John Stockton for Coach

[JAZZGASM]

As Kidd is showing, going from player to coach without any time as an assistant isn't easy. I'm surprised they didn't bring him on as a special assistant like the did Hornacek. Make Stockton the passing or steals coach for the rest of the season and then head coach next season isn't as big of a jump.

I think the fact that Kidd played with most of his players would make it hard to be an authority figure. Stockton is older, and I believe a smarter person than Kidd. Stockton was tough, and played the right way with good screens and smart plays. I think he would require the same from his players. I agree that it would be a transition for him, but I think he'd be much better than Kidd. And I think he'd do better than Corbin from the start. I don't see how he could much worse.

 

[sirkickyass]

As Kidd is showing, going from player to coach without any time as an assistant isn't easy. I'm surprised they didn't bring him on as a special assistant like the did Hornacek. Make Stockton the passing or steals coach for the rest of the season and then head coach next season isn't as big of a jump.

You're looking at the wrong comparison point.

Kidd is an example of a player that became a head coach with no coaching experience AND had no time away from the NBA after his playing career.

Doc Rivers, Larry Bird, and Mark Jackson all spent zero time as assistant coaches or coaching even high-school level programs before making the jump from NBA player to NBA head coach. However all spent time away from the game.

I'm not saying it's clear that Stockton would be a good head coach at the NBA level, but I'm saying that Kidd's example doesn't prove that he'd be a bad coach. Rivers, Bird, and Jackson are much tighter situational fits than Kidd. Bird is probably the closest fit.

 

[zman1527]

I think it's a pretty common opinion that Stockton would be a good coach if he decided to coach.

And that opinion is based on what? He was a great player? He played for the Jazz? What makes him the best choice for the Utah Jazz? How does he stack up against all the other potential candidates?

 

[One Brow]

Doc Rivers, Larry Bird, and Mark Jackson all spent zero time as assistant coaches or coaching even high-school level programs before making the jump from NBA player to NBA head coach. However all spent time away from the game.

As I recall, all were also very vocal players, who tried to build networks in the locker room. I think head coaches need to have some level of affability and extroversion. I can see Stockton as a great assistant, but if I were to pick one player from the Jazz past not already a head coach, it would be Malone.

 

[franklin]

I'm afraid Stockton would fail for the same reason Corbin is: sticking to a low post dominant game plan that requires two slow, plodding bruisers.

Corbin is moving away from that with Marvin at the 4 and Kanter end-o-bench though. I wonder if Stock would do the same.

 

[infection]

I'm surprised they didn't bring him on as a special assistant like the did Hornacek.

Had he only been under the tutelage of Corbin the past three years.

 

[Beantown]

I'm sure it has occurred to Dennis. I'm sure it has occurred to Greg. I'm sure it has occurred to Gail. I'm sure it has occurred to Ty. I'm sure it has occurred to Nada. I'm sure it has occurred to John. I doubt any of them talk about it directly (much) but it's going to happen. It just makes too much sense. Book it.

 

[LogGrad98]

i agree OP cuz TyCo SUCKS but do u think the jazz are under a lot of pressure against makin a move like this for fear of bein labeled a racialist franchise?

Too late. The Millers are dripping with white privilege.

 

[da ThRONe]

Why does it make sense? Because JS played for Utah and was a very good player? I think what makes sense is to get the best coach that you can find, whether he played here or not. It drives me nuts that people get confused with thinking that ex-players they liked make the best coaching candidates.

Nostalgia for the past does not make for great decisions about the future. Make the case that JS would be an outstanding HC in the NBA.

The guy was a bonafide superstar with little athetic ability. The mind he has to have for basketball to pull that off must be insane. Can't be any worse than Corbin (or Kidd for that matter). Don't think he'll do it, but making moves to energize the fan base isn't always a bad thing.

 

[UGLI baby]

Put it this way......

How much would you slit your wrists if another NBA team announced Stockton as their new Head Coach tomorrow?

I'd slit my wrists a whole hell of a lot. Maybe even a butt-load.

 

[infection]

Put it this way......

How much would you slit your wrists if another NBA team announced Stockton as their new Head Coach tomorrow?

I'd slit my wrists a whole hell of a lot. Maybe even a butt-load.

teh Bucks

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

UGLI puts it into perspective. It's only right that if Stockton ever coaches in the NBA he coaches our team. There's no way he works his way up the ranks as an assistant, and he doesn't need to. He is not currently missing some sort of critical piece of information he could glean from Corbin or anyone else. Hiring him at the end of this season to take over the Jazz would be a huge win from a marketing perspective, a basketball perspective, a culture perspective, a fan base perspective, a national story perspective and everything else. The timing is perfect for the team, and (from afar) it looks like it could be good timing for Stockton too.

I actually ran into him at a conference in NYC this summer. We talked briefly. I think he would make an amazing head coach. To me it would be disastrous to watch him lead a team other than the Jazz to the promised land.