Who Are the NBA’s Next Players Turned Coaches?

These ballers might be calling the shots from the sidelines.

Who Are the NBA’s Next Players Turned Coaches? - There seems to be a growing trend among NBA teams searching for a head coach — grab veterans, specifically veteran point guards, immediately after their careers end. The fact that they have no prior coaching experience seems to be OK. The Brooklyn Nets employed that strategy last June, naming Jason Kidd their head coach less than a month after the future Hall of Fame guard called it quits. On Tuesday, the New York Knicks formally named Oklahoma City’s veteran point guard Derek Fisher their new head coach just 10 days after the Thunder's season ended. Kidd fared well in his rookie year as a head coach, leading the Nets to a 44-38 record and into the Eastern Conference semifinals. How will Fisher, a five-time NBA champion, do in his first year as a coach? Here, keeping with the trend, BET.com points out eight veteran guards as po...

1 / 9

Who Are the NBA’s Next Players Turned Coaches? - There seems to be a growing trend among NBA teams searching for a head coach — grab veterans, specifically veteran point guards, immediately after their careers end. The fact that they have no prior coaching experience seems to be OK. The Brooklyn Nets employed that strategy last June, naming Jason Kidd their head coach less than a month after the future Hall of Fame guard called it quits. On Tuesday, the New York Knicks formally named Oklahoma City’s veteran point guard Derek Fisher their new head coach just 10 days after the Thunder's season ended. Kidd fared well in his rookie year as a head coach, leading the Nets to a 44-38 record and into the Eastern Conference semifinals. How will Fisher, a five-time NBA champion, do in his first year as a coach? Here, keeping with the trend, BET.com points out eight veteran guards as po...

Manu Ginobili - At 36, Manu Ginobili still has something left in the tank. However, the San Antonio Spurs shooting guard is clearly in the twilight of his career. With one window of opportunity closing, another can open up if Ginobili were to pursue coaching. You don’t play 12 years under Gregg Popovich, one of the NBA’s all-time greatest coaches, and not learn something. Don't think we're overlooking Tony Parker's growing ability to lead, but at 32, he has more playing time left. At least more than Ginobili. Manu as an NBA head coach. Why not? (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

2 / 9

Manu Ginobili - At 36, Manu Ginobili still has something left in the tank. However, the San Antonio Spurs shooting guard is clearly in the twilight of his career. With one window of opportunity closing, another can open up if Ginobili were to pursue coaching. You don’t play 12 years under Gregg Popovich, one of the NBA’s all-time greatest coaches, and not learn something. Don't think we're overlooking Tony Parker's growing ability to lead, but at 32, he has more playing time left. At least more than Ginobili. Manu as an NBA head coach. Why not? (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Lakers' Steve Nash to Miss Entire Season - Steve Nash's back injury was definitely worse than the Los Angeles Lakers thought it was. On Friday morning, ESPN reported that the Lakers' veteran point guard will miss the entire 2014-15 season due to re-occurring nerve damage in his back. This comes after the two-time NBA MVP played just 15 games last season. If this marks the end of Nash's career, the point guard will exit the game with career numbers of 14.3 points and 8.5 assists per game. (Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

3 / 9

Steve Nash - Even in his prime, Steve Nash was never the quickest, most athletic player. Still, he was good enough to be named NBA MVP in back-to-back seasons in 2005 and 2006. It takes a certain intelligence factor to be the kind of savvy point guard Nash was. We’d love to see him get a chance to direct traffic from the bench. At 40-years-old, the time for Nash to end one chapter and begin another is now. Facts. (Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Paul Pierce - There’s no doubting that Paul Pierce made his teammates better and demanded excellence. Would “The Truth” be able to accomplish the same as an NBA head coach? We’d be willing to roll the dice on saying yes, he would. He played several years for the Boston Celtics under Doc Rivers, who himself was an NBA guard before turning coach. Truth.(Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

4 / 9

Paul Pierce - There’s no doubting that Paul Pierce made his teammates better and demanded excellence. Would “The Truth” be able to accomplish the same as an NBA head coach? We’d be willing to roll the dice on saying yes, he would. He played several years for the Boston Celtics under Doc Rivers, who himself was an NBA guard before turning coach. Truth.(Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

Chauncey Billups - We’d love to see Mr. Big Shot as a player morph into Coach Calling the Shots on an NBA team’s bench. Few handled pressure-cooker moments better than Chauncey Billups. At 37, Billups's days of being a go-to player or even key contributor seem long gone. Noticing how the point guard has been serving as a player-coach mentor the past several years anyway, the time for Billups to coach may just be now. (Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

5 / 9

Chauncey Billups - We’d love to see Mr. Big Shot as a player morph into Coach Calling the Shots on an NBA team’s bench. Few handled pressure-cooker moments better than Chauncey Billups. At 37, Billups's days of being a go-to player or even key contributor seem long gone. Noticing how the point guard has been serving as a player-coach mentor the past several years anyway, the time for Billups to coach may just be now. (Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Mike James - Can you say NBA journeyman? Well-traveled backup point guard Mike James has played for a whopping 12 teams in 12 years. In doing so, James got to learn from great coaches such as Pat Riley, Larry Brown and, most recently, Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. He’s also had the benefit of studying the game live, while on the bench, and also knows what it takes to be a starter in the league. Point blank — he has lived through a lot of basketball in a variety of ways. The amount of hoops knowledge that he’s soaked up can be paid forward via an NBA head coaching gig. King Journeyman James. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

6 / 9

Mike James - Can you say NBA journeyman? Well-traveled backup point guard Mike James has played for a whopping 12 teams in 12 years. In doing so, James got to learn from great coaches such as Pat Riley, Larry Brown and, most recently, Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. He’s also had the benefit of studying the game live, while on the bench, and also knows what it takes to be a starter in the league. Point blank — he has lived through a lot of basketball in a variety of ways. The amount of hoops knowledge that he’s soaked up can be paid forward via an NBA head coaching gig. King Journeyman James. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Bulls Reach Out to Ray Allen - He already has interest from the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers. Ten-time NBA All-Star Ray Allen is now drawing interest from the Chicago Bulls. A league source confirmed Monday to ESPN that the Bulls reached out to Allen’s representatives. They already added power forward Pau Gasol via free agency this off season.  (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

7 / 9

Ray Allen - A consummate professional in every sense, we’re willing to bet that Ray Allen as a head coach not only delivers his team more wins, but also makes them better men. Who wouldn’t want to learn from one of the sweetest shooters in the game? We bet Jesus Shuttleworth’s suit game is mean on those sidelines, too. Swish!(Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Jason Terry Headed to Houston - The Houston Rockets are set to get a little extra veteran leadership in the form of Jason Terry. According to ESPN, Terry will be traded to Houston from Sacramento for swingman Alonzo Gee. (Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

8 / 9

Jason Terry - When we look at Jason Terry’s career and prospects to be a coach, we love that he won a ring playing for Rick Carlisle on the Dallas Mavericks in 2010 and later was a contributor for the Boston Celtics under Doc Rivers. With 15 years and counting, Terry has had a solid NBA career. After playing for the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings this past season, we think Terry should begin evaluating how to prolong his hoops career. We sincerely think he has the tenacity to be an NBA head coach. Warning, though: don’t mouth off to him. Even as a coach in a suit, Terry would chew you out. (Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Andre Miller - Anybody who has found ways to keep himself serviceable at the point guard position is someone that NBA teams should consider a potential coaching candidate. Andre Miller, with 15 years of experience in the league, fits that bill aptly. Older and a step slower — OK, maybe a few steps slower — Miller has remained relevant and even sought after in the NBA. He’s as intelligent of a veteran point guard that the NBA has to offer, and he’s already in a player-coach mentorship role with John Wall and the Washington Wizards. Easy candidate. (Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

9 / 9

Andre Miller - Anybody who has found ways to keep himself serviceable at the point guard position is someone that NBA teams should consider a potential coaching candidate. Andre Miller, with 15 years of experience in the league, fits that bill aptly. Older and a step slower — OK, maybe a few steps slower — Miller has remained relevant and even sought after in the NBA. He’s as intelligent of a veteran point guard that the NBA has to offer, and he’s already in a player-coach mentorship role with John Wall and the Washington Wizards. Easy candidate. (Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)