.”

How did your relationship start with Coach Fizz? What are you most looking forward to about this coaching opportunity alongside him?

JB: “So, he was getting ready to be a senior in college and I was getting ready to be a senior in high school. Tim Grgurich and Mike Brown would have a camp in the summer where guys would go and workout. At the time it was more a workout than a camp, but it had grown to become a camp. So, one summer I was in Denver, where I went to high school, Mike Brown was a video coordinator there at the time and he was going to work out with Grg [Grgurich]. Mike Brown went to the University of San Diego and Coach Fizz went to the University of San Diego, so we all came out and end up meeting there. He [Fizz] and I worked out together every day. We kind of went our ways as we got older, but our relationship started to blossom when we got into coaching. We knew each other. I started coaching in the NBA when I was 24 and he was just starting at the same [time], so our paths were kind of similar and tracking in the same direction. We were together every summer, but then our relationship just blossomed. The trust came, the respect for each other’s skill set came and our personalities are similar, so we know that we have each other’s back no matter what and there’s a trust there and a fight that we have that’s similar. The relationship off the court, not basketball related, was great. Then there’s a symmetry in what we believe in on the court, so it makes it even easier.”

Growing up you’ve had a lot of exposure to the NBA, with your dad coaching and all, how has that helped you develop as a coach and as a person?

JB: “As a coach, the more experience you have, the more you’re around players, it helps so you see how guys learn, ways that are effective to reach different people. You see the aftermath of all the things that happened; you don’t just see what happens at the game, you see what happens after the game, the follow through and those types of things. So, you’re better prepared for the behind-the-scenes things that you might not have seen before. As a person, being a coach’s son, you understand the importance of routine, you understand the importance of discipline, so I think that helps you be successful in life. No matter what your job is, you know that you need to have a routine, that you need to be disciplined, you need to work. I think one of the things that coaches are always talking about is how hard you work, so that’s put into you at a young age. So, I think those are the things that have been helpful for me.”

You’ve coached alongside legendary player Kevin McHale. What are some things you’ve learned from him or which things have stuck with you and helped you in your coaching career?

JB: “The work ethic that it takes to be great. The determination, the mental toughness, those things that separate bad from average, average from good and good to great. Obviously, there’s a bunch of guys that have skill, a bunch of guys that have talent, but the difference is the mental part of the game. Are you mentally tough enough to get it done? When things are hard, can you fight through adversity? Are you willing to sacrifice a Friday night out to be in the gym getting extra shots up or getting the rest you need, whatever it may be? He taught me the difference between what it takes, not just as an individual player, but as a team too, he taught me the difference in that.”

You’ve been on the coaching trail for years now, which brings you to Memphis quite often. What are some of your favorite places to eat or visit?

JB: “Gus’ [Fried Chicken]. I know every NBA guy who you talk to says the same thing, but Gus’ is one of my favorite places. When we came here, we would even order it and have them bring it to the locker room. So, I’d say it’s my favorite.”

What are you most excited about in terms of coaching alongside Nick Van Exel?

JB: “Obviously, I’ve watched him a bunch and he’s got that fighting spirit. He’s that [type of] competitive that I think is going to be fun to be in the trenches with him. His basketball IQ, obviously, is high. His ability to play the point guard position, you have to be intelligent to be as good as he was, so there’s a lot you can learn from him. There’s certain things that you want to see through a point guard’s eyes, so to be able to ask him those questions, him having been through those experiences and when it mattered most; playoff games, big games, big moments, being able to have those conversations with him, pick his brain and learn from him.”

Tell me a little bit about your family. What do you enjoy doing together? Any things you’re looking forward to doing together in Memphis?

JB: “I have a wife and three small kids. I’ve got a five-year old girl, a four-year old girl and a boy who will turn three [years old] in August. We spend a lot of time together when we can, obviously the summers we get more time together. We love vacationing and going to the beach. Our kids they love the beach. They love the water. My wife is here now and she took them to the Children’s Museum yesterday already, so they do those types of things. We went and saw the movie ‘Angry Birds’ the other day. So, we’re looking forward to all those things.”

You spent a season with the Timberwolves as a radio color analyst. Tell me a little bit about your experience with that. What did you enjoy about it? Is it something you’ll want to do in the future?

JB: “It was a lot of fun. It was a great year, too, for the Timberwolves. It was the year they went to the Western Conference Finals with Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell, so it was an awesome experience. You had a courtside seat to some of the best basketball in the NBA every night. It was a lot of fun. But again, you go to see… because Flip Saunders was the coach and he was good enough to me that he would let me come and watch practices. You got to see everything. Again, you got to see the difference between good and great. You got to see Kevin Garnett handle practices and how competitive he is. Like, Flip would take days where he would just split Kevin [Garnett] and Latrell [Sprewell] up. Now those are two very competitive guys and changed the entire practice because they wanted to win the drill and they were going at each other so hard. So, always knowing that I wanted to coach, that played a part in my mind, but being able to watch the game and analyze the game helps you learn the game too, in a different way. It was great. It was a great experience. It was a lot fun and no pressure, since when the game was over, the game was over. So, it’s definitely something that I’ll think about getting into post-coaching.”

When you’re not courtside coaching, what do you like to do in your spare time?

JB: “I watch a ton of movies. Going way back, I like The Godfather, The Matrix was one of my favorites – the first one, they got a little carried away after the first one. Those are two that stand out. I like more action movies. I like to hangout with my family, too.”

getting-to-know-associate-head-coach-j-b-bickerstaff

Getting to Know... Associate Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff

Rachel Noble

Grizzlies’ assistant coach Duane Ticknor is a man of many interests, but his favorite hobby happens to take him all over the world.

Ticknor is in his third season as an assistant coach with the Grizzlies, and is busier than ever, but he still finds time for his passion for travel.

He makes time to discover and enjoy what the world has to offer, which has been a life-long passion of his. In fact, if he had to choose another job, it would be a tour guide. He would love to pick and choose the places for people to visit and explore, and use his experiences as a resource for those new to travel.

Ticknor isn’t your regular traveler; any opportunity he gets he tries to stay away from the places that attract tourists. He discovers new places in each country he visits or re-visits to find out more about the culture and what makes the country so unique.

With his experience in coaching overseas, Ticknor has had the opportunity to visit many countries, however, his favorite “without a doubt” is Korea.

“I’ve been there 22 times,” he said. “I’ve traveled over there, I’ve lived over there and coached over there. I love the people, I love the culture and I love the food.”

Ticknor served as an assistant coach to the Changwon LG Sakers of the Korean Basketball League for one year during the 2011-12 season. Apart from coaching, he conducted several clinics and camps in South Korea and also had the opportunity to work at the 2002 Asian Games in Korea when South Korea took home the gold medal.

When Ticknor isn’t traveling the world, you can find him enjoying himself on the nearest golf course. His passion for golf started at a young age and he even played on his high school and college golf teams.

Nowadays, he uses golf as a form of relaxation and to just have fun, especially with his family. Ticknor and his wife, Mary, a high school superintendent in Lamont, Ill., have one son who is in the restaurant business in Chicago. The couple also have two foster children, the oldest is an engineer in New Mexico and the middle son is a teacher in Pennsylvania.

Although Ticknor enjoys spending time with his family, golfing and traveling, his biggest passion is for coaching. From the time he was a sophomore in high school, Ticknor knew the direction he wanted his life to go, many thanks to his high school and college coach, Marian Brink.

getting-to-know-duane-ticknor

Getting to know... Duane Ticknor

Jared Emerson

The city of Memphis is packed with plenty of food options and many talented chefs, and one of them is on the Memphis Grizzlies coaching staff.

Bob Thornton is in his fifth season as an assistant coach with the Grizzlies, and while he’ll admit he’s no pro, he enjoys making meals often. And when he says cook, he doesn’t mean just make dinner from time to time. Instead, Thornton will sometimes meet with the city’s experts to discover what he should make next.

“I love to try new things and new recipes,” he said. “I try to meet some of the local chefs and talk to them about their ideas and how they make things and what wine pairings they go with. It’s a lot of fun.”

When someone is always discovering new recipes and trying new ideas, there can be a big sense of accomplishment when the food comes out and tastes exactly as it should. Other times, it’s the exact opposite, but that’s all part of the fun says Thornton.

“I’ve had some things that have surprised me and turned out better than I thought they would,” he said. “But I’ve also had some go the other way, where you’re ordering pizzas for dinner. It’s kind of a little bit of both.”

When Thornton is looking for new ideas, Memphis has no end of options for him to check out. However, he does have a few places he likes to go to, and one of those is Restaurant Iris. Chef Kelly English heads up the duties there, and also has some of his items featured at FedExForum in the Horseshoe Club on the Event Level.

Thornton said he likes restaurants like Iris, or Hog &amp; Hominy, where they serve Italian cuisine, because the restaurants offer such creative cuisine, unique atmosphere and dining experiences.

After an 11-year professional playing career, eight of which were spent in the NBA, and more than 20 years of experience in scouting and coaching, Thornton has spent a lot of time on the road in different cities, which has allowed him to try different restaurants. Instead of allowing himself to fall into a rut, though, he says it’s more fun to try somewhere different on every trip and see all the different food options a city has to offer.

At the moment, he doesn’t have a favorite meal, but rather enjoys cooking what’s in season, something fun, or something that he can pair with a good glass of wine. Wine is another area of interest for Thornton, and something he wouldn’t mind turning into a career later on.

“That would be a miracle, but yeah it would be fun,” Thornton said. “Working in a winery would be amazing, but that’s a dream.”

When he’s not coaching or cooking, Thornton loves to be in the air. He has his pilot’s license and uses it as a chance to get away from things, which he finds relaxing.

“Flying is just amazing,” he said. “It’s a great situation to be up there controlling an airplane and cruising around. I’ve flown all over the West Coast. I’ve been in all sorts of airplanes. Anytime I can be in an airplane, I will.”

Piloting an aircraft comes with its own attention and responsibilities, tasking Thornton to always be aware of his surroundings and his aircraft. Despite that, he’s adamant that every trip up in the air is a fantastic experience and the views are always something to marvel.

“It’s kind of like driving a car, but you’re flying in three dimensions,” he said. “Anytime you’re in an airplane and getting a bird’s-eye-view – It’s amazing.”

With cooking, flying and wine being among his hobbies, Thornton has enough to keep him busy after his basketball days are done. He joked that when he’s finished, he’s going to own a vineyard and fly often, though it might get expensive.

“If we win the lottery, that’s going to happen.”

getting-to-know-bob-thornton

Getting to know... Bob Thornton

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