We’ve all had those teachers who tell you they remember teaching your dad or
your brother, or if you haven’t had one of those you have had one of those long
lost relatives who come up to you and say ‘I remember you when you were just a
little guy.’ Well if Jerry Sloan isn’t careful he could catch himself doing that
to the opposing teams’ coaches.
For example, when Sloan started coaching and got his first full-time gig with
the Chicago Bulls in 1979, two NBA coaches, Lawrence Frank of the Nets and Mike
Brown of the Cavaliers were nine-years old. Yes, nine-years old and probably
playing at the local YMCA and learning long division. Now they both are coaching
in the NBA ranks and learning how to break a 2-3 trap and yes, Coach Sloan is
still on the sidelines.
Since he took over the Jazz in 1988 he has had a fair share of players whom he
has coached or coached against turn into coaches. Larry Krystkowiak, head coach
of the Milwaukee Bucks, was actually a player for Sloan in the early 90s. Avery
Johnson was a pesky point guard for the Spurs before he turned into Coach of the
Year material with the Dallas Mavericks. Sloan would also have to make game
plans for current Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas when he was an all-star guard
for the Detroit Pistons. Other coaches in the league that Sloan has seen take
the leap from player to coach include Doc Rivers (Boston Celtics), Maurice
Cheeks (Philadelphia 76ers), Sam Vincent (Charlotte Bobcats), Sam Mitchell
(Toronto Raptors), Byron Scott (New Orleans Hornets), Nate McMillan (Portland
Trail Blazers) and Reggie Theus (Sacramento Kings).
Four of the more interesting evolutions that Sloan has witnessed are those of
Pat Riley, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan.
Riley was coaching the “Showtime” Lakers before he went to the Big Apple and to
coach the Knicks. After that he went to the Miami Heat where he has bounced back
and forth from being coach to team president to general manager and now back to
coach or is he team president? I don’t know I get lost.
Danny Ainge has gone from being a scrappy defender and hustle player for the
championship Celtics in the 80s to a successful head coach for the Phoenix Suns
in the late 90s to now where he is the dynamo general manager that has put
together the league-leading Celtics squad.
Then there is Larry Bird, who has gone from All-Star player on the championship
Celtics teams of the 80s to successful coach with the Pacers to general manager
of those exact same Pacers.
Finally, we have Jordan, who played for that small team from Chicago that won
six championships in the 90s. His entire timeline goes as follows: player,
retiree, baseball washout, movie star, player, retiree, part-owner, player,
retiree, sold stock in team, bought new stock in new team and became the
managing member of the organization’s basketball operations. That’s right. He
runs the Charlotte Bobcats. I can honestly says this is one player that I am
sure Sloan is happy has moved on to the front office.
Through this whole process where change is so frequent and players turn into
coaches and coaches turn into GM’s and GM’s turn into golfers, Sloan has been a
stalwart on the Jazz sideline. He just has to catch himself when making pregame
small talk with the other coach so he doesn’t digress and say I remember when
you were…
Have a question or comment for the Game Night Staff? Email the squad at
underthebleachers@utahjazz.com
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