I'm not thinking of him as head coach, but as an assistant. He's such a class act, and he's won basketball games before. It would also put the kabosh on notions that losing Rudy T for more chemotherapy would leave the team bereft of coaching talent. I have no idea if it's possible, but I'd be pleased if CD and co looked into the possibility. Dave.
Some foo on Wilkens from the historical section of NBA.com This was a successful 6 1 point guard in the NBA, and we think we couldn't use him as a coach? Who is it we *itch about at PG who could use some help with ball handling and defense? Those were Wilken's forte.
I doubt very seriously that Wilkens would be interested in an assistant's job, at least not this soon. Give him 3 years or so and he might be interested. I would say that he felt that he was rooted out of Toronto and is itching for another chance at a head coaching job.
Even if it's true (Considering he did ok with Jack Sikma, Brad Daugherty, Dominique Wilkens, and Dikembe Mutombo, I kind of doubt it), why does it matter if he's an assistant under Rudy T?
The reason I'm curious about this is he's 65 years old. I think he is head coaching material, but he's also an older man. Maybe he'd like to take it a little easier.
I would love him as an assistant. He would be a great assistant. But still...why would he want to be an assistant coach? Maybe..I wish.
He has one more NBA championship under his belt, as a coach, than you do. He also did some excellent work with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Atlanta Hawks. I think you'll have to do better than that to prove he sucks as a coach.
Lenny, wonderful human, wonderful coach 'in his time', but, much as I respect and regard him, Wilkens days as a coach are as history as is the stagecoach. Sunset time, cowboy. You will be missed.
The match would be perfect, if Wilken's pride wasn't an issue. He is no spring schicken and being an assistant would allow him to chill more and help Rudy and co.
Lenny did say in his press conference yesterday that he still had "coaching in his blood". Which suggests that he's still open to the idea of being on the sidelines, but I don't think he'd be all that interested in being an assistant. Vince Carter's injuries and the continued fall out of not having Tracy McGrady has really hurt Lenny. Plus, management made horrible decisions (frankly) in taking on Antonio Davis, Hakeem Olajuwon and their other older players. That said, I agree with whoever said that Lenny might be beyond his prime years for molding a group into a quality team.
I dont think they used calendars that far back..But it could be mentioned...Lennie is only about 8yrs older than Phil Jackson.
Quote: Originally posted by dwmyers He has one more NBA championship under his belt, as a coach, than you do. He also did some excellent work with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Atlanta Hawks. I think you'll have to do better than that to prove he sucks as a coach. Lenny, wonderful human, wonderful coach 'in his time', but, much as I respect and regard him, Wilkens days as a coach are as history as is the stagecoach. Tex is and long has been happy with the idea of being an assistant. I cannot imagine LW feeling the same way. If I am wrong and being an assistant is in the cards I would suggest a greater liklihood he would mentor a young buck, or a college coach newly in the NBA.
This is my feeling too. His playing experience is complementary to that of Rudy Ts, he knows some things about playing point guard and point guard D. He is older, but he's not as old as Tex Winter or Pete Carril, both respected coaches who are doing assistant stints in the NBA. The other thing you could do is give him some vague upper office title and let him coach the guards anyway. But I agree, ego is the Q. Lenny may still feel he would rather be a head coach. Dave.
Under Wilkens, Ming would not improve his inside game as he should/could; simply, because Lenny does not know how to utilize big men, and is a point guard-oriented coach. Also, Wilkens has been notorious, when it comes to giving young and unproven players a chance.
