The reason why most centers are not head coaches has to do with the role the center plays on the team. As others have said, the center is not the “general” on the court. In the past the centers primary and most basic role on offense was to secure his position and call for the ball. On defense it was essentially the same, secure position and be ready to rebound, block, close out the paint and intimidate. This could also be used as an argument with power forwards. The common center of the past lacked the court vision to see more of what was going on. They can see over the top and make some passes, but only the top tear centers of the league had the hands and ability to move to effect passes that required great court vision or on court awareness. Consider also the difference in quality between a starting center and his back up. Typically the backup is just a body to playing limited minutes getting the starter some additional rest. Compare that to the point guard, the position most apt to becoming a head coach. (most apt does not mean with the most current head coaches in the league now) The point guard spends the majority of his time on the court running the plays, handling the ball, looking for weakness in the defense, and creating others opportunities. Typically the second string point guard has the same responsibilities as the first. So right off the bat the pool of potential former point guard coaching candidates doubles that of the centers. Then consider the number of dominant/exceptional centers that would make good coaches and the number of potential candidates shrinks further.
I'm going to take a different theory and hypothesize that Centers don't coach because they don't really want to be as involved with the game after they retire. I think many centers take a very differnt road to the NBA than guards or forwards, who choose basketball because it's both fun, and they can enjoy it, and the guys who stick it out are those who truly love the game. Contrast that with a typical Center's path. Generally somebody takes a kid out of high school/junior high, whatever, and says "hey, you're a big tall gawky freak, you might as well play some basketball" - I think it may be more like work for them than play. Also, particularly in the NBA, look at the career path. Due to a dearth of centers, guys like Chuck Nevitt can have long NBA careers despite having very little skill set. Meanwhile, mediocre players who can't sniff the NBA enter the coaching career path earlier (say Jeff Van Gundy, etc) and are more used to working hard (which coaching demands) to stay in the game.
Sam I was going to write the samething. most of them probably feel awkward enough on the court, on a sideline in a suit must be a nightmare. that and like you say, they are almost forced to play basketball, just the nature of being that tall, probably just looking to get away. i have another theory also, alot of these centers probably have a lot of money after basketball. even the most unskilled guy if he can walk and chew gum at the same time will have a decent career in length driving down the need to work after the career is done. i think people need to be looking practical reason instead of the typical bball iq fall back.
When I look at 3 guys in particular, kareem,lambieer,and ewing all are pining for jobs and can't get one. Lawrence didn't play ball at all and you wonder why a vet laden team was so poor in games decided by 3 pts or less. Kareem had to go coach on a indian reservation, lambieer to the wnba, and ewing is still a assisyant. Sikma hasn't been getting many chances and he was a very smart guy on the court. As noted cowens had a good run, but he hasn't gotten another chance. Silas to me is very underrated and I wanted him before gundy because he's a balanced guy. It just seem like the big guys are stereotyped.
Adding to this, it's also likely a sheer numbers game. If you're 7'0" tall, you are much more likely to wind up in the NBA than if you are 6'0". A lot of relative stiffs wind up in the NBA based on height, just because there are so few extremely tall people who are also gifted athletes. Yet, NBA point guards are generally only one standard deviation or less above the average male in height. They really have to have outstanding athleticism, true, but in order to distinguish themselves from every other schmuck who picks up a basketball, must develop an incredible understanding of the game, fueled by a legitimate passion for it. So, it's not surprising that the point-guard-as-head-coach stereotype holds true, in a league with only 30-35 head coaches in a given season. Sure, in some ways it's self-reinforcing, but there are also a heck of a lot more point guards that exist in the world, compared to centers.
I remember a few years ago, there was a Cavs game on TNT. Doug Collins was the announcer. At the end of the game, the Cavs had the possession and there was a timeout. But the possession ended up getting messed up (don't quite remember how) because Ilgauskus forgot what they were discussing in the timeout. As the Cavs are heading back to the bench, you could see LeBron mouthing in frustration "I had just told him what to do!", or something to that effect. Collins made a remark that with centers, you have to coddle them and make sure they know what's going on. He might have been half-joking, but it sounded like it was almost understood that centers generally don't see the game or aren't always mentally in the game the way other players are.
I believe Pat Riley played center in college. Not sure about the NBA... I remember he was the center, going for the tip-off in the championship game, on the opposing team in Glory Road Correct me if I'm wrong..
1). Can you imagine Shaquille O'Neal, or Yao Ming coaching NBA teams? That question should set the rest of you straight.
The best big men have been GREAT PERFORMERS NOT GREAT THINKERS. Point guards have to think the most and can adjust to a change in the opposite game plan on the floor. That doesn't include all but most. That's why dumb guys make for poor point guards in the NBA. Their talent will only take them so far. Guys like stockton, mjackson, nash, jordan (at the point at times), majic...cousey, mark price, the list goes on and on.... Sure I am leaving a bunch out ...no disrespect. The big man relies on a guy getting him the ball and then executing based on his abilities. Could DO IT...but rare to find a big who could teach another how to do it.
Don't forget also that there is a lack of quality centers even in the old days. How many good centers came out the draft every year? 1-2 if it's a good year, 0 in a bad year.
That's an assumption. There are many forwards and guards who fail to either listen or to understand instructions. As far as centers having low IQ's,a certain Hakeem Olajuwon defies that "trend".
Because there are no centers left to coach in the NBA, or rather very few... The center position has been marginalized with the new rules. DD
I think its a bias against the bigs personally. Kareem and Lambieer are some of the smartest guys regardless of position to play the game. Although he had coaching success in the wnba, coaching a group of women really test your resolve. They may not have the same ego's, but 12 women with feelings is very,very difficult. I think he should be a candidate before some of these guys like the heat coach and and a scrub like frank. John Thompson was probably the last big guy coaching and he wass in college. He was a very,very good coach and produced and developed some quality big men. His respect level from players and people in general was oustanding. Like wilt says, no one likes goliath.
