During my 13-year NBA career I played for 9 different Coaches.
Of the 9, five of them were fired in-season. All very good people, good basketball minds, who in most cases just fell into bad situations which ultimately led to their dismissal.
The position of Head Coach for an NBA Team is a high stakes, high pressure, and high demand job. Unfortunately, the joyful splendor and optimism of an off-season Introductory Press Conference can quickly be wiped away with a brief Press Release that the said Coach has been relieved of his duties.
Players often find out via group text from Basketball Operations, or an impromptu Team Meeting, or most unfortunately, sometimes these days on Twitter.
Terminating a Coach in-season causes a variety of disruptions, but as with all businesses – the show must go on.
My advice to the Players on the Team of “where do we go now?”
Process this.
In some cases for me, I was very close to the Coach and this was tough to see a leader and friend let go. You spend so much time together in an NBA season, and it will be quite different not seeing this person or interacting on a daily basis. It’s OK to send a text message of both condolences and best wishes for his family and career.
Talk to your teammates.
This is important – no matter what, you guys are still in this together. This now is the perfect time to ask a Veteran to lunch, or pull in a younger player to talk about what happened and the strategy for the Team moving forward.
Someone needs to talk to the GM.
If you have a Team Captain, they should discuss with the GM what happened, why it happened, and how it was handled. Remember you as the Players will be asked about this situation after the next practice or game and having an understanding of what the Front Office is doing will help all involved.
Talk to your Agent or Advisor
Chances are, your Representatives will have some insights on your Team situation. In some cases, you may be dealing with potentially being traded, or with the new Coach in place, the original plans the Team had with you may change drastically. Regardless, you need to stay informed of all angles and aspects.
Don’t see this as a “lost season”
Your time in the NBA is limited, fragile, and will not last forever. You cannot control the Coach or the direction of the Front Office. You can only control you. Be it teamwork, or individual work on the floor, make sure to continue to work hard, be professional, and be present!
#onward