http://www.wral.com/sports/3497300/detail.html Lakers Reportedly Spoke To UNC Coach About Head-Coaching Job LOS ANGELES -- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill basketball coach Roy Williams, who has been contacted in the past by the Los Angeles Lakers when they had a coaching vacancy, was contacted by the team during its present search. The Los Angeles Times reported that -- after Mike Krzyzewski declined the Lakers' head-coaching job Monday -- the Lakers turned to the process of hiring Rudy Tomjanovich or, perhaps, Williams. According to the newspaper, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak has spoken to Williams, who recently completed his first season as coach at Kupchak's alma mater, about Phil Jackson's old job. UNC officials confirmed Tuesday that Kupchak was granted permission to interview Williams two weeks ago. The two spoke by telephone, and Williams reportedly declined an offer. Tomjanovich is believed to be Kupchak's next choice, after he checked first with Pat Riley and Krzyzewski. A few years ago, then-Lakers' general manager Jerry West contacted Williams during his search for a successor to Mike Dunleavy. A UNC spokesperson said Williams has been contacted by the Lakers three times in the last 12 years.
I agree they are desperate, but if I was RudyT, I wouldn't feel good about this...Talk about sloppy seconds...
Sounds to me like Coach K dropped his name to try and one up the competition . "I heard Roy Williams is available"
Roy is a great, great coach. It's a shame you guys see the Lakers as being desperate, this man can flat out coach. If you watched UNC the past two years, you'd see the difference. And it's him.
Damn, it's a good thing I saved the sign I made from the CU - Kansas game last year. Mighit have to use it at the Lakers - Nugs game this year. "I don't give a $(@& about Carolina right now!" - Roy Williams
i've seen enough during his Kansas days and you know what? By the end of the day, he's still a COLLEGE coach.
Come on, Rudy, if you do cross over to the dark side, make the Lakers pay at least $2M more per season for making you a second or third choice. They can afford it, and you'll need it for the cost of living (in L.A.) increase.
Respect. NBA players already know what will work and not work in the nba. Whereas a college coach is going to have figure it out. So the player has more knowledge. Especially old vets like the Lakers. Chance of no respect is already high for a coach. But college coach won't get any if he screws up.
That's called egos. Players always think they know what's best for the team. I'd say the only difference is NBA coaches better cater to egos. And FYI, PSJ, Roy turned them down and they went to coach K
it's a pretty big difference. College coaches can herd their players around and tell them what to do. Lets see Roy Williams try to do that to either Shaq or Kobe.
That's back what I was saying, egos. But i think a Roy Williams or Coach K would get more respect out of players then say a Mike Woodson. These are proven winners.
You gotta remember, though, Pitino was a proven winner at the collegiate level--but he couldn't get it done in the pros. The game is just much different from the college game--emphasis is placed elsewhere, motivation comes from elsewhere...it's a whole different game.
Players have egos, but that's what you have to deal with in the NBA. The problem with most college coaches that comes to the NBA is their own egos, they think coach of a team means the boss of a team. That a coach can run the team and the players must follow, that's not the case in the NBA where players have more rights and influence. The reason is that not enough college coaches can adapt to it and that's why most of them fail. I guarantee you that as hardline as Hubie, Brown and JVG are, they know when and who not to cross. You don't think LB let some of AI's things slide? You don't think that JVG (despite all his talk to the media) leave SF with some face during games/meetings? While Memphis don't have a true superstar, do you really think Hubie can totally control every player on the roster like a college coach do? The NBA is the players league, and most college coach simply can't adapt to that.
Right. Because Doherty losing his two best players to injury for most of the season proved he was a pretty poor coach. Good thing Roy had healthy players.
