The role of an NBA Summer League head coach is to lead and guide a team during the NBA Summer League, which is a series of exhibition games held during the offseason. The head coach is responsible for developing and implementing game strategies, managing player rotations, providing instruction and feedback to players, and overseeing the overall performance and development of the team. They work closely with assistant coaches, trainers, and team management to evaluate players, scout opponents, and create an environment conducive to player growth and success. The NBA Summer League serves as a platform for young and aspiring players to showcase their skills and potential, and the head coach plays a vital role in nurturing their talent and preparing them for the NBA.
Here is a list of the 30 NBA teams and the head coach in charge of running their team for the 2023 Summer League season.
Atlanta Hawks
Nick Van Exel
Nick Van Exel has been named the Head Coach for the Atlanta Hawks summer league squad for the second year in a row.
Nick Van Exel is a former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA. He played for six different NBA teams from 1993 to 2006, earning NBA All-Star recognition with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1998. Prior to his NBA career, Van Exel played college basketball for the Cincinnati Bearcats, where he received All-American honors. After retiring as a player, he transitioned to coaching, serving in various roles including player development instructor for the Atlanta Hawks, assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, head coach of the Texas Legends in the NBA D-League, and assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies. Van Exel rejoined the Atlanta Hawks as an assistant coach in 2021 after working as a scout for the Dallas Mavericks.
Boston Celtics
Tony Dobbins
Anthony Dobbins is an American-Italian professional basketball coach and former player. He currently serves as an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics in the NBA. Dobbins had a playing career in Europe, playing for various teams in France and Italy. He was known for his defensive skills and earned multiple awards for his defensive prowess. After retiring as a player, Dobbins joined the coaching staff of the Boston Celtics, initially working with the video team before being promoted to an assistant coach position in 2020.
Brooklyn Nets
Jacque Vaughn
Jacque Vaughn is one of the 3 regular season head coaches that decided to coach the Summer League team. He's no stranger to coaching in the Summer League. Jacque Vaughn coached the Summer Nets in both 2018 and 2019,
He played in the NBA for several teams and later transitioned into coaching. Vaughn was an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs before becoming the head coach of the Orlando Magic in 2012. After his stint with the Magic, he worked as a scout for the Spurs and then joined the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach. He was promoted to interim head coach in 2020 and later became the permanent head coach. Vaughn signed a contract extension with the Nets in 2023.
Charlotte Hornets
Marlon Garnett
Marlon Garnett, a former professional basketball player, is now an assistant coach for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA. Garnett, who is American-Belizean, had a successful playing career in Europe before transitioning to coaching. He previously worked with the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns before joining the coaching staff of the Atlanta Hawks.
Chicago Bulls
John Bryant
This is John Bryant's second year as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls Summer League team.
John Bryant is an experienced basketball coach who currently serves as an Assistant Coach for the Chicago Bulls since November 14, 2020. He previously worked with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he held multiple roles. From 2018 to 2019, he was an Assistant Coach and was later promoted to the position of Player Development Coach, a role he held until 2018.
Bryant also gained coaching experience on an international level when he served as an Assistant Coach for Nigeria during the 2016-2017 season. Prior to his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, he worked as an Assistant Coach for the Delaware 87ers from 2014 to 2016. Bryant's diverse coaching background has allowed him to contribute to various teams and develop his skills in player development and coaching strategies.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Mike Gerrity
Not his first time serving has the Head Coach of the Summer League squad for the Cavaliers.
Mike Garrity has a rich history with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Charge. He currently holds the position of Head Coach for the Cleveland Charge since the 2022-2023 season, where he was promoted to this role. Previously, Garrity served as an Assistant Coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and during his tenure, he was promoted to various positions including Assistant Coach, Director of Player Development, and Player Development Assistant.
He also held the role of Assistant Video Coordinator before being promoted to Assistant Coach. Additionally, he served as Director of Player Development for the Cleveland Charge. Garrity's extensive experience within the Cavaliers organization showcases his dedication and growth within the coaching and player development realms.
Dallas Mavericks
Jared Dudley
Jared Dudley, the most recent NBA retiree on this list, retired from professional basketball in August 2021 after a 14-season career. He joined the coaching staff of the Dallas Mavericks, led by head coach Jason Kidd, as an assistant coach. Dudley, who won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, was drafted 22nd overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in 2007. Throughout his career, he also played for the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets. In his role with the Mavericks, Dudley was expected to have a prominent position on the front of the bench, and being the Summer League head coach is indicative of that.
Denver Nuggets
John Beckett
John Beckett, the assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets, has had a diverse and accomplished career in the NBA. Starting as a ticket salesman and production assistant, Beckett eventually broke into the league as a video coordinator for the Atlanta Hawks. From there, he worked his way up, taking on roles such as player development coach, director of player development, and now assistant coach for the Nuggets. Beckett's dedication and hard work have been recognized by the Nuggets organization, and he has played a crucial role in the development of players like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. His multifaceted background and experiences have shaped his approach to coaching, making him a valuable asset to the team.
Detroit Pistons
Jarrett Jack
Jarrett Jack is a former NBA journeyman, playing for multiple teams throughout his time in the league. He was selected in the 2005 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets and went on to have stints with the Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, and New York Knicks. In 2021, he joined the NBA G League Ignite in a mentorship role.
However, his passion for the game led him to transition into coaching, and he recently joined the Detroit Pistons as an assistant coach under the guidance of head coach Monty Williams, leaving behind his assistant coaching position with the Phoenix Suns.
According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Jack "established himself as a fast-rising future head coaching candidate on Williams’ staff with the Suns."
Being the Pistons Summer League head coach will be a good place for Jack to showcase his skills.
Golden State Warriors
Jacob Rubin
Probably one of the most unheralded head coaches in the NBA Summer League is Jacob Rubin. Jacob Rubin is the Co-Head Video Coordinator & Player Development at the Golden State Warriors. He previously worked as the Manager of Basketball Operations for the Santa Cruz Warriors and have interned for Wasserman Media Group, the NBA Summer League, and the University of Arizona Men's Basketball team.
In his introductory press conference as the team's Summer League head coach, he said:
It's truly incredible, I can't help but feel chills when I think about it. The first time I attended Summer League was back in 2009, just trying to find a way to be close to the game. So, discussing it now gives me goosebumps. I am extremely grateful to Coach Kerr, Mike, Kirk, Joe, and Peter for granting me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I told the guys that I'm excited, although I've already lost my voice on day one. It's a tremendous opportunity that I am thankful for, and we're committed to putting them in the best position to succeed.
Regarding the first few days of practice, today marked our initial session. It's a high-intensity practice that keeps you on your toes. We focus a lot on defense, ball movement, and sharing. We want to instill in them the mentality required to play for us and win. Every team that faces us knows that we bring our highest level of competition. Ball movement is a key aspect of our approach, and being a great teammate is a significant part of our practice because that's who we are here.
Finding the balance between striving for victory and prioritizing player development in the summer league can be a challenge. However, we aim to merge the two seamlessly, ensuring that our players have the opportunity to grow and improve while also competing to win.
Coach Jacob Rubin Previews Golden State Warriors 2023 Summer League from June 30, 2023.
Houston Rockets
Ben Sullivan
Ben Sullivan came to the Houston Rockets with Ime Udoka from Boston Celtics and will serve as an assistant on his staff. He has primarily served as a shooting coach during his NBA coaching career.
Sullivan is no stranger to the NBA Summer League. Last year, he served as the Head Coach of the Boston Celtics summer squad.
Sullivan averaged 6.9 PPG and 3.8 RPG in his 4-year college career. But he showcased his shooting efficiency on the court as a 6-10, 240lb big man. At Cal State Northridge, he shot 38.7% from the field and had a 52.5% success rate on two-point attempts. After transferring to the University of Portland, Sullivan maintained a high shooting percentage, shooting 51.4% from the field in his first season and 47.2% in his final season.
Sullivan has previously worked with the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks as an assistant coach. He played college basketball at Cal State Northridge and the University of Portland. Sullivan specializes in shooting coaching and has contributed to the development of players like Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Indiana Pacers
Jannero Pargo
Jannero Pargo is a former professional basketball player who had a successful 12-year career in the NBA. Throughout his career, Pargo averaged 6.4 points and 2 assists per game while playing an average of 14.9 minutes per game. He played for several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Long Beach Jam, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Hornets, Dynamo Moscow, Olympiacos, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets, and Oklahoma City Blue.
After retiring from playing, Pargo transitioned into coaching. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach for the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League in 2017. He later served as an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers starting in 2019. In 2021, Pargo was named an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers. With his wealth of experience as a player and his transition into coaching, Pargo brings valuable knowledge and expertise to the Pacers 2023 Summer League team.
Los Angeles Clippers
Dahntay Jones
Dahntay Jones is an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA. Jones played college basketball for both the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Duke Blue Devils. During his playing career, he primarily played as a small forward and shooting guard in the NBA from 2003 to 2017, averaging 5.4 PPG, 2 RPG and 1 APG
Jones had a successful career as a player and won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. He retired from playing and transitioned into coaching, joining the Los Angeles Clippers as an assistant coach. In his coaching role, Jones is currently leading a summer-league roster that includes promising young players such as Kobe Brown, Jordan Miller, Moussa Diabaté, Jason Preston, and Xavier Moon. With his wealth of experience as a former player, Jones brings valuable insights and guidance to the development of these players during the summer league.
Los Angeles Lakers
JD DuBois
JD Dubois is an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. He joined the Lakers organization in 2022 after previously serving as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons from 2018 to 2022. Before his coaching career, Dubois had a background in basketball as a player. He played college basketball at Loyola Marymount University and later transferred to the University of Utah, where he graduated. Dubois achieved recognition as a member of the WCC All-Freshman Team. After his college career, he played professionally in Cyprus. In addition to his coaching role with the Lakers, Dubois had previous experience as a player development coach for the Toronto Raptors during the 2017-2018 season under head coach Dwane Casey.
Memphis Grizzlies
Vitaly Potapenko
Vitaly Potapenko is currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies. He played in the NBA for teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Seattle SuperSonics, and Sacramento Kings. After retiring, Potapenko has been involved in coaching, working with various teams including the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Indiana Pacers, Dakota Wizards, and Santa Cruz Warriors. He also served as an assistant director of player development for the Cleveland Cavaliers, contributing to their NBA championship win.
Miami Heat
Caron Butler
Yup. That Caron Butler! For the second consecutive season, Caron Butler is the coach in charge of the Miami Heat Summer squad.
He currently serves as an assistant coach for the Miami Heat in the NBA. Caron Butler is one of many former players under Erik Spoelstra to transition into coaching. And his Summer League appointments are indicators of his development as a coach.
Among Miami's coaching staff, Butler is the sole member who experienced the thrill of hearing his name called on draft night. He was chosen by the Heat in 2002, coinciding with the last year of Riley's initial tenure as head coach. During his second season with the Heat, Butler had the opportunity to play alongside rookies Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem. Butler transitioned to the coaching side and became a part of Miami's coaching staff prior to the 2020-21 season.
Over his 14-year playing career, Butler played for various teams including the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, and Sacramento Kings. He achieved the distinction of being a two-time NBA All-Star and was named the 2002 Big East Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year while playing for the Connecticut Huskies. Throughout his career, Butler accumulated 12,430 points, 4,387 rebounds, and 2,007 assists, with averages of 14.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
Milwaukee Bucks
Adrian Griffin
One of three current NBA head coaches that wanted to coach the Summer League team too.
As a player, Griffin accumulated 1,919 points, 1,512 rebounds, and 653 assists, with averages of 4.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
After retiring from playing, Griffin transitioned into coaching, beginning as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks under head coach Scott Skiles. He then moved on to join the coaching staff of the Chicago Bulls under Tom Thibodeau, where he spent five years. He has had coaching stints with various NBA teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Toronto Raptors. Griffin was an instrumental part of the Raptors' 2019 NBA championship win and served as the acting head coach for the Raptors in the 2021-2022 season.
He was named the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks on June 5, 2023 and looks to prepare himself for the role by leading the team this summer.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Max Lefevre
Max Lefevre is an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA. He joined the Timberwolves organization in 2022 and works under head coach Chris Finch. Lefevre, originally from France, has a background in basketball as a player and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business from Avila University. He furthered his education by earning a Master of Education in Sports Administration from Angelo State.
Lefevre's coaching journey began with the Timberwolves in 2019, where he served as a player development assistant and video coordinator under former head coach Ryan Saunders and current head coach Chris Finch. He has since continued to contribute to the team's coaching staff in his role as an assistant coach. Lefevre brings knowledge and experience to the Timberwolves organization, assisting in player development and providing support to the coaching staff.
New Orleans Pelicans
Casey Hill
Casey Hill is an American professional basketball coach currently serving as an assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA. He has had a successful coaching career, including a four-year tenure as the head coach for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA Development League, where he led the team to a championship in 2015. Hill's coaching journey began as an assistant coach for the Tokyo Apache in the top-level Japanese professional league during the 2010-11 season.
He later joined the Golden State Warriors organization, serving as an assistant coach for both the Santa Cruz Warriors and the Agua Caliente Clippers. In November 2020, Hill was hired by the New Orleans Pelicans as an assistant coach. He comes from a basketball family, with his father Bob Hill being a renowned coach, and his brothers Cameron and Chris also involved in coaching.
New York Knicks
Dice Yoshimoto
This is Dice Yoshimoto's third year as the Head Coach of the New York Knicks Summer League team after doing so for the 2022-2023 and 2021-2022 seasons.
He joined the Knicks organization in 2022, working under the guidance of Head Coach Tom Thibodeau. Prior to his role as an assistant coach, Yoshimoto held the position of Special Assistant to the Head Coach for the Knicks from 2020 to 2022.
Yoshimoto's NBA coaching experience extends beyond his time with the Knicks. He previously worked as a Special Assistant to the Head Coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2016 to 2020 under Tom Thibodeau. Before that, Yoshimoto served as Assistant/Video Coordinator for the Chicago Bulls from 2011 to 2016, also under the tutelage of Tom Thibodeau.
In addition to his coaching career, Yoshimoto is a former player who attended Johnson & Wales University. He graduated from the university with a degree in Sports, Event, and Entertainment Management. With his diverse experience in coaching and basketball operations, Yoshimoto brings valuable insights and knowledge to his role with the New York Knicks.
Yoshimoto holds the special honor of being "the second Asian American to be named head coach in the NBA."
Oklahoma City Thunder
David Akinyooye
David Akinyooye has an extensive coaching background in the basketball industry. He has been serving as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA since August 2019. Prior to that, he worked as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder's G League affiliate, from August 2015 to August 2019.
Before joining the Thunder organization, Akinyooye gained valuable coaching experience with ASVEL Basket Lyon Villeurbanne in France, where he worked as an assistant coach for almost a year. His responsibilities included analyzing video footage, scouting players' moves, conducting individual workouts, and designing team drills to enhance players' game-day performance. He also tracked players' developmental progress, both offensively and defensively, and devised workout schedules that incorporated weight training and on-court individual workouts.
Akinyooye's coaching journey began as a Player Development Quality Assurance Assistant with the San Antonio Spurs. In this role, he analyzed and deconstructed game plays, scouted opponents, and collaborated with the coaching staff to develop effective offensive and defensive strategies. He also created player profiles to identify strengths and weaknesses and conducted individual and small-group workouts.
Before transitioning to the coaching side, Akinyooye started his career as a Workout Associate with the New York Knicks. He observed daily meetings with head and assistant coaches, assisted with team practices and individual training sessions, collaborated with the strength and conditioning coach for players' rehabilitation and strength training, and organized various team events and interactions with fans. He also prepared reports on player development and defensive strategies, including video analysis.
With his diverse coaching experience and dedication to player development, Akinyooye has honed his skills and embraced the opportunity to take on the role of a head coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder's summer league team, showcasing his passion for the game and commitment to guiding young players.
Orlando Magic
Dylan Murphy
Dylan Murphy is a basketball coach who currently serves as the Head Coach of the Lakeland Magic since the 2023-2024 season. He was also briefly the Head Coach of the Orlando Magic during the same season.
Prior to his head coaching role, Murphy worked as an Assistant Coach for the Orlando Magic starting from the 2020-2021 season and was later promoted to that position. He initially joined the organization as a Basketball Operations Analyst in 2019-2020 and was promoted within that role. Before his time with the Magic, Murphy worked as a Graduate Assistant for the Ball State Cardinals in the 2018-2019 season. He also served as an Assistant Coach for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants from 2013-2014 to 2015-2016.
Philadelphia 76ers
Nick Nurse
Nick Nurse is one of three regular season head coaches that decided to lead the Summer League team as well.
He's also the most successful coach on this list, without question.
He is widely known for his successful tenure as the head coach of the Toronto Raptors, where he led the team to their first-ever NBA championship in 2019. Nurse was also honored as the NBA Coach of the Year in 2020.
During his college years, Nurse played basketball for the Northern Iowa Panthers. After his college career, he played professionally in the British Basketball League with the Derby Rams.
Nurse was fired by the Toronto Raptors after a disappointing season in which they failed to make the playoffs and finished ninth in the Eastern Conference. Masai Ujiri, the team's president, expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's performance and stated that the Raptors did not resemble themselves during the season.
Nurse had been with the Raptors since 2013, initially as an assistant coach before being promoted to head coach in 2018. He led the team to its first NBA championship in 2019 but struggled to replicate that success in the following seasons.
Ujiri acknowledged that there were signs of issues within the team during the 2022-23 season, and the decision to part ways with Nurse was made to initiate a change and move the team forward. The Raptors will now begin their search for a new head coach, but Ujiri emphasized that they first needed to evaluate the past season and assess the roster.
He will be taking over from Doc Rivers with the 76ers for the 2023-24 season, who was relieved of his duties after the 76ers' disappointing playoff exit against the Boston Celtics.
Nurse's appointment comes after a successful season for the 76ers, during which they achieved a 54-28 record and Joel Embiid was named the league's Most Valuable Player. Interestingly, Nurse and Embiid have a history together dating back to Nurse's first season as head coach in Toronto. In that season, the Raptors eliminated the 76ers from the playoffs on their way to winning the NBA championship. Nurse's defensive scheme caused problems for Embiid throughout the series, and it was Kawhi Leonard's iconic buzzer-beater in Game 7 that sealed Toronto's victory.
However, the tables turned in the following season, with the 76ers eliminating the Raptors from the playoffs. During that series, Embiid openly criticized Nurse for his interactions with the referees. This criticism continued into the 76ers' playoff series this year against the Brooklyn Nets.
Phoenix Suns
Quinton Crawford
Quinton Crawford, an American basketball coach, currently serves as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA. Born on September 18, 1990, in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, Crawford had a successful college basketball career playing for the Arizona Wildcats. After his playing days, he transitioned into coaching and started as a video coordinator and assistant coach.
Crawford gained experience working with various teams before joining the NBA. He spent time with Pepperdine University as a graduate manager and video coordinator. He also worked as an assistant video coordinator for the Sacramento Kings, Charlotte Hornets, and Orlando Magic under coach Frank Vogel. During his tenure with the Hornets, he was also involved in player development.
In 2019, Crawford was hired as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers under Frank Vogel. He achieved his first NBA championship when the Lakers won the 2020 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat.
In 2022, Crawford joined the coaching staff of the Dallas Mavericks under head coach Jason Kidd. Later, on June 1, 2023, it was announced that Crawford would be joining the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach under head coach Frank Vogel.
Portland Trail Blazers
Jonah Herscu
Jonah Herscu is currently an Assistant Coach for the Portland Trail Blazers. He joined the team in 2022. Herscu holds a degree in Coaching: Personal Identity, Sports Psychology, and Leadership from Lake Forest College. He further pursued his education and obtained a master's degree in Sports Science, specializing in coaching, from the United States Sports Academy.
Herscu has gained valuable coaching experience in the NBA throughout his career. He served as an Assistant Coach for the Sacramento Kings from 2019 to 2022, working under coaches Luke Walton, Alvin Gentry, and Mike Brown. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Coach for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2018-2019 season under Luke Walton. Herscu initially started with the Lakers as an Assistant Video Coordinator from 2016 to 2018.
Sacramento Kings
Luke Loucks
Luke Loucks is an American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings in the NBA. He played college basketball for Florida State University, where he had a successful career and still holds the school record for most career games played. After college, Loucks played professionally in various leagues including Latvia, Cyprus, Belgium, Germany, and the NBA Development League. In 2016, he joined the Golden State Warriors organization as a film and player development intern and later became a player development coach for the team. Loucks was part of the Warriors' coaching staff when they won two NBA championships.
He also worked as a player development coach for the Nigerian national team and was involved in basketball strategy and personnel evaluation for the Phoenix Suns before joining the Sacramento Kings as an assistant coach.
San Antonio Spurs
Matt Nielsen
Matthew Nielsen is an Australian professional basketball coach and former player who currently serves as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. He had a successful playing career, including playing for the Sydney Kings in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) and various teams in Europe. Nielsen achieved notable success, winning multiple championships and individual awards throughout his career. After retiring as a player, Nielsen transitioned to coaching, initially working as a big-man coach for the Perth Wildcats in the NBL.
He then joined the San Antonio Spurs coaching staff in a player development role. Nielsen later returned to the Perth Wildcats as an assistant coach, contributing to the team's success in winning three championships in four seasons. In 2020, he became the head coach of the Austin Spurs in the NBA G League.
In 2021, Nielsen returned to the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach. He has also been involved with the Australian national basketball team as an assistant coach under head coach Brian Goorjian.
Toronto Raptors
Pat Delany
See this.
Utah Jazz
Evan Bradds
Evan Bradds, a former All-American forward from Belmont University ('17), has been appointed as the head coach of the Utah Jazz for the NBA Summer League.
Bradds, who was twice named Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, will lead the Utah team in games held in both Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.
Washington Wizards
Landon Tatum
Landon Tatum is a basketball coach who is currently serving as the Associate Head Coach of the Capital City Go-Go since the 2022-2023 season. He previously worked with the Washington Wizards, starting as an Assistant Coach in the 2018-2019 season. He then took on the role of Assistant Coach/Player Development and later became the Player Development Manager for the Wizards from 2019-2020 to 2021-2022. Tatum's coaching career includes multiple promotions within the Wizards organization.
2023 NBA Summer League Coaches To Become Head Coaches During Regular Season One Day?
Based on data provided by FiveThirtyEight, coaching in the NBA Summer League can indeed serve as a potential pathway to a head-coaching job in various levels of basketball. Since 2015, a total of 12 coaches who participated in the Las Vegas Summer League eventually became head coaches in the NBA. Additionally, 9 coaches went on to become head coaches in the NBA G League, 4 in the NCAA, and 2 in international basketball.
Furthermore, the Summer League has also provided opportunities for coaches to serve as interim head coaches in the NBA on two occasions. One coach eventually became a head coach in the WNBA.
However, it is worth noting that a significant number of coaches who have participated in the Summer League have not yet become head coaches. Out of the coaches who have participated, 74 are still not head coaches. Additionally, in 2022 alone, 18 first-time Summer League coaches were recorded.
The data also indicates that several coaches who had already held head-coaching positions at other levels of basketball, such as the NBA or G League, also participated in the Summer League. Eleven NBA head coaches and six G League head coaches have coached in the Summer League.
Overall, while coaching in the NBA Summer League does provide opportunities and exposure, the path to a head-coaching job is not guaranteed. Factors such as experience, performance, and networking continue to play a significant role in securing head-coaching positions in various basketball leagues.